Dual Degree Program in Clinical Laboratory Science and Clinical Microbiology

The Dual Degree Program in Clinical Laboratory Science and Clinical Microbiology enables a UWL student to earn both a Bachelor of Science degree in clinical laboratory science (CLS) and a Master of Science degree in microbiology with emphasis in clinical microbiology in six years.

After students have been accepted into the CLS Program and completed 90 undergraduate credit hours, they may be accepted into the dual degree program. Students must maintain a 3.00 GPA to remain in the program. The Bachelor of Science degree will be awarded after completion of 120 undergraduate credits, the CLS major requirements, and the general university requirements. Students must have graduate student status before registering for their third graduate course (normally in the second semester of their senior year). The Master of Science degree will be awarded after completion of the B.S. and M.S. requirements.

Contact the Department of Microbiology for application information. See the online graduate catalog for more information about the program.

Dual degree timeline:

  • Sophomore (spring semester): apply to the CLS Program
  • Junior (fall semester): apply to the hospital-sponsored program for clinical year
  • Junior (summer after): apply to the dual degree program. Applications due July 1.  
  • Senior: admitted students apply for graduate special status in order to register for CLI 570 and CLI 580
  • Senior (May): students have completed the undergraduate portion of the program upon completion of the clinical internship. After the clinical internship, students register for graduate classes.

Curriculum

Required courses for the Bachelor of Science1

Students in this dual degree program should complete the following by the end of their junior year:

Foundational science courses

Biology core:
BIO 105General Biology4
BIO 306Genetics4
BIO 312Human Anatomy and Physiology I4
BIO 313Human Anatomy and Physiology II4
Microbiology core:
MIC 230Fundamentals of Microbiology4
MIC 310Immunology3
MIC 407Pathogenic Bacteriology4
MIC 410Immunology Laboratory2
Chemistry core:
CHM 103General Chemistry I5
CHM 104General Chemistry II5
Select one of the following:5-8
Fundamental Organic Chemistry
and Fundamental Organic Chemistry Laboratory
Organic Chemistry Theory I
and Organic Chemistry Theory II
and Fundamental Organic Chemistry Laboratory
Organic Chemistry Theory I
and Organic Chemistry Theory II
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory
Select CHM 325 OR CHM 417 and 418:4-7
Fundamental Biochemistry
Biochemistry I: Macromolecules
and Biochemistry II: Metabolism and Genetic Information
Math core:
MTH 150College Algebra4
STAT 145Elementary Statistics4
Total Credits56-62

Junior & senior year courses

Clinical laboratory science core:
CLI 395Urinalysis and Body Fluids2
CLI 410Clinical Hematology3
CLI 420Immunohematology3
CLI 461Capstone in Clinical Laboratory Science1
CLI 440Clinical Parasitology1
At clinical internship site (senior year), including graduate credits:
CLI 450Clinical Chemistry6
CLI 455Clinical Hematology/Hemostasis6
CLI 460Clinical Immunohematology6
CLI 465Clinical Immunology2
Graduate credits: 111
Diagnostic Microbiology
Laboratory Management and Education
Total Credits41
1

Graduate level credit credits do not count toward the 120 credits needed for an undergraduate degree, but do satisfy major requirements. Undergraduates will be taking 11 graduate credits total while still undergraduate students.

After completing the coursework listed above, all general education requirements, and all other college and university degree requirements, students in the dual degree program will be awarded the Bachelor of Science with a major in clinical laboratory science. At the start of their final semester of undergraduate work, dual degree students must apply for admission to graduate school at UWL in order to register for the graduate courses required for the Master of Science degree.

Required courses for the Master of Science

Students must complete the following in order to earn the Master of Science in microbiology with emphasis in clinical microbiology:

CLI 570Diagnostic Microbiology (applies to both BS and MS)8
CLI 580Laboratory Management and Education (applies to both BS and MS)3
MIC 554Mechanisms of Microbial Pathogenicity2
MIC 753Epidemiology of Infectious Disease2
MIC 755Advanced Immunology2
MIC 751Graduate Seminar1
MIC 751Graduate Seminar1
MIC 780Clinical Microbiology Practicum II2
MIC 790Clinical Microbiology Practicum III2
MIC 799Research: Master's Thesis6
Electives4
Total Credits33

All students must complete the general education, college core (waived for clinical laboratory science majors), major/minor, and university degree requirements in order to qualify for a degree. The easiest way to track all of these requirements is to refer to the Advisement Report (AR) found in the Student Information System (WINGS) Student Center. All enrolled students have access to the AR.  

Baccalaureate degree requirements

Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degrees must accomplish the following:

  1. Fulfill the general education requirements.
  2. Complete at least one ethnic studies (diversity) course.
  3. Complete the courses prescribed by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee for the degree desired in the respective school or college.
  4. Earn a minimum of 120 semester credits with at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA.1, 2
  5. At least 40 credits must be earned in 300/400 level courses. Transfer courses earned or transferred at the 300/400 level apply to this requirement.
  6. Complete major and minor requirements with at least a 2.00 GPA1, 2 in each major and minor (and concentration or emphasis, if selected).
  7. A minimum of 30 semester credits in residence at UWL is required for graduation. (See undergraduate resident requirement.)
  8. Submit an application for graduation via the "Apply for Graduation" link in the WINGS Student Center as soon as the student has registered for his or her final semester or summer term in residence. December and winter intersession graduates should apply by May 1. May and summer graduates should apply by December 1.
1

Grade point average requirements for some programs will be considerably higher than 2.00. Re-entering students may be required to earn credits in excess of the 120 needed for graduation in any curriculum in order to replace credits earned in courses in which the content has changed substantially in recent years. Each case will be judged on its own merit.

2

The grade point average recorded at the time the degree is awarded will not be affected by future enrollment.

No degree will be awarded unless all requirements are fulfilled and recorded within 30 days after the official ending date of each term.

Below is a sample degree plan that can be used as a guide to identify courses required to fulfill the major and other requirements needed for degree completion. A student's actual degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). Also, this sample plan assumes readiness for each course and/or major plan, and some courses may not be offered every term. Review the course descriptions or the class timetable for course offering information.

The sample degree plans represented in this catalog are intended for first-year students entering UWL in the fall term. Students should use the Advisement Report (AR) in WINGS and work closely with their faculty advisor(s) and college dean’s office to ensure declaration and completion of all requirements in a timely manner.

General Education Program
The general education curriculum (Gen Ed) is the common educational experience for all undergraduates at UWL. Sample degree plans include Gen Ed placeholders to ensure completion of the general education requirements. Courses may be rearranged to fit the needs or recommendations of the student’s program of study. Gen Ed courses may be taken during winter term (January between the semesters) and summer to reduce the course load during regular terms (fall and spring). Students should consult with their advisor and/or the college academic services director in their college/school for assistance with course and schedule planning. Refer to the general education requirements for more specific details.

At least 40 credits of the 120 credits required must be earned at the 300/400-level. 

Note: New students and transfer students with 15 or fewer credits earned are required to take FYS 100 First-Year Seminar (3 cr.) during one of their first two semesters at UWL.

This sample degree plan does not establish a contractual agreement. It identifies the minimum requirements a student must successfully complete, to qualify for a degree, in a format intended to assist the student in planning their academic career. Actual degree plans may differ.

This sample degree plan does not establish a contractual agreement. It identifies the minimum requirements a student must successfully complete, to qualify for a degree, in a format intended to assist the student plan their academic career. Actual degree plans may differ.

Two sample plans are provided below. The first plan is for students who have placed into MTH 151 Precalculus, and the second example is for students who need MTH 150 College Algebra in their first semester.

Sample Plan 1 - students who placed into MTH 151

Year 1
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
CHM 103 (if math placement>MTH 150; Gen Ed Natural Lab Science)5CHM 1045 
STAT 145 (Gen Ed Math)4BIO 105 (Gen Ed Natural Lab Science)4 
CST 110 (Gen Ed Literacy-Oral)3CLI 1201 
FYS 100 (Gen Ed First-Year Seminar)3ENG 110 or 112 (Gen Ed Literacy-Written)3 
 Gen Ed Arts2-3 
 15 15  
Year 2
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
BIO 3124Apply for admission to Clinical Lab Science Program  
MIC 2304MIC 3103 
Gen Ed Arts2-3BIO 3134 
MTH 151 (Gen Ed Math)4CHM 3004 
Gen Ed World History3CHM 3021 
 Gen Ed Minority Cultures3 
 17 15  
Year 3
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
MIC 4102MIC 4074CLI 4611
CLI 4103CLI 3952CLI 4203
CHM 3254BIO 3064 
Gen Ed Humanistic Studies3CLI 4401 
Gen Ed Health & Well Being3Gen Ed Self & Society3 
 Gen Ed Global Studies3 
 15 17 4
Year 4
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
Clinical Education at Hospital Site Clinical Education at Hospital Site  
Admitted students apply for graduate special status at UWL in order to register for CLI 570 and CLI 580 CLI 4606 
CLI 4506CLI 57018 
CLI 4556Upon completion of the clinical internship, students have completed the undergraduate portion of the program. Student registers for graduate classes.  
CLI 4652  
CLI 58013  
 17 14  
Additional year
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
MIC 5542MIC 7511 
MIC 7532MIC 7802-4 
MIC 7552MIC 7902 
MIC 7511MIC 7996 
Electives4  
 11 11  
Total Credits: 151
1

 At the start of the final semester of the undergraduate work, students must file an application for admission to graduate school at UWL in order to register for the graduate level courses required for completion of the Master of Science degree.

Sample Plan 2 - students taking MTH 150 in first semester

Year 1
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
BIO 105 (Gen Ed Natural Lab Science)4CHM 103 (Gen Ed Natural Lab Science)5 
MTH 150 (Gen Ed Math)4STAT 145 (Gen Ed Math)4 
CST 110 (Gen Ed Literacy-Oral)3CLI 1201 
FYS 100 (Gen Ed First-Year Seminar)3ENG 110 or 112 (Gen Ed Literacy-Written)3 
Gen Ed Arts2-3Gen Ed Arts2-3 
 16 15  
Year 2
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
CHM 1045Apply for admission to Clinical Lab Science Program  
BIO 3124MIC 3103 
MIC 2304BIO 3134 
Gen Ed World History3CHM 3004 
 CHM 3021 
 Gen Ed Minority Cultures3 
 16 15  
Year 3
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
MIC 4102MIC 4074CLI 4611
CLI 4103CLI 3952CLI 4203
CHM 3254BIO 3064 
Gen Ed Humanistic Studies3CLI 4401 
Gen Ed Health & Well Being3Gen Ed Self & Society3 
 Gen Ed Global Studies3 
 15 17 4
Year 4
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
Clinical Education at Hospital Site Clinical Education at Hospital Site  
Admitted students apply for graduate special status at UWL in order to register for CLI 570 and CLI 580 CLI 4606 
CLI 4506CLI 57018 
CLI 4556Upon completion of the clinical internship, students have completed the undergraduate portion of the program. Student registers for graduate classes.  
CLI 4652  
CLI 58013  
 17 14  
Additional year
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
MIC 5542MIC 7511 
MIC 7532MIC 7802-4 
MIC 7552MIC 7902 
MIC 7511MIC 7996 
Electives4  
 11 11  
Total Credits: 151
1

 At the start of the final semester of the undergraduate work, students must file an application for admission to graduate school at UWL in order to register for the graduate level courses required for completion of the Master of Science degree.