Program Overview

Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Science

The University of Kansas offers a unique program in Clinical Laboratory Science, providing advanced training and technology combined with real-world experience for students interested in this field. As "illness investigators," medical laboratory scientists use sophisticated instruments to analyze blood and other body tissue and fluids, providing essential information for diagnoses and treatment plans.

Overview

This program requires two years of preparatory college study and two years of professional course work in clinical laboratory science. Interested students should contact the department at KU Medical Center for advising as early as possible in their college careers.

Admission Requirements

• An applicant to the program must have completed, or be on track to complete, the required college preparatory course work, with a minimum grade of C- in each prerequisite course, before entering the program in the fall.
• The student must have earned a 2.70 GPA overall and in the following courses: chemistry, biology, and math.
• International students, or those for whom English is a second language, may have additional requirements relative to language proficiency, residency, and citizenship status.
• Good physical and mental health is essential.
• Minor physical handicaps are not considered deterrents to admission.
• Physical examinations are required before registration in CLS course work.
• The admissions committee requires a personal interview with the applicant.
• A background check and documentation of a shadowing experience are also required.

Prerequisites

• English:
  • ENGL 101: Composition (3 hours)
  • ENGL 102: Critical Reading and Writing (3 hours)
  • or BUS 305: Business Writing
• Mathematics:
  • Select one of the following:
    • MATH 101: College Algebra (3 hours)
    • MATH 104: Precalculus Mathematics (5 hours)
    • MATH 115: Calculus I (3 hours)
  • Select one of the following:
    • MATH 365: Elementary Statistics (3 hours)
    • BIOL 370: Introduction to Biostatistics (4 hours)
    • PSYC 210: Statistics in Psychological Research (3 hours)
• Biology:
  • BIOL 150: Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biology (3 hours)
  • BIOL 350: Principles of Genetics (4 hours)
  • Select one of the following:
    • BIOL 246: Principles of Human Physiology (3 hours)
    • BIOL 544: Comparative Animal Physiology (3 hours)
    • BIOL 546: Mammalian Physiology (3 hours)
• Microbiology:
  • BIOL 400: Fundamentals of Microbiology (3 hours)
  • BIOL 402: Fundamentals of Microbiology Laboratory (2 hours)
• Chemistry:
  • CHEM 130: General Chemistry I (5 hours)
  • CHEM 135: General Chemistry II (5 hours)
  • CHEM 330: Organic Chemistry I (3 hours)
  • CHEM 331: Organic Chemistry I Laboratory (2 hours)
• Communication Studies:
  • Communication course (3 hours)
• Liberal Arts and Sciences:
  • One humanities course (3 hours)
  • One social sciences course (3 hours)
  • One Global Culture Course (3 hours)
  • One US Culture Course (3 hours)
• Recommended Elective:
  • CLS 210: Introduction to Clinical Laboratory Sciences (1 hour)

Clinical Concentration Curriculum

• CLS 520: Phlebotomy (1 hour)
• CLS 530: Clinical Chemistry I (3 hours)
• CLS 531: Clinical Chemistry, Urinalysis, and Body Fluids Laboratory (2 hours)
• CLS 532: Clinical Microbiology I (3 hours)
• CLS 533: Clinical Microbiology I Laboratory (2 hours)
• CLS 536: Hematology I (3 hours)
• CLS 537: Hematology I Laboratory (2 hours)
• CLS 538: Immunology (3 hours)
• or BIOL 503: Immunology
• CLS 539: Fundamental Techniques and Clinical Immunology Laboratory (3 hours)
• CLS 540: Clinical Chemistry II (2 hours)
• CLS 541: Professional Development (2 hours)
• CLS 542: Clinical Microbiology II (2 hours)
• CLS 543: Clinical Microbiology II Laboratory (2 hours)
• CLS 544: Immunohematology I (3 hours)
• CLS 545: Immunohematology I Laboratory (2 hours)
• CLS 546: Hematology II (3 hours)
• CLS 547: Hematology II Laboratory (2 hours)
• CLS 600: Introductory Biochemistry (3 hours)
• or BIOL 600: Introductory Biochemistry, Lectures
• CLS 605: Introduction to Molecular Diagnostics I (1 hour)
• CLS 607: Introduction to Molecular Diagnostics I Laboratory (1 hour)
• CLS 638: Clinical Competency Review (0 hours)
• CLS 639: Urinalysis (1 hour)
• CLS 640: Clinical Chemistry III and Immunology II (2 hours)
• CLS 641: Clinical Chemistry and Immunology Practicum (3 hours)
• CLS 642: Clinical Microbiology III (2 hours)
• CLS 643: Clinical Microbiology Practicum (3 hours)
• CLS 646: Hematology III (2 hours)
• CLS 644: Immunohematology II (1 hour)
• CLS 645: Immunohematology Practicum (2 hours)
• CLS 647: Hematology Practicum (3 hours)
• CLS 650: Clinical Laboratory Science Review (0 hours)
• CLS 661: Management Principles in Health Care (2 hours)

Molecular Biotechnology Concentration Curriculum

• CLS 520: Phlebotomy (1 hour)
• CLS 530: Clinical Chemistry I (3 hours)
• CLS 531: Clinical Chemistry, Urinalysis, and Body Fluids Laboratory (2 hours)
• CLS 532: Clinical Microbiology I (3 hours)
• CLS 533: Clinical Microbiology I Laboratory (2 hours)
• CLS 536: Hematology I (3 hours)
• CLS 537: Hematology I Laboratory (2 hours)
• CLS 538: Immunology (3 hours)
• or BIOL 503: Immunology
• CLS 539: Fundamental Techniques and Clinical Immunology Laboratory (3 hours)
• CLS 540: Clinical Chemistry II (2 hours)
• CLS 541: Professional Development (2 hours)
• CLS 542: Clinical Microbiology II (2 hours)
• CLS 543: Clinical Microbiology II Laboratory (2 hours)
• CLS 544: Immunohematology I (3 hours)
• CLS 545: Immunohematology I Laboratory (2 hours)
• CLS 546: Hematology II (3 hours)
• CLS 547: Hematology II Laboratory (2 hours)
• CLS 600: Introductory Biochemistry (3 hours)
• or BIOL 600: Introductory Biochemistry, Lectures
• CLS 605: Introduction to Molecular Diagnostics I (1 hour)
• CLS 607: Introduction to Molecular Diagnostics I Laboratory (1 hour)
• CLS 608: Introduction to Advanced Biotechniques (0 hours)
• CLS 609: Introduction to Advanced Biotechniques Laboratory (0 hours)
• CLS 610: Advanced Biotechniques Lecture (3 hours)
• CLS 611: Advanced Biotechniques Laboratory (2 hours)
• CLS 621: Biotechnology Methodologies Practicum (4 hours)
• CLS 622: Problems in Molecular Diagnostics (2 hours)
• CLS 623: Molecular Genetics Practicum (4 hours)
• CLS 633: Special Topics Practicum (4 hours)
• CLS 655: Molecular Biotechnology Review (0 hours)
• CLS 661: Management Principles in Health Care (2 hours)

Sample Plan of Study

The following is a sample plan of study for students completing the Clinical Concentration:

Freshman

• Fall:
  • ENGL 101: Composition (3 hours)
  • CHEM 130: General Chemistry I (5 hours)
  • MATH 101, 115, or 104: College Algebra, Calculus I, or Precalculus Mathematics (3-5 hours)
  • Social Science elective (3 hours)
  • CLS 210: Introduction to Clinical Laboratory Sciences (1 hour)
• Spring:
  • ENGL 102: Critical Reading and Writing (3 hours)
  • BIOL 150: Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biology (3 hours)
  • CHEM 135: General Chemistry II (5 hours)
  • Humanities elective (3 hours)

Sophomore

• Fall:
  • CHEM 330: Organic Chemistry I (3 hours)
  • CHEM 331: Organic Chemistry I Laboratory (2 hours)
  • BIOL 400: Fundamentals of Microbiology (3 hours)
  • BIOL 402: Fundamentals of Microbiology Laboratory (2 hours)
  • US Culture elective (3 hours)
  • BIOL 246, 544, or 546: Principles of Human Physiology, Comparative Animal Physiology, or Mammalian Physiology (3 hours)
• Spring:
  • BIOL 350 or BSCI 350: Principles of Genetics (4 hours)
  • Communications Course (3 hours)
  • MATH 365, BIOL 370, or PSYC 210: Elementary Statistics, Introduction to Biostatistics, or Statistics in Psychological Research (3 hours)
  • Global Culture elective (3 hours)

Junior

• Fall:
  • CLS 520: Phlebotomy (1 hour)
  • CLS 536: Hematology I (3 hours)
  • CLS 537: Hematology I Laboratory (2 hours)
  • CLS 538, BIOL 503, or BSCI 503: Immunology (3 hours)
  • CLS 539: Fundamental Techniques and Clinical Immunology Laboratory (3 hours)
  • CLS 600, BIOL 600, or BSCI 600: Introductory Biochemistry (3 hours)
• Spring:
  • CLS 530: Clinical Chemistry I (3 hours)
  • CLS 531: Clinical Chemistry, Urinalysis, and Body Fluids Laboratory (2 hours)
  • CLS 532: Clinical Microbiology I (3 hours)
  • CLS 533: Clinical Microbiology I Laboratory (2 hours)
  • CLS 546: Hematology II (3 hours)
  • CLS 547: Hematology II Laboratory (2 hours)
• Summer:
  • CLS 605: Introduction to Molecular Diagnostics I (1 hour)
  • CLS 607: Introduction to Molecular Diagnostics I Laboratory (1 hour)
  • CLS 661: Management Principles in Health Care (2 hours)

Senior

• Fall:
  • CLS 540: Clinical Chemistry II (2 hours)
  • CLS 541: Professional Development (2 hours)
  • CLS 542: Clinical Microbiology II (2 hours)
  • CLS 543: Clinical Microbiology II Laboratory (2 hours)
  • CLS 544: Immunohematology I (3 hours)
  • CLS 545: Immunohematology I Laboratory (2 hours)
  • CLS 638: Clinical Competency Review (0 hours)
• Spring:
  • CLS 639: Urinalysis (1 hour)
  • CLS 640: Clinical Chemistry III and Immunology II (2 hours)
  • CLS 641: Clinical Chemistry and Immunology Practicum (3 hours)
  • CLS 642: Clinical Microbiology III (2 hours)
  • CLS 643: Clinical Microbiology Practicum (3 hours)
  • CLS 644: Immunohematology II (1 hour)
  • CLS 645: Immunohematology Practicum (2 hours)
  • CLS 646: Hematology III (2 hours)
  • CLS 647: Hematology Practicum (3 hours)
  • CLS 650: Clinical Laboratory Science Review (0 hours)

Total Hours

The total hours required for the Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Science degree is 124 hours.