Major map compass icon
2020-2021

Bachelor of Science: Clinical Laboratory Science

VCU

Community college:
Associate of Science: Health Sciences (Brightpoint Community College (program-specific pathway))
Brightpoint Community College
Program description

Medical laboratory scientists receive training in the following areas: clinical chemistry, the study of chemical reactions that occur in normal and diseased processes; hematology, the study of the cellular elements of the blood and blood-forming tissues and hemostatic mechanism; urine and body fluids analysis, the study of principles and practices of urinalysis, kidney function, and analyses of cerebrospinal fluid and other body fluids; microbiology, the study of microbiological aspects of infectious disease and the isolation and identification of pathogenic bacteria; immunohematology, the application of theory and principles of blood banking, cell typing, compatibility testing and antibody identification; and immunology, the study of the immune system and the serological and molecular techniques used for diagnosing infectious disease. With the rapid advancement of knowledge in the field of laboratory medicine, there is a growing need for highly skilled and knowledgeable clinical laboratory scientists. Employment is found in hospitals; physicians’ offices; research facilities; molecular diagnostics, biotechnology and public health laboratories; industrial quality control; veterinary clinics; and sales and service of health care equipment. In addition to the technical arena, opportunities as managers or consultants exist for graduates of this program.

Upon graduation the student is eligible to take the national examination for medical laboratory science given by the Board of Certification of the American Society for Clinical Pathology.

Career opportunities

Clinical laboratory scientists/ medical technologists perform laboratory testing in various settings to diagnose, monitor and treat diseases. Most clinical laboratory personnel work in hospital laboratories. Many are also employed by private physicians, medical groups, public health and environmental laboratories, research facilities, pharmaceutical and biomedical companies, universities, industrial medical laboratories, molecular diagnostic laboratories and the armed forces. On the job, you would:

  • Conduct analysis of body fluids, such as blood or urine, using microscopes, automated instruments, and manual techniques to detect abnormalities or diseases.
  • Analyze the results of tests or experiments to ensure conformity to specifications, and high quality test results, using special mechanical or electrical devices.
  • Set up, maintain, calibrate, clean, and test sterility of medical laboratory equipment.

With a Master's or Doctoral Degree, you could also manage a Clinical Laboratory, perform clinical and translational research, or teach Clinical Laboratory Science courses in a postsecondary environment.

Bachelor-level job titles
  • Health Educator
  • Medical Laboratory Scientist
  • MLS(ASCP)/Medical Technologist
  • Occupational Health and Safety Technician
  • Quality Control Analyst
Graduate and professional level job titles
  • Laboratory Manager
  • Laboratory Supervisor
  • Lead Scientist Microbiologist
  • Molecular and Cellular Biologist
Contact information

 

VCU Transfer Center

Telephone: (804) 827-1349

Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu

Transfer Advising Request

VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist


Office of Admissions

Telephone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638

Email: ugrad@vcu.edu
Apply Here.

Guaranteed transfer admission requirements

Completion of associate degree
Minimum GPA of 3.0
All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better

Receive a satisfactory rating on the admission interview.

Degree requirements in Bulletin
Highest level of math required
  • MATH 151
Science required
  • 5+ additional science courses
Foreign language requirements
  • No
Additional tuition/fees
  • Yes
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
  • 2.5

Transfer major map
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2020-2021

Bachelor of Science: Clinical Laboratory Science

Brightpoint Community College (program-specific pathway) (Associate of Science: Health Sciences)

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
Explore Year 1
  • Attend Tyler Orientation.
  • Log into Navigate and view its features to help you on your pathway.
  • Register for SDV course.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Visit the Academic Resource Center on either campus.
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor each semester and cultivate relationships with your professors.
  • Review CLS Admission Requirements.
  • Attend diversity-focused events on campus or in your community.
  • Identify a mentor in a diversity organization.
  • Create LinkedIn profile.
  • Get involved with a student or professional organization.
  • Explore the community college’s iGrad Job Genius Search Engine to look into building a career and financial future.
  • Visit career services to begin cultivating your own virtual brand across all social media profiles.
  • Browse careers related to Clinical Laboratory Sciences through the career coach.
Experience Year 2
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Volunteer for service learning or community service projects.
  • Follow the instructions of the CLS transfer admission process.
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week.
  • Find out about VCU REAL.
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs throughout the year.
  • Acquire career related experience (e.g., job, internship, organization involvement).
  • Run for leadership in your student organization.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Attend Tyler Orientation.
  • Log into Navigate and view its features to help you on your pathway.
  • Register for SDV course.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Visit the Academic Resource Center on either campus.
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor each semester and cultivate relationships with your professors.
  • Review CLS Admission Requirements.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Attend diversity-focused events on campus or in your community.
  • Identify a mentor in a diversity organization.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Create LinkedIn profile.
  • Get involved with a student or professional organization.
  • Explore the community college’s iGrad Job Genius Search Engine to look into building a career and financial future.
  • Visit career services to begin cultivating your own virtual brand across all social media profiles.
  • Browse careers related to Clinical Laboratory Sciences through the career coach.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Volunteer for service learning or community service projects.
  • Follow the instructions of the CLS transfer admission process.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Find out about VCU REAL.
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs throughout the year.
  • Acquire career related experience (e.g., job, internship, organization involvement).
  • Run for leadership in your student organization.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.

Recommended courses
Major map compass icon
2020-2021

Bachelor of Science: Clinical Laboratory Science

Brightpoint Community College (program-specific pathway) (Associate of Science: Health Sciences)

Brightpoint Community College (program-specific pathway) courses
Course Title Equivalent course Credits Requirements
SDV 100 or SDV 101 College Success Skills/Orientation to Discipline UNIV 101 1 Elective
ENG 111 College Composition I Note: students with credit for AP English Language and Composition will only receive credit for UNIV 111 at VCU and should take ENG 112 to fulfill the VCU composition requirement. UNIV 111-112 3 General education (Admission Prerequisite-Writing)
MTH 161 Precalculus I MATH 141 3 General education
CHM 111 General Chemistry I CHEM/Z 101 4 Major (Admission Prerequisite-Chemistry)
PSY 230 Developmental Psychology PSYC 304 3 Elective
ENG 112 College Composition II UNIV 200 3 General education (Admission Prerequisite-Writing)
MTH 162 Precalculus II MATH 151 3 Major (Admission Prerequisite-Mathematics)
CHM 112 General Chemistry II CHEM/Z 102 4 Major (Admission Prerequisite-Chemistry)
BIO 141 Human Anatomy and Physiology I (both BIO 141 and BIO 142 must be taken to receive credit for the VCU equivalents) BIOL 205 + PHIS/Z 206 4 Major (Admission Prerequisite-Biology)
BIO 142 Human Anatomy and Physiology II (both BIO 141 and BIO 142 must be taken to receive credit for the VCU equivalents) BIOL 205 + PHIS/Z 206 4 Major (Admission Prerequisite-Biology)
CST 100 Principles of Speech Communication SPCH 121 3 Elective
Health elective BIO 101 General Biology I BIOL/Z 151 4 Major (Admission Prerequisite-Biology)
PHI 101 or PHI 220 Introduction to Philosophy or Ethics PHIL 3 General education (Admission Prerequisite-Humanities)
PSY 200 Principles of Psychology PSYC 101 3 General education (Admission Prerequisite-Social Science)
ART 101 or 102 History and Appreciation of Art I or II ARTH 103 or 104 3 Elective
HLT 230 Principles of Nutrition & Human Development BIOL 217 3 Elective
CHM 241 + CHM 245 Organic Chemistry I + Laboratory CHEM/Z 301 4 Major (Admission Prerequisite-Chemistry)
ENG Select one of the following: ENG 241, ENG 242, ENG 243, ENG 244, ENG 251, ENG 252 ENGL 3 General education
SOC 200 Principles of Sociology SOCY 101 3 General education
John Tyler Credits Transferred to VCU 61
VCU courses
Course Title Credits Requirements
CLLS 301 + CLLS 302 Hematology and Abnormal Hematology 7.5 Major
CLLS 304 Urine and Body Fluid Analysis 2 Major
CLLS 306 Immunohematology 4.5 Major
CLLS 307 Introduction to Pathogenic Microbiology 3 Major
CLLS 308 Pathogenic Bacteriology 5 Major
CLLS 310 Clinical Immunology 4.5 Major
CLLS 311 Clinical Chemistry and Instrumentation I 5 Major
CLLS 312 Clinical Chemistry and Instrumentation II 5 Major
CLLS 337 Clinical Education 1 Major
CLLS 407 Interpretive Immunohematology 2.5 Major
CLLS 408 Advanced Microbiology 2 Major
CLLS 409 Interpretive Hematology 2 Major
CLLS 410 Advanced Clinical Chemistry and Instrumentation 2 Major
CLLS 411 Principles of Education/Management 3 Major
CLLS 412 Senior Seminar 1 Major
CLLS 483 Biochemistry Practicum 3 Major
CLLS 485 Hematology Practicum 3 Major
CLLS 493 Clinical Microbiology Practicum 3 Major
CLLS 494 Miscellaneous Clinical Practicum 3 Major
CLLS 496 Blood Bank Practicum 3 Major
Minimum number of credits completed at VCU 65
Minimum credits required for bachelor's degree 125