BSMLS Medical Laboratory Science

The Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Science (BSCLS) degree with a major in Clinical Laboratory Science prepares students to function as clinical laboratory scientists (medical laboratory scientists) or medical technologists in a wide variety of settings from physician office laboratories to modern tertiary care hospital laboratories. The clinical laboratory scientist can become an indispensable top-level laboratory worker, a supervisor, a specialist, a researcher, or an educator.

The requirements during the first two years of study include courses in biology, chemistry, and mathematics, along with courses in the humanities and social and behavioral sciences. The junior and senior years combine clinical experiences in the affiliated clinical laboratories with advanced academic study in the CLS disciplines.

The program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). Graduates of the program are eligible to take the national certification examination for the Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) given by the Board of Certification of the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP).

It is a policy of the College of Health Professions that each student must provide a Health Report completed by a physician or licensed healthcare provider. Certain Immunizations are required prior to beginning classes in the CLS program and before the student can be placed in a clinical or internship assignment. Information on these requirements and forms may be obtained through the program office.

Prior to beginning classes in the CLS program. students are required to have a background check. As a condition for placement in professional practice sites, students will be required to have a and drug screening and meet other requirements set by individual sites. Information on the background check and drug screening process will be provided by the CLS Program.

The Clinical Laboratory Science (CLS) Program at Texas State provides clinical placements for all CLS students entering the clinical year (senior year / 2^nd year of post baccalaureate) in good academic standing. Clinical placements are carefully and methodically assigned while taking into account transportation issues, types of clinical affiliates, and student characteristics. In the event a clinical affiliate is unable to fulfill their prior obligation, alternative clinical rotations will be sought at other affiliate institutions. In the very unlikely event alternative clinical rotations are unable to be secured; affected students will be reassigned to the first available rotation site. The next available clinical rotation will occur as soon as possible but no later than one year from the time the rotation was cancelled. If the clinical rotation cancellation occurs after clinical rotations have commenced, the affected student will be placed first in the queue to receive the first available clinical rotation slot that will occur no later than one year after the cancellation. If the clinical rotation cancellation occurs prior to the start of clinical rotations, affected students will be selected based on GPA calculated from performance in the CLS courses. Students with the lowest GPAs will be required to relinquish their clinical rotation slots which will delay clinical rotations.