Check departmental information for any additional requirements.
Pre-Professional Clinical Laboratory Sciences Program
The School of Allied Health and Communicative Disorders offers a pre-clinical laboratory sciences program designed to prepare students for entrance into a professional clinical laboratory sciences program. All students interested in clinical laboratory sciences and accepted into NIU are admitted into the pre-clinical laboratory sciences program until formally accepted into the professional program. The pre-professional program is a two- to three-year course of study providing prerequisites in the humanities, social sciences, and physical sciences. It is recommended that interested students contact a program adviser.
Both admission criteria and procedures are described in the “Admission” section of this catalog and apply to all students interested in clinical laboratory sciences.
General Information
Once admitted into the clinical laboratory sciences program, a student must maintain a grade of C or better in required courses in the school or be subject to dismissal from the program. A student also may be dismissed from the program for unprofessional behavior or for actions which threaten the health and/or safety of patients. All general education courses must be completed before beginning the clinical courses in the hospital.
In addition to the usual costs for a university student, the student will be responsible for the costs involved in
completion of a 3-dose series of Hepatitis B immunization unless proof of immunization is provided. The series should begin as soon as the new transfer student is accepted into the clinical laboratory sciences major or before students at NIU enroll in AHLS 211, Introduction to the Clinical Laboratory Sciences.
transportation to, and room and board for, the clinical course.
Before enrolling in AHLS 470 students must have completed all other university and program requirements for graduation. Additionally, they must have been admitted to the clinical laboratory sciences major and all AHLS 300-level courses must have been completed with a grade of C or better. AHLS-designated courses are open only to students admitted to the clinical laboratory curriculum and are current majors in clinical laboratory science.
B.S. Degree Completion for Clinical/Medical Laboratory Technicians
Clinical or medical laboratory technicians with an associate’s degree and appropriate certification as granted by either the National Credentialing Agency or the American Society for Clinical Pathology, and a minimum of two years of experience working full-time as a CLT/MLT, must demonstrate the competencies required of all preclinical laboratory sciences majors. However, once formally admitted into the major and upon successful completion, with a grade of C or better, of the didactic components of AHCD 440, AHLS 301, AHLS 302, AHLS 311, AHLS 312, AHLS 336, AHLS 337, AHLS 344, AHLS 448, PHHE 467, and AHLS 446 or IHHS 450, these students will receive 26 semester hours of proficiency credit. Students in this program are exempt from the 30 semester hour university graduation residence requirement.
Individuals who are certified as clinical laboratory technicians and who desire to complete the requirements for the B.S. in clinical laboratory sciences are advised to contact the program coordinator for specific information.
Major in Clinical Laboratory Sciences (B.S.)
The clinical laboratory sciences program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences.
Students must take 20-22 semester hours in this course
A. Clinical Hematology/Hemostasis (1-6)
B. Clinical Microbiology (1-9)
C. Clinical Biochemistry (1-6)
D. Clinical Serology/Immunology (1-3)
E. Immunohematology (1-3)
J. Urinalysis/Body Fluids (1-3)
K. Clinical Parasitology/Mycology (1-2)
N. Special Topics (1-6)
Q. Clinical Pathology Correlation (1)
R. Clinical Microscopy (1-3)
U. Diagnostic Molecular Biology (1-3)
Total Hours for a Major in Clinical Laboratory Sciences: 92-108
Recommendations
Classes in allied health, natural and physical sciences, mathematics, computer science, as well as the social sciences and business may be beneficial. Consultation with program faculty is requested prior to course selection.
To become certified as a clinical laboratory scientist, the graduate of the program must be examined on professional competence by a national certifying body. Completion of the examination, however, is not a prerequisite for the B.S. degree.
Majors must maintain an ongoing active communication with the coordinator for clinical laboratory sciences.
Contract major programs culminating with a B.S. degree in alternative laboratory-related areas are available. See the description of contract major programs in the general information about the College of Health and Human Sciences.
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