Clinical Laboratory Science - Bachelor of Science (BS)
(College of Science and Health)
Clinical laboratory science admission policy
Admission to the clinical laboratory science major is on a competitive basis. Students apply for admission early in the spring semester of the academic year just prior to the beginning of their professional studies, typically in the sophomore year. Formal acceptance into the major, effective at the beginning of the fall semester, is based on the submission of an application for admission to the major, personal recommendations, review of academic performance, and an interview with the program admission committee. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 is strongly recommended.
Admission to clinical requirement
The application process for the clinical year in the hospital-sponsored program is similar to the process required for acceptance to the clinical laboratory science major. Acceptance into the hospital program is not guaranteed by the university. The hospital programs affiliated with UWL are accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS).
During the clinical component, in an accredited hospital program, students will register for (or be allowed to transfer in from Mayo's CLS program) the equivalent of, at minimum, 31 UWL credits. The clinical phase routinely begins in late August with anticipated graduation the following spring. Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for certification examinations offered by national certification agencies.
NAACLS accredited hospital affiliates of UWL:
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Hennepin Healthcare, Minneapolis, Minn.
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Marshfield Laboratories, Marshfield, Wis.
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Aspirus Wausau Hospital, Wausau, Wis.
- Ascension St. Elizabeth Hospital, Appleton, Wis.
- Mayo Clinic, College of Medicine and Science, School of Health Sciences, Rochester, Minn.1
UWL is affiliated with the University of North Dakota, an accredited program, which provides access to many other hospital affiliates throughout the upper Midwest.
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Clinical laboratory science students who select to complete the required year-long clinical at the Mayo School of Health Sciences (MSHS) enroll at MSHS rather than at UW-La Crosse. The courses taken during the year-long clinical at MSHS meet UW-La Crosse CLI program requirements. The student must request an official transcript be sent to UW-La Crosse from MSHS. Upon successful completion of the clinical and all other graduation requirements, the students are awarded the Bachelor of Science degree from UW-La Crosse. The Mayo School of Health Sciences (MSHS) grants a Certificate of Completion in Clinical Laboratory Science.
Graduation requirements
Core courses in the pre-professional curriculum must be completed with a grade of "C" or above. UWL students must meet all university graduation requirements including those for general education, college core, and university degree requirements. However, students in the clinical laboratory science major are exempt from the College of Science and Health core requirements.
Curriculum
93-105 credits including clinical phase
Pre-professional curriculum (39-46 credits)
All pre-clinical lab science program majors are strongly encouraged to take CLI 120 Introduction to Clinical Laboratory Science.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Biology core: | ||
| BIO 105 | General Biology | 4 |
| BIO 306 | Genetics | 4 |
| BIO 312 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| BIO 313 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| Chemistry core: | ||
| CHM 103 | General Chemistry I | 5 |
| CHM 104 | General Chemistry II | 5 |
| 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 | ||
| Microbiology core: | ||
| MIC 230 | Fundamentals of Microbiology | 4 |
| Math core: | 4-8 | |
| College Algebra (or placement above MTH 150) | ||
| Elementary Statistics | ||
| Total Credits | 39-46 | |
Pre-clinical lab science program students must have completed a substantial portion of these requirements in the semester that they apply for formal admission to the clinical lab science program major. Students who lack only a few credits are encouraged to consult the clinical lab science program advisor to determine when they should apply.
Professional curriculum (54-59 credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Preclinical phase (on campus): | ||
| CLI 395 | Urinalysis and Body Fluids | 2 |
| CLI 410 | Clinical Hematology | 3 |
| CLI 420 | Immunohematology | 3 |
| CLI 440 | Clinical Parasitology | 1-4 |
| or BIO 406 | Parasitology | |
| CLI 461 | Capstone in Clinical Laboratory Science | 1 |
| MIC 310 | Immunology | 3 |
| MIC 407 | Pathogenic Bacteriology | 4 |
| MIC 410 | Immunology Laboratory | 2 |
| Select one of the following: | 4-6 | |
| Fundamental Biochemistry | ||
| Biochemistry I: Macromolecules and Biochemistry II: Metabolism and Genetic Information | ||
| Clinical phase (at an accredited hospital): | ||
| CLI 450 | Clinical Chemistry | 6 |
| CLI 455 | Clinical Hematology/Hemostasis | 6 |
| CLI 460 | Clinical Immunohematology | 6 |
| CLI 465 | Clinical Immunology | 2 |
| CLI 470 | Diagnostic Microbiology | 8 |
| CLI 480 | Laboratory Management and Education | 3 |
| Total Credits | 54-59 | |
The following courses are recommended to complement the clinical laboratory science major:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CLI 484 | Laboratory Management | 2 |
| MIC 420 | Introductory Virology | 3 |
| MIC 421 | Virology Laboratory | 2 |
| BIO 413 | Medical Mycology | 3 |
| BIO 435 | Molecular Biology | 3 |
| BIO 436 | Molecular Biology Laboratory | 1 |
| BIO 466 | Human Molecular Genetics | 3 |
| BIO 424 | Human Endocrinology | 3 |
| CLI 495 | Independent Study in Medical Laboratory Science | 1-3 |
| CLI 496 | Special Topics in Clinical Laboratory Science | 1-3 |
| MIC 416 | Prokaryotic Molecular Genetics | 4 |
| MIC 454 | Mechanisms of Microbial Pathogenicity | 2 |
| ECO 110 | Microeconomics and Public Policy | 3 |
| PHL 201 | Ethical Theory and Practice | 3 |
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:
- Fulfill the general education requirements.
- Complete at least one ethnic studies (diversity) course.
- Complete the courses prescribed by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee for the degree desired in the respective school or college.
- Earn a minimum of 120 semester credits with at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA.1, 2
- 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.
- Complete major and minor requirements with at least a 2.00 GPA1, 2 in each major and minor (and concentration or emphasis, if selected).
- A minimum of 30 semester credits in residence at UWL is required for graduation. (See undergraduate resident requirement.)
- 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.
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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.
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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.
Two sample plans are provided below. The first plan is for students who have placed into MTH 151 Precalculus or higher, 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 or higher
| Year 1 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| CHM 103 (if math placement>MTH 150; Gen Ed Natural Lab Science) | 5 | CHM 104 | 5 | ||
| STAT 145 (Gen Ed Math) | 4 | BIO 105 (Gen Ed Natural Lab Science) | 4 | ||
| CST 110 (Gen Ed Literacy-Oral) | 3 | CLI 120 | 1 | ||
| FYS 100 (Gen Ed First-Year Seminar) | 3 | ENG 110 or 112 (Gen Ed Literacy-Written) | 3 | ||
| Gen Ed Arts | 2-3 | ||||
| 15 | 15 | ||||
| Year 2 | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| BIO 312 | 4 | Apply for admission to Clinical Lab Science Program | |||
| MIC 230 | 4 | MIC 310 | 3 | ||
| Gen Ed Arts | 2-3 | BIO 313 | 4 | ||
| MTH 151 (Gen Ed Math) | 4 | CHM 300 | 4 | ||
| Gen Ed World History | 3 | CHM 302 | 1 | ||
| Gen Ed Minority Cultures | 3 | ||||
| 17 | 15 | ||||
| Year 3 | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| MIC 410 | 2 | MIC 407 | 4 | CLI 461 | 1 |
| CLI 410 | 3 | CLI 395 | 2 | CLI 420 | 3 |
| CHM 325 | 4 | BIO 306 | 4 | ||
| Gen Ed Humanistic Studies | 3 | CLI 440 | 1 | ||
| Gen Ed Health & Well Being | 3 | Gen Ed Self & Society | 3 | ||
| Gen Ed Global Studies | 3 | ||||
| 15 | 17 | 4 | |||
| Year 4 | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| Clinical Education at Hospital Site | Clinical Education at Hospital Site | ||||
| CLI 450 | 6 | CLI 460 | 6 | ||
| CLI 455 | 6 | CLI 470 | 8 | ||
| CLI 465 | 2 | ||||
| CLI 480 | 3 | ||||
| 17 | 14 | ||||
| Total Credits: 129 | |||||
Sample Plan 2 - students taking MTH 150 in first semester
| Year 1 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| BIO 105 (Gen Ed Natural Lab Science) | 4 | CHM 103 (Gen Ed Natural Lab Science) | 5 | ||
| MTH 150 (Gen Ed Math) | 4 | STAT 145 (Gen Ed Math) | 4 | ||
| CST 110 (Gen Ed Literacy-Oral) | 3 | CLI 120 | 1 | ||
| FYS 100 (Gen Ed First-Year Seminar) | 3 | ENG 110 or 112 (Gen Ed Literacy-Written) | 3 | ||
| Gen Ed Arts | 2-3 | Gen Ed Arts | 2-3 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||||
| Year 2 | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| CHM 104 | 5 | Apply for admission to Clinical Lab Science Program | |||
| BIO 312 | 4 | MIC 310 | 3 | ||
| MIC 230 | 4 | BIO 313 | 4 | ||
| Gen Ed World History | 3 | CHM 300 | 4 | ||
| CHM 302 | 1 | ||||
| Gen Ed Minority Cultures | 3 | ||||
| 16 | 15 | ||||
| Year 3 | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| MIC 410 | 2 | MIC 407 | 4 | CLI 461 | 1 |
| CLI 410 | 3 | CLI 395 | 2 | CLI 420 | 3 |
| CHM 325 | 4 | BIO 306 | 4 | ||
| Gen Ed Humanistic Studies | 3 | CLI 440 | 1 | ||
| Gen Ed Health & Well Being | 3 | Gen Ed Self & Society | 3 | ||
| Gen Ed Global Studies | 3 | ||||
| 15 | 17 | 4 | |||
| Year 4 | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| Clinical Education at Hospital Site | Clinical Education at Hospital Site | ||||
| CLI 450 | 6 | CLI 460 | 6 | ||
| CLI 455 | 6 | CLI 470 | 8 | ||
| CLI 465 | 2 | ||||
| CLI 480 | 3 | ||||
| 17 | 14 | ||||
| Total Credits: 129 | |||||