Clinical Laboratory Sciences
| Degree: | Bachelor of Science (B.S.) |
| Major: | Clinical Laboratory Sciences |
| Specialization: | MLT to MLS |
| Certificates: | Categorical Concentration in Core Lab (Hematology & Clinical Chemistry) Technologist in Clinical Chemistry Technologist in Hematology Technologist in Microbiology |
| Department: | Medical Laboratory Sciences Building 58, Room 79 850-474-2882 http://uwf.edu/mls |
| College: | Usha Kundu, MD College of Health |
| CIP Code: | 51.1005 |
| Semester Hours Required For Degree: 120-122 | |
ADDENDUM - 6/25/2024
The B.S. in Clinical Laboratory Sciences (formerly Medical Technology) is a degree accredited by:
The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS)
5600 N. River Rd, Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018-5119
Telephone (773) 714-8880 or at http://www.naacls.org/
Building upon a foundation of biology and chemistry courses, the Clinical Laboratory Sciences (CLS) Program prepares students to enter the CLS profession through advanced hands-on training in the clinical laboratory sciences.
Upon completion of the program and the achievement of certification and license, clinical laboratory scientists are employed in a variety of health-care settings as laboratory technologists, progressing to supervisory and management positions. A majority of students graduating with this degree work in clinical laboratories. Others may work in research labs, reference labs, public health labs, blood banks, crime labs, or physicians’ office labs.
The Medical Laboratory Sciences program has two different tracks to earn a B.S. in Clinical Laboratory Sciences; a traditional B.S. in Clinical Laboratory Sciences and an MLT to MLS B.S. in Clinical Laboratory Sciences.
The B.S. in Clinical Laboratory Sciences (formerly Medical Technology) is a degree accredited by:
The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS)
5600 N. River Rd, Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018-5119
Telephone (773) 714-8880 or at http://www.naacls.org/
Traditional B.S. in Clinical Laboratory Sciences
Admission Requirements
In addition to the University's general admission requirements as described in the Undergraduate Admissions section of the catalog, students seeking admission to the Medical Laboratory Sciences program must meet additional requirements at the time of application. Upon completion of the prerequisite courses listed below and other graduation requirements, the student is eligible to apply for selection into the clinical year. It should be noted that admission into the Clinical Laboratory Sciences Program’s clinical year (19 months) is on a competitive basis and is limited to 40 students per class. The clinical year begins with three semesters of on-campus courses and lab work followed by two semesters of advanced clinical laboratory training at one of the affiliate hospitals. Note that meeting minimum standards does not guarantee admission into the program. Students who complete the prerequisite coursework at another university may apply and be admitted to UWF-based clinical training, provided they meet the selection criteria. The program selection criteria are based on the following:
- A minimum overall GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
- Completion of General Education requirements
- Completion of all the prerequisite coursework with a grade of "C-" or better
- Submission of a departmental application
- Personal interview with the selection committee
- Recommendation letters
The accelerated nature of this program makes it desirable that students entering UWF as juniors have completed the prerequisites or equivalents listed below. Students with deficiencies may need two years to complete the lower division and junior-year prerequisites in order to be eligible for selection into the clinical year.
Upon admission, the MLS student will receive information concerning current UWF MLS requirements for progression to the clinical training courses. These include, but may not be limited to student health physical examination; hospital required immunizations; TB test, criminal background check; Florida training license; proof of health insurance; and drug screen.
Degree Requirements
A grade of “C” or higher is required in each programmatic course (4000-level courses with an MLS prefix).
Progression
The following requirements must be met to remain and progress in the MLS program track:
- A grade of “C” or higher is required in each programmatic course (4000-level clinical courses with an MLS prefix) and a grade of "C" or higher on clinical lab practical exams.
- Completion of the programmatic coursework within two years of beginning a clinical internship
- Students may only have one MLS course or clinical lab exam grade below a "C." That course and/or clinical lab exam will have to be repeated to make a "C" or better.
- Withdrawing from a course is considered the same as receiving below a "C" in a graded course.
- Students repeating an MLS course must also repeat the corequisite lab.
- While in the program, if the student’s criminal status changes, the student must disclose this to the MLS department within three (3) business days of the offense. Failure to disclose will result in dismissal from the program. Absolute honesty is essential. Clinical practice facilities have the right to refuse to permit a student to attend practice in their facility due to criminal charges. If a student is denied access to clinical practice, this could result in the inability to complete clinical requirements resulting in a course failure and dismissal from the MLS program.
- Students who are not enrolled for two or more consecutive semesters will be required to resubmit all criminal background check materials at the time of re-entry.
Program Dismissal
Dismissal from the program may occur in the following instances:
- Failure to maintain the academic and professional standards specified in the program handbook
- Earning two grades below a "C" in MLS courses or withdrawing from two MLS courses.
General Education
In addition to the General Education requirements listed on this page, students must satisfy all additional University requirements, including the College-Level Communication and Computation, multicultural, and foreign language requirements. With appropriate planning and coordination with an academic advisor, students may satisfy some of the general University requirements through the General Education curriculum. For a complete listing of general degree requirements, refer to the University Requirements section of this catalog.
General Education Curriculum:
Multicultural Requirement
Civic Literacy Requirement
The 2017 Florida Legislature amended Section 1007.25, Florida Statutes, to require students initially entering a State University System (SUS) and/or Florida College System (FCS) institution in 2018-2019 and thereafter to demonstrate competency in civic literacy. The 2021 Legislature further amended Florida Statutes, requiring students to complete both a civic literacy course and an exam. As a result, there are three cohorts of students currently matriculating at Florida public institutions subject to varying requirements. As demonstrated in the table below, the exact civic literacy requirements are based on the academic term in which a student first enrolled in a Florida public institution.
| Students Included in Cohort | Civic Literacy Competency Requirement |
| Cohort 1: Students first entering the SUS or FCS prior to fall 2018 | None |
| Cohort 2: Students first entering the SUS or FCS in fall 2018 – summer A 2021 | Complete a course or exam (course options AMH 2020, POS 2041 ) |
| Cohort 3: Students first entering the SUS or FCS in summer B 2021 (on or after July 1, 2021) and thereafter | Complete both a course and exam (course options AMH 2020, POS 2041) |
Additionally, the 2021 Legislature made two additional exceptions: approving the use of accelerated mechanisms for meeting the course competency requirement and exempting high school students who pass the Florida Civic Literacy Exam in high school from the postsecondary exam requirement. These two changes are in effect for Cohort 3.
There are multiple ways to satisfy this requirement. Students should work with their academic advisor to determine which option is best for their degree requirements/degree plan.
Additional information can be found on our Civic Literacy website, SUS regulation BOG 8.006 and Florida Statute s.1007.25(4,a-b).
Mathematics Pathway
Students are advised to complete the following courses to fulfill the mathematics pathway that aligns with the mathematics skills needed for success in their program and their career goals. Students should refer to their academic advisor for questions about the math pathway for their program. For information about this requirement, refer to the catalog page for Mathematics Pathways. These courses may also fulfill requirements for General Education and Common Prerequisites.
| Algebra through Calculus | ||
| Students will be placed on a starting point based on their mathematics placement. | ||
| MAC 1105 | College Algebra | 3 |
| or MAC 1105C | College Algebra with Lab | |
| STA 2023 | Elements of Statistics | 3 |
Common Prerequisites
State-mandated common prerequisites must be completed prior to graduation, but are not required for admission to the program. See the Common Prerequisite Manual for course substitutions from Florida colleges and universities.
| BSC 1085+L | Anatomy and Physiology I (+Lab) * | 4 |
| BSC 1086+L | Anatomy and Physiology II (+Lab) * | 4 |
| CHM 2045+L | General Chemistry I (+Lab) * | 4 |
| CHM 2046+L | General Chemistry II (+Lab) * | 4 |
| CHM 2210+L | Organic Chemistry I (+Lab) | 4 |
| MCB 3020+L | Microbiology (+Lab) | 4 |
| STA 2023 | Elements of Statistics * | 3 |
| BSC 2010+L | Biology I (+Lab) * | 4 |
| Total Hours | 31 | |
- *
Indicates common prerequisites which can be used to satisfy General Education requirements.
Major
| MLS 4191+L | Molecular Diagnostics (+Lab) + | 4 |
| MLS 4505+L | Clinical Immunology (+Lab) + | 4 |
| MLS 4220+L | Urinalysis/Body Fluids I (+Lab) + | 2 |
| MLS 4305+L | Hematology I (+Lab) + | 4 |
| MLS 4334+L | Hemostasis and Thrombosis (+Lab) + | 2 |
| MLS 4460+L | Diagnostic Microbiology I (+Lab) + | 4 |
| MLS 4462+L | Medical Microbiology (+Lab) + | 4 |
| MLS 4550+L | Immunohematology I (+Lab) + | 4 |
| MLS 4625+L | Clinical Chemistry I (+Lab) + | 3 |
| MLS 4630+L | Clinical Chemistry II (+Lab) + | 3 |
| MLS 4705 | Special Clinical Topics + | 1 |
| MLS 4820L | Clinical Chemistry III + | 4 |
| MLS 4821L | Diagnostic Microbiology II + | 4 |
| MLS 4822L | Hematology II + | 4 |
| MLS 4823L | Immunohematology II + | 4 |
| MLS 4824L | Special Clinical Methods + | 2 |
| MLS 4825L | Urinalysis/Body Fluids II + | 2 |
| Total Hours | 55 | |
- +
Courses included in the major GPA.
Major-Related
| MLS 3032C | Applications in Clinical and Biotech Laboratories | 3 |
| HSC 3555 | Pathophysiology | 3 |
| BCH 3033 | Biochemistry I | 3 |
| or MLS 3621 | Clinical Biochemistry | |
| PCB 3063 | Genetics | 3 |
| or MLS 3194 | Clinical Genetics | |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
The B.S. in Clinical Laboratory Sciences (formerly Medical Technology) is a degree accredited by:
The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS)
5600 N. River Rd, Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018-5119
Telephone (773) 714-8880 or at http://www.naacls.org/
Clinical Laboratory Sciences MLT to MLS
Program Requirements
Upon completion of the program and the achievement of certification and license, medical laboratory scientists are employed in a variety of healthcare settings, progressing to supervisory and management positions. A majority of students graduating with this degree will work in clinical and military laboratories. Others will work in research labs, reference labs, public-health labs, blood banks, crime labs, physicians’ office labs, and so on. Medical Laboratory Technicians (MLT) with an Associate’s degree in Clinical Laboratory Sciences that included a training internship and who are credentialed by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), American Medical Technologists (AMT) or American Association of Bioanalysts (AAB) as a Medical Laboratory Technician qualify for admission into the Clinical Laboratory Sciences MLT to MLS specialization.
- Not all states authorize online programs, if you are residing outside of Florida you will want to check the status of your state's acceptance of this program: UWF State Authorization Status. Some U.S. states have special training requirements. Students seeking state licensure in California and New York may need to complete additional training hours to comply with state license requirements.
This program will not meet immigration requirements for students holding an F1 or J1 Visa to maintain status. Contact International Affairs for further information.
Acceptance to the University does not constitute admission to the upper-division Clinical Laboratory Sciences program. Students entering UWF who declare a major in Clinical Laboratory Sciences will automatically be placed in a pending status until they meet the requirements for admission. At the time of admission to the university, potential students must already have completed an MLT program that includes clinical training courses and are currently certified as a generalist MLT (ASCP, AMT, AAB, cannot be provisional).
Admission Requirements
In addition to the University's general admission requirements, students in the MLT to MLS specialization program must meet the following requirements at the time of application:
- Associate of Science in Medical Laboratory Technology degree from a NAACLS or ABHES accredited program and completion of the general education, common, and upper-division prerequisites of the program; or military training as a Medical Laboratory Technician, ASCP certified, and completed an Associate of Arts degree and the general education, common, and upper-division prerequisites of the program.
- The MLT program must include clinical training courses.
- Minimum overall GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
- Completion of all the prerequisite coursework with a grade of "C-" or better.
- A grade of "C" or higher is required in each programmatic course (4000-level clinical courses with an MLS prefix).
- Two years of full-time work as an MLT in the last 5 years.
- If graduated in the last year from an accredited program, must be working at the time of acceptance into the MLT to MLS program.
- Current certification as an MLT by ASCP, AMT, or AAB.
- Cannot be provisional.
- Submission of a departmental application.
- Recommendation letters as requested.
Progression Requirements
- A grade of "C" or higher is required in each programmatic course (4000-level clinical courses with an MLS prefix).
- Students may only have one 4000-level MLS course grade below a "C" and will have to repeat the course successfully.
- Withdrawing from a course is considered the same as receiving below a "C" in a graded course.
Dismissal from the program may occur in the following instances:
- Failure to maintain the academic and professional standards specified in the program handbook.
- Earning two grades below a "C" in programmatic coursework or withdrawing from two programmatic courses.
General Education
In addition to the General Education requirements listed on this page, students must satisfy all additional University requirements, including the College-Level Communication and Computation, multicultural, and foreign language requirements. With appropriate planning and coordination with an academic advisor, students may satisfy some of the general University requirements through the General Education curriculum. For a complete listing of general degree requirements, refer to the University Requirements section of this catalog.
General Education Curriculum:
Multicultural Requirement
Civic Literacy Requirement
The 2017 Florida Legislature amended Section 1007.25, Florida Statutes, to require students initially entering a State University System (SUS) and/or Florida College System (FCS) institution in 2018-2019 and thereafter to demonstrate competency in civic literacy. The 2021 Legislature further amended Florida Statutes, requiring students to complete both a civic literacy course and an exam. As a result, there are three cohorts of students currently matriculating at Florida public institutions subject to varying requirements. As demonstrated in the table below, the exact civic literacy requirements are based on the academic term in which a student first enrolled in a Florida public institution.
| Students Included in Cohort | Civic Literacy Competency Requirement |
| Cohort 1: Students first entering the SUS or FCS prior to fall 2018 | None |
| Cohort 2: Students first entering the SUS or FCS in fall 2018 – summer A 2021 | Complete a course or exam (course options AMH 2020, POS 2041 ) |
| Cohort 3: Students first entering the SUS or FCS in summer B 2021 (on or after July 1, 2021) and thereafter | Complete both a course and exam (course options AMH 2020, POS 2041) |
Additionally, the 2021 Legislature made two additional exceptions: approving the use of accelerated mechanisms for meeting the course competency requirement and exempting high school students who pass the Florida Civic Literacy Exam in high school from the postsecondary exam requirement. These two changes are in effect for Cohort 3.
There are multiple ways to satisfy this requirement. Students should work with their academic advisor to determine which option is best for their degree requirements/degree plan.
Additional information can be found on our Civic Literacy website, SUS regulation BOG 8.006 and Florida Statute s.1007.25(4,a-b).
Mathematics Pathway
Students are advised to complete the following courses to fulfill the mathematics pathway that aligns with the mathematics skills needed for success in their program and their career goals. Students should refer to their academic advisor for questions about the math pathway for their program. For information about this requirement, refer to the catalog page for Mathematics Pathways. These courses may also fulfill requirements for General Education and Common Prerequisites.
| Algebra through Calculus | ||
| Students will be placed on a starting point based on their mathematics placement. | ||
| MAC 1105 | College Algebra | 3-4 |
| or MAC 1105C | College Algebra with Lab | |
| STA 2023 | Elements of Statistics | 3 |
Common Prerequisites
State-mandated common prerequisites must be completed prior to acceptance into the MLT to MLS specialization. See the Common Prerequisites for course substitutions from Florida colleges and universities.
| CHM 2045+L | General Chemistry I (+Lab) * | 4 |
| CHM 2046+L | General Chemistry II (+Lab) * | 4 |
| BSC 1085+L | Anatomy and Physiology I (+Lab) * | 4 |
| CHM 2210 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| MCB 3020+L | Microbiology (+Lab) (or MCB 2010C) | 4 |
| STA 2023 | Elements of Statistics * | 3 |
| Choose one of the following options: | 4 | |
Option 1 | ||
| Biology I (+Lab) * | ||
Option 2 | ||
| Anatomy and Physiology II (+Lab) * | ||
| Total Hours | 26 | |
- *
Common prerequisites which can be used to satisfy General Education requirements.
Lower Division Electives
| Students must complete sufficient 1000/2000 level electives to satisfy at least 60 semester hours in the lower division. Current UWF students may use elective courses at any level (1000-4000) to meet this elective requirement. | 4 | |
| Total Hours | 4 | |
Major
| MLS 4193C | Molecular Diagnostics for the MLT to MLS track + | 4 |
| MLS 4506C | Clinical Immunology for the MLT to MLS track + | 4 |
| MLS 4221C | Urinalysis/Body Fluids for the MLT to MLS track + | 3 |
| MLS 4306C | Hematology for the MLT to MLS track + | 4 |
| MLS 4335C | Hemostasis and Thrombosis for the MLT to MLS track + | 3 |
| MLS 4461C | Diagnostic Microbiology for the MLT to MLS track + | 4 |
| MLS 4463C | Medical Microbiology for the MLT to MLS track + | 4 |
| MLS 4552C | Immunohematology for the MLT to MLS track + | 4 |
| MLS 4626C | Clinical Chemistry I for the MLT to MLS + | 3 |
| MLS 4704 | Clinical Management Portfolio for the MLT to MLS track + ** | 3 |
| MLS 4631C | Clinical Chemistry II for the MLT to MLS + | 3 |
| Total Hours | 39 | |
- **
College-Level Communication Skills course.
- +
Courses included in the major GPA.
Major-Related
| MLS 3194 | Clinical Genetics + | 3 |
| HSC 3555 | Pathophysiology + | 3 |
| or HSC 3535 | Medical Terminology | |
| MLS 3621 | Clinical Biochemistry + | 3 |
| Total Hours | 9 | |
Upper Division Electives
| Students must complete sufficient 3000/4000 level electives to meet UWF’s requirement of 48 semester hours in the upper division or complete all departmental requirements at the 3000/4000 level, whichever is greater. | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
Up to 12 semester hours of MLT courses will be validated for transfer credit based upon MLT certification and successful completion of the major courses in the program.
Graduation requirements stipulate a student must earn the last 30 hours of coursework at the University of West Florida.
Categorical Concentration in Core Lab (Hematology & Clinical Chemistry) Certificate
Individuals with a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college/university in Biology, Chemistry, or Biomedical Sciences can complete the requirements to become a Technologist in the departments of Hematology, Clinical Chemistry, and Body Fluids through this innovative online + internship curriculum. After completion, the candidate may sit for the categorical exam in Hematology and Clinical Chemistry, and become certified as a Technologist in Chemistry C(ASCP) and Hematology H(ASCP). The certification qualifies the candidate for positions in the Clinical Chemistry and Hematology sections of medical facilities.
- Not all states authorize categorical certification. If you are residing or planning to reside outside of Florida you will want to check the status of your state's acceptance of a categorical certification: UWF State Authorization Status. Some U.S. states have special training requirements or do not license in specific laboratory categories. It is the student's responsibility to research state licensure requirements.
The program is limited to employees of institutions currently affiliated with the Medical Laboratory Sciences Department at the University of West Florida. Students are expected to perform the internship courses of the curriculum at their place of employment.
Admission Requirements
Students seeking admission to the Medical Laboratory Sciences (MLS) Certificate Program must meet the requirements at the time of application. The program selection criteria are based on the following:
- A minimum overall GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale from their bachelor's degree
- Bachelor's degree in Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Chemistry, or a related discipline
- Completion of all science prerequisite coursework with a grade of "C-" or better
- Submission of a departmental application
- Personal interview with the certificate coordinator
- Recommendation letters
- Submission of an eligibility form
- Currently employed at one of the UWF MLS affiliates
- Those residing in proximity to an affiliated institution, yet not employed there, may be evaluated on an individual basis.
Students with prerequisite deficiencies may take longer to complete the program.
Upon admission, the MLS student will receive information concerning current UWF MLS requirements for progression to the clinical training courses. These include, but may not be limited to student health physical examination; hospital required immunizations; TB test; criminal background check; Florida training license; proof of health insurance; and drug screen.
Certificate Requirements
A grade of “C” or higher is required in each programmatic course (4000-level courses with an MLS prefix).
Progression
The following requirements must be met to remain and progress in the MLS program track:
- A grade of “C” or higher is required in each programmatic course (4000-level clinical courses with an MLS prefix) and a grade of "C" or higher on clinical lab practical exams.
- Completion of the programmatic coursework within two years of beginning a clinical internship.
- Students may only have one MLS course or clinical lab exam grade below a "C." That course or clinical lab exam will have to be repeated to make a "C" or better.
- Withdrawing from a course is considered the same as receiving below a "C" in a graded course.
- Students repeating an MLS course must also repeat the corequisite lab.
- While in the program, if the student’s criminal status changes, the student must disclose this to the MLS department within three (3) business days of the offense. Failure to disclose will result in dismissal from the program. Absolute honesty is essential. Clinical practice facilities have the right to refuse to permit a student to attend practice in their facility due to criminal charges. If a student is denied access to clinical practice, this could result in the inability to complete clinical requirements resulting in a course failure and dismissal from the MLS program.
- Students who are not enrolled for two or more consecutive semesters will be required to resubmit criminal background check materials and repeat drug screen at the time of re-entry.
Program Dismissal
Dismissal from the program may occur in the following instances:
- Failure to maintain the academic and professional standards specified in the program handbook.
- Earning two grades below a "C" in MLS courses or withdrawing from two MLS courses.
Required Courses
Prerequisite courses include Human Physiology, Genetics, and Biochemistry.
| MLS 4306C | Hematology for the MLT to MLS track | 4 |
| MLS 4335C | Hemostasis and Thrombosis for the MLT to MLS track | 3 |
| MLS 4221C | Urinalysis/Body Fluids for the MLT to MLS track | 3 |
| MLS 4626C | Clinical Chemistry I for the MLT to MLS | 3 |
| MLS 4631C | Clinical Chemistry II for the MLT to MLS | 3 |
| MLS 4705 | Special Clinical Topics | 1 |
| MLS 4820L | Clinical Chemistry III | 4 |
| MLS 4822L | Hematology II | 4 |
| MLS 4193C | Molecular Diagnostics for the MLT to MLS track | 4 |
| MLS 4506C | Clinical Immunology for the MLT to MLS track | 4 |
| Total Hours | 33 | |
Technologist in Clinical Chemistry Certificate
Individuals with a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college/university in Biology, Chemistry, or Biomedical Sciences can complete the requirements to become a Technologist in the department of Clinical Chemistry through this innovative online + internship curriculum. After completion, the candidate may sit for the categorical exam in Clinical Chemistry, and become certified as a Technologist in Chemistry C(ASCP). The certification qualifies the candidate for positions in the Clinical Chemistry sections of medical facilities.
- Not all states authorize categorical certification. If you are residing or planning to reside outside of Florida you will want to check the status of your state's acceptance of a categorical certification: UWF State Authorization Status. Some U.S. states have special training requirements or do not license in specific laboratory categories. It is the student's responsibility to research state licensure requirements.
The program is limited to employees of institutions currently affiliated with the Medical Laboratory Sciences Department at the University of West Florida. Students are expected to perform the internship courses of the curriculum at their place of employment.
Admission Requirements
Students seeking admission to the Medical Laboratory Sciences (MLS) Certificate Program must meet the requirements at the time of application. The program selection criteria are based on the following:
- A minimum overall GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale from their bachelor's degree
- Bachelor's degree in Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Chemistry, or a related discipline
- Completion of all science prerequisite coursework with a grade of "C-" or better
- Submission of a departmental application
- Personal interview with the certificate coordinator
- Recommendation letters
- Submission of an eligibility form
- Currently employed at one of the UWF MLS affiliates
- Those residing in proximity to an affiliated institution, yet not employed there, may be evaluated on an individual basis.
Students with prerequisite deficiencies may take longer to complete the program.
Upon admission, the MLS student will receive information concerning current UWF MLS requirements for progression to the clinical training courses. These include, but may not be limited to student health physical examination; hospital required immunizations; TB test; criminal background check; Florida training license; proof of health insurance; and drug screen.
Certificate Requirements
A grade of “C” or higher is required in each programmatic course (4000-level courses with an MLS prefix).
Progression
The following requirements must be met to remain and progress in the MLS program track:
- A grade of "C" or higher is required in each programmatic course (4000-level clinical courses with an MLS prefix) and a grade of "C" or higher on clinical lab practical exams.
- Completion of the programmatic coursework within two years of beginning a clinical internship.
- Students may only have one MLS course or clinical lab exam grade below a "C." That course and/or clinical lab exam will have to be repeated to make a "C" or better.
- Withdrawing from a course is considered the same as receiving below a "C" in a graded course.
- Students repeating an MLS course must also repeat the corequisite lab.
- While in the program, if the student’s criminal status changes, the student must disclose this to the MLS department within three (3) business days of the offense. Failure to disclose will result in dismissal from the program. Absolute honesty is essential. Clinical practice facilities have the right to refuse to permit a student to attend practice in their facility due to criminal charges. If a student is denied access to clinical practice, this could result in the inability to complete clinical requirements resulting in a course failure and dismissal from the MLS program.
- Students who are not enrolled for two or more consecutive semesters will be required to resubmit criminal background check materials and repeat drug screen at the time of re-entry.
Program Dismissal
Dismissal from the program may occur in the following instances:
- Failure to maintain the academic and professional standards specified in the program handbook.
- Earning two grades below a "C" in MLS courses or withdrawing from two MLS courses.
Required Courses
Prerequisite courses include Human Physiology, Genetics, and Biochemistry.
| MLS 4221C | Urinalysis/Body Fluids for the MLT to MLS track | 3 |
| MLS 4626C | Clinical Chemistry I for the MLT to MLS | 3 |
| MLS 4631C | Clinical Chemistry II for the MLT to MLS | 3 |
| MLS 4705 | Special Clinical Topics | 1 |
| MLS 4820L | Clinical Chemistry III | 4 |
| MLS 4193C | Molecular Diagnostics for the MLT to MLS track | 4 |
| MLS 4506C | Clinical Immunology for the MLT to MLS track | 4 |
| Total Hours | 22 | |
Technologist in Hematology Certificate
Individuals with a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college/university in Biology, Chemistry, or Biomedical Sciences can complete the requirements to become a Technologist in the departments of Hematology and Body Fluids through this innovative online + internship curriculum. After completion, the candidate may sit for the categorical exam in Hematology and Clinical Chemistry, and become certified as a Technologist in Hematology H(ASCP). The certification qualifies the candidate for positions in the Hematology sections of medical facilities.
- Not all states authorize categorical certification. If you are residing or planning to reside outside of Florida you will want to check the status of your state's acceptance of a categorical certification: UWF State Authorization Status. Some U.S. states have special training requirements or do not license in specific laboratory categories. It is the student's responsibility to research state licensure requirements.
The program is limited to employees of institutions currently affiliated with the Medical Laboratory Sciences Department at the University of West Florida. Students are expected to perform the internship courses of the curriculum at their place of employment.
Admission Requirements
Students seeking admission to the Medical Laboratory Sciences (MLS) Certificate Program must meet the requirements at the time of application. The program selection criteria are based on the following:
- A minimum overall GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale from their bachelor's degree
- Bachelor's degree in Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Chemistry, or a related discipline
- Completion of all science prerequisite coursework with a grade of "C-" or better
- Submission of a departmental application
- Personal interview with the certificate coordinator
- Recommendation letters
- Submission of an eligibility form
- Currently employed at one of the UWF MLS affiliates
- Those residing in proximity to an affiliated institution, yet not employed there, may be evaluated on an individual basis.
Students with prerequisite deficiencies may take longer to complete the program.
Upon admission, the MLS student will receive information concerning current UWF MLS requirements for progression to the clinical training courses. These include, but may not be limited to student health physical examination; hospital required immunizations; TB test; criminal background check; Florida training license; proof of health insurance; and drug screen.
Certificate Requirements
A grade of “C” or higher is required in each programmatic course (4000-level courses with an MLS prefix).
Progression
The following requirements must be met to remain and progress in the MLS program track:
- A grade of "C" or higher is required in each programmatic course (4000-level clinical courses with an MLS prefix) and a grade of "C" or higher on clinical lab practical exams.
- Completion of the programmatic coursework within two years of beginning a clinical internship.
- Students may only have one MLS course or clinical lab exam grade below a "C." That course and/or clinical lab exam will have to be repeated to make a "C" or better.
- Withdrawing from a course is considered the same as receiving below a "C" in a graded course.
- Students repeating an MLS course must also repeat the corequisite lab.
- While in the program, if the student’s criminal status changes, the student must disclose this to the MLS department within three (3) business days of the offense. Failure to disclose will result in dismissal from the program. Absolute honesty is essential. Clinical practice facilities have the right to refuse to permit a student to attend practice in their facility due to criminal charges. If a student is denied access to clinical practice, this could result in the inability to complete clinical requirements resulting in a course failure and dismissal from the MLS program.
- Students who are not enrolled for two or more consecutive semesters will be required to resubmit criminal background check materials and repeat drug screen at the time of re-entry.
Program Dismissal
Dismissal from the program may occur in the following instances:
- Failure to maintain the academic and professional standards specified in the program handbook.
- Earning two grades below a "C" in MLS courses or withdrawing from two MLS courses.
Required Courses
Prerequisite courses include Human Physiology, Genetics, and Biochemistry.
| MLS 4306C | Hematology for the MLT to MLS track | 4 |
| MLS 4335C | Hemostasis and Thrombosis for the MLT to MLS track | 3 |
| MLS 4221C | Urinalysis/Body Fluids for the MLT to MLS track | 3 |
| MLS 4705 | Special Clinical Topics | 1 |
| MLS 4822L | Hematology II | 4 |
| MLS 4193C | Molecular Diagnostics for the MLT to MLS track | 4 |
| MLS 4506C | Clinical Immunology for the MLT to MLS track | 4 |
| Total Hours | 23 | |
Technologist in Microbiology Certificate
Individuals with a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college/university in Biology, Chemistry, Microbiology, or Biomedical Sciences can complete the requirements to become a Technologist in Microbiology through this innovative online + internship curriculum. After completion, the candidate may sit for the categorical exam in Microbiology and become certified as a Technologist in Microbiology M(ASCP). The certification qualifies the candidate for positions in the Microbiology section of medical facilities.
- Not all states authorize categorical certification. If you are residing or planning to reside outside of Florida you will want to check the status of your state's acceptance of a categorical certification: UWF State Authorization Status. Some U.S. states have special training requirements or do not license in specific laboratory categories. It is the student's responsibility to research state licensure requirements.
The program is limited to employees of institutions currently affiliated with the Medical Laboratory Sciences Department at the University of West Florida. Students are expected to perform the internship courses of the curriculum at their place of employment.
Admission Requirements
Students seeking admission to the Medical Laboratory Sciences (MLS) Certificate Program must meet the requirements at the time of application. The program selection criteria are based on the following:
- A minimum overall GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale from their bachelor's degree
- Bachelor's degree in Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Microbiology, Chemistry, or a related discipline
- Completion of all science prerequisite coursework with a grade of "C-" or better
- Submission of a departmental application
- Personal interview with the certificate coordinator
- Recommendation letters
- Submission of an eligibility form
- Currently employed at one of the UWF MLS affiliates in a Microbiology Lab or currently employed at an affiliate in the clinical lab and has a reference from the supervisor of the Microbiology Lab
- Those residing in proximity to an affiliated institution, yet not employed there, may be evaluated on an individual basis. The individual must have microbiology experience in a lab outside of coursework.
Students with prerequisite deficiencies may take longer to complete the program.
Upon admission, the MLS student will receive information concerning current UWF MLS requirements for progression to the clinical training courses. These include, but may not be limited to student health physical examination; hospital required immunizations; TB test; criminal background check; Florida training license; proof of health insurance; and drug screen.
Certificate Requirements
A grade of “C” or higher is required in each programmatic course (4000-level courses with an MLS prefix).
Progression
The following requirements must be met to remain and progress in the MLS program track:
- A grade of "C" or higher is required in each programmatic course (4000-level clinical courses with an MLS prefix) and a grade of "C" or higher on clinical lab practical exams.
- Completion of the programmatic coursework within two years of beginning a clinical internship.
- Students may only have one MLS course or clinical lab exam grade below a "C." That course and/or clinical lab exam will have to be repeated to make a "C" or better.
- Withdrawing from a course is considered the same as receiving below a "C" in a graded course.
- Students repeating an MLS course must also repeat the corequisite lab.
- While in the program, if the student’s criminal status changes, the student must disclose this to the MLS department within three (3) business days of the offense. Failure to disclose will result in dismissal from the program. Absolute honesty is essential. Clinical practice facilities have the right to refuse to permit a student to attend practice in their facility due to criminal charges. If a student is denied access to clinical practice, this could result in the inability to complete clinical requirements resulting in a course failure and dismissal from the MLS program.
- Students who are not enrolled for two or more consecutive semesters will be required to resubmit criminal background check materials and repeat drug screen at the time of re-entry.
Program Dismissal
Dismissal from the program may occur in the following instances:
- Failure to maintain the academic and professional standards specified in the program handbook.
- Earning two grades below a "C" in MLS courses or withdrawing from two MLS courses.
Required Courses
Prerequisite courses include Human Physiology, General Microbiology with Lab, Genetics, and Biochemistry.
| MLS 4461C | Diagnostic Microbiology for the MLT to MLS track | 4 |
| MLS 4463C | Medical Microbiology for the MLT to MLS track | 4 |
| MLS 4506C | Clinical Immunology for the MLT to MLS track | 4 |
| MLS 4705 | Special Clinical Topics | 1 |
| MLS 4193C | Molecular Diagnostics for the MLT to MLS track | 4 |
| MLS 4821L | Diagnostic Microbiology II | 4 |
| MLS 4824L | Special Clinical Methods | 2 |
| Total Hours | 23 | |