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2023-2024 Academic Bulletin [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Medical Laboratory Science BSMLS
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The BSMLS (MLS Program) prepares students to meet the entry-level competencies necessary to perform the full range of clinical laboratory tests in areas such as Clinical Chemistry, Hematology/Hemostasis, Immunology, Immunohematology/Transfusion Medicine, Microbiology, Urine and Body Fluid Analysis, Laboratory Operations, and other emerging fields in laboratory medicine. MLS graduates have opportunities not only in hospital laboratories but also in industry, research, public health, government, information systems, consulting, reference (private) laboratories, education, and many other fields.
The degree program includes three years of undergraduate (BS pre-clinicals) studies plus one year (3 semesters) of clinical (BSMLS) education. Students who complete the MLS Program are eligible to write the national Board of Certification examination sponsored by the ASCP (American Society for Clinical Pathology).
Pre-clinical Program:
The first three years of undergraduate study include Andrews Core Experience, cognate science, and preclinical requirements. Program options feature directed elective course work selected in consultation with the faculty advisor according to the student’s career goals and interests.
Clinical (Professional) Program:
The year of clinical studies is comprised of lectures and student laboratories on the Berrien Springs campus and clinical practica at an affiliated hospital or clinical laboratory site.
Refer to the Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences web site for the MLS Program Year Calendar.
Accreditation: The Andrews University Program for Medical Laboratory Sciences holds accreditation from the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), 5600 N River Rd, Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018, (773) 714-8880 fax (773) 714-8886, e-mail at info@naacls, or the Web at www.naacls.org.
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Practicum - 16
Students work side-by-side with practicing professionals in patient health care during the final portion of the clinical year. Andrews University maintains a number of affiliations with clinical institutions across the country. Student preferences for clinical site assignments are solicited and granted when possible. Final site assignments are made at the discretion of the faculty and in consultation with clinical affiliates. Each student is responsible for providing his/her own transportation for the clinical practica. Independent transportation is a condition for clinical placement; therefore, it is strongly advised that each student has his/her own car for clinicals.
Additional Requirements
Student Progression in Clinical Year
The clinical year is highly structured and sequential. Enrolled students may not drop a class, audit a class, or earn a grade lower than C- in any class. Students may enter clinical practica only upon satisfactory completion of on-campus course work. Satisfactory completion is defined as a senior-year minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 and the recommendation of the faculty. A student receiving a cumulative GPA of less than 2.50 may be allowed to advance if the program faculty identifies exceptional circumstances and recommends that the student continue in the program.
Student continuance in the clinical practica is conditional upon acceptable ethical and professional deportment as well as exemplary patient-care practices. The clinical affiliate supervisors and program faculty are final arbiters in determining student continuance.
Undergraduate Electives - 5-8
Students may select courses in consultation with and by the consent of their advisors in a planned program to enhance professional preparation. Pre-medical/pre-dental students must include the following courses:
Application Process
Clinical Year Admission Requirements
An independent admissions process is required for all students who wish to enter clinical studies. Apply online to the MLS Clinical Year Program (https://www.andrews.edu/apply/). Students must complete the application and submit it by January 31 prior to their anticipated clinical-study year.
Applicants’ previous course work must include 16 semester credits of biological sciences, 16 semester credits of chemistry, and one college-level course in mathematics.
Admission requires an overall GPA of 2.50. In the admissions process, the GPAs for the cognate sciences, mathematics, and medical laboratory science content courses are computed together. This combined GPA must also be a minimum of 2.50. Preference is given to students with the higher GPAs. Students may only repeat the fundamentals courses once to be eligible for admission consideration for the program.
Applicants must be able to meet the program’s published Essential Functions, which are included in the online application, and express a willingness to comply with the principles, rules, regulations, and policies of both the university and the program as they relate to the ideals and values of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the medical laboratory science profession.
Prerequisite Courses
All prerequisite course work, including Andrews Core Experience, cognate science, and pre-clinical courses, must be completed prior to entry into the clinical year. A personal interview may be required at the discretion of the Admissions Committee.
In exceptional circumstances, the Admissions Committee may accept students outside the stated policy.
Student Learning Outcomes
Student Learning Outcome 1: MLS Comprehensive Didactic Competency, sufficient to achieve a passing score in the Board of Certification by the ASCP, in the following scientific content and as defined by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS):
- Clinical Chemistry
- Hematology/Hemostasis
- Immunology
- Immunohematology/Transfusion Medicine
- Microbiology
- Urine and body fluid analysis
- Laboratory Operations
Student Learning Outcome 2: Application of MLS Professional Skills
- Achieve Medical Laboratory Scientist entry-level psychomotor, clinical, and professional skills for service to humanity.
- Demonstrate competency to perform a full range of test protocols in the contemporary medical laboratory setting encompassing pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical components of laboratory services, including body fluids, chemistry, hematology, immunohematology, immunology, microbiology, molecular diagnostics, urinalysis, and phlebotomy.
- Exhibit proficiency to evaluate clinical data and interpret results, problem solve, troubleshoot, and use statistical approaches when evaluating data.
- Exhibit administrative skills consistent with philosophies of quality assurance, continuous quality improvement, laboratory education, financial resource management, and appropriate composure under stressful conditions.
- Application of safety and governmental regulations and standards as applied to medical laboratory practice.
Student Learning Outcome 3: Practice Ethics and Professionalism
- Demonstrate ethical and professional behaviors in both didactic and practicum portions of the Program.
- Model the professional traits of an entry-level healthcare practitioner.
- Display professional conduct, respecting the feelings and needs of others, protecting the confidentiality of patient information, and avoiding personal concerns and biases to interfere with the welfare of patients.
- Demonstrate effective communication skills, including competent written, oral, and visual communication, to ensure accurate and appropriate transfer of information.
- Embrace interprofessional collaborative practice that strengthens the healthcare team and enhances patient outcomes.
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