Mar 28, 2024  
2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog [NOTE!!!! THIS IS AN ARCHIVED CATALOG. FOR THE CURRENT CATALOG, GO TO CATALOG.NIU.EDU]

Medical Laboratory Sciences (B.S.)


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Check departmental information for any additional requirements.

The student learning outcomes for this degree are located at http://www.niu.edu/assessment/clearinghouse/outcomes/index.shtml.

General Information


Admission to the major in medical laboratory sciences is limited. See “Limited Admissions and Limited Retention Requirements” in the front part of this catalog.

The medical laboratory sciences program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences. To become certified as a medical laboratory scientist (MLS), the graduate of the program must be examined for professional competence by the Board of Certification. Completion of the examination, however, is not a prerequisite for the B.S. degree.

Students must be admitted into the medical laboratory sciences program to enroll in 300- and 400- level AHLS courses. Students must maintain a grade of C or better in all AHLS designated courses in the MLS program, except for AHLS 476, or be subject to dismissal from the program. A student also may be dismissed from the program for unprofessional behavior or for actions that threaten the health and/or safety of patients. All general education courses must be completed before beginning the clinical courses in the hospital.

The medical laboratory science clinical practicum courses include topics in hematology, hemostasis, urinalysis, body fluids, medical microbiology, medical diagnostic biochemistry, medical immunology and immunohematology. Clinical placements at affiliated hospitals require the student to provide and incur cost for the following:

  • completion of a 3-dose series of Hepatitis B immunization if needed followed by Hepatitis B blood titer. The series should begin as soon as the new transfer student is accepted into the medical laboratory sciences major or before students at NIU enroll in AHLS 211, Introduction to the Medical Laboratory Sciences;
  • criminal background check; 
  • AMA cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification;  
  • 10 panel drug screen;  
  • quantitative blood titers for Hepatitis B, Rubella, Rubeola, Mumps, Varicella zoster;  
  • two-step TB skin test or Quantiferon Gold blood test; 
  • Tdap immunization; 
  • transportation and room/board for practicum courses.  

Before enrolling in AHLS 486 and AHLS 487 students must have completed all other university and program requirements for graduation. Medical laboratory science degree completion (ADC) students enrolling in AHLS 488 must be in the process of completing all university requirements.  

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 the ASCP Board of Certification or equivalent national organization and a minimum of one year of experience working full-time as a CLT/MLT, must demonstrate the competencies required of all preclinical laboratory sciences majors. Once formally admitted into the major, students must complete the following courses with a grade of C or better: HSCI 318, AHLS 301, AHLS 302, AHLS 303, AHLS 308, AHLS 336, AHLS 344, AHLS 440, HSCI 460; and satisfactory performance in AHLS 475. Upon enrolling in AHLS 488, Medical Laboratory Science Degree Completion Practicum, and AHLS 475, comprehensive exams, the student will receive 13 semester hours of credit for AHLS 211, AHLS 300, AHLS 311, AHLS 312, AHLS 313, AHLS 337, and AHLS 345. Upon successful completion of all the MLS requirements, the student may be awarded up to an additional 17 hours of proficiency credit for the learning experiences leading to the A.A.S. in CLT/MLT. Students in this program are exempt from the 30-semester-hour university graduation residence. 

Individuals who are certified as clinical or medical laboratory technicians and who desire to complete the requirements for the B.S. in clinical or medical laboratory sciences are advised to contact the program coordinator for specific information. 

Major in Medical Laboratory Sciences (B.S.)


The medical laboratory sciences program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences.

The student learning outcomes for this degree are located at www.niu.edu/assessment/clearinghouse/outcomes/index.shtml.  

Requirements outside School (37-38)


Total Hours for a Major in Medical Laboratory Sciences: 84-97


Recommendations


Medical laboratory science (MLS) majors must maintain an ongoing active communication with the program director for medical laboratory sciences.  

Graduates of the MLS program are encouraged to become certified as a medical laboratory scientist by sitting for the ASCP Board of Certification MLS exam for professional competence. Completion of the examination, however, is not a prerequisite for the B.S. degree. Graduates are encouraged to take the exam within six months of completion of the program. 

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