Bachelor of Science: Clinical Laboratory Sciences
VCU
The Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences (CLS) at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) offers a course of study for certified MLTs leading to the Bachelor of Science degree in Clinical Laboratory Sciences. MLTs, who hold an associate degree in medical technology from Reynolds Community College and are actively certified as medical laboratory technicians, may be granted credit in the undergraduate CLS program for upper-level course requirements through challenge examinations or exemptions based on documented competencies in required laboratory skills. In addition, students who meet the exemption eligibility requirements for the junior level laboratory portions of the curriculum may take the didactic courses online. Both full-time and part-time students are accepted into the program. The degree completion program, including prerequisite courses, requires a total of 125 semester credits, which are earned through course enrollment at VCU, transfer credit from other institutions of higher education, and credits based on documented competencies.
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 moderate and highly complex 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.
- Health Educator
- Medical Laboratory Scientist
- MLS(ASCP)/Medical Technologist
- Occupational Health and Safety Technician
- Quality Control Analyst
- Laboratory Manager
- Laboratory Supervisor
- Lead Scientist Microbiologist
- Molecular and Cellular Biologist
Telephone: (804) 827-1349
Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu
VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist
Telephone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638
Email: ugrad@vcu.edu
Apply Here.
Review Baccalaureate Degree Completion Guidelines
Completion of associate degree (A.A.S. in Medical Laboratory Technology)
Minimum GPA of 2.0
Complete all general education and science prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of "C.
Submit documentation of active MLT national certification.
- MATH 151
- 5+ additional science courses
- No
- Yes
- 2.5
Bachelor of Science: Clinical Laboratory Sciences
Reynolds Community College (program specific pathway) (Associate of Applied Science: Medical Laboratory Technology)
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING | GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY | DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY | EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS | PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE | ||
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Explore | Year 1 |
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Experience | Year 2 |
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MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Attend Reynolds Orientation (SOAR).
- Register for SDV 101.
- Use Navigate to schedule an appointment with your advisor.
- Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
- Review admission requirements for the degree completion program in the VCU MLT Guidelines.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Get involved with student clubs and organizations.
- Volunteer for service learning or community service projects.
- Learn about the VCU MLT Degree Completion program admission process.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
- Attend cultural events at community college and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
- Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Browse careers related to clinical laboratory sciences through the Virginia Wizard.
- Explore the community college’s iGrad’s Job Genius Search Engine to look into building a career and financial future.
- Build a LinkedIn profile.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Take a career assessment through the Virginia Wizard.
- Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
- Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
- Familiarize yourself with the Career Services offered at Community College and VCU and explore Career Pathways on VCU Career Services’ Website.
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Meet with your academic advisor.
- Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
- Research scholarship opportunities and explore your eligibility for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant.
- Review curriculum requirements for the degree completion program in the VCU MLT Guidelines.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
- Review VCU MLT Guidelines.
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, or clinical lab-related events.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Attend Career & Internship Fairs at community college or VCU to explore your interests.
- Plan to complete at least two internships (job experiences) before your senior year of college.
- Create a draft resume and bring it to career services advisor or workshop for review.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
- Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
- Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
- Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
- Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
Bachelor of Science: Clinical Laboratory Sciences
Reynolds Community College (program specific pathway) (Associate of Applied Science: Medical Laboratory Technology)
Course | Title | Equivalent course | Credits | Requirements |
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A.A.S. in Medical Laboratory Technology requirements | ||||
SDV 101 | Orientation to Health Science | UNIV 101 | 1 | Elective |
BIO 145 | Basic Human Anatomy and Physiology | BIOL/Z 201 | 4 | Major (admission prerequisite) |
CHM 111 | General Chemistry I | CHEM/Z 101 | 4 | Major (admission prerequisite) |
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) |
ENG 112 | College Composition II | UNIV 200 | 3 | General education (admission prerequisite) |
ITE 115 | Introduction to Computer Applications | INFO 160, 161, 162 | 3 | Elective |
MTH 161 | Precalculus I | MATH 141 | 3 | General education (admission prerequisite) |
Social/Behavioral | Social/Behavioral (select from courses in anthropology, economics, geography, psychology, sociology or social sciences) | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education (admission prerequisite) |
Humanities/Fine Arts | Humanities/Fine Arts (select from courses in history, philosophy, political science, religion, foreign languages, literature, or art history/arts) | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education (admission prerequisite) |
HLT/PED | Personal Wellness elective | VCU equivalent | 1 | Elective |
MDL 100 | Intro. To Medical Laboratory Techniques | 2 | Major | |
MDL 110 | Urinalysis and Body Fluids | 3 | Major | |
MDL 125 | Clinical Hematology I | 3 | Major | |
MDL 190 | Coordinated Practice in Phlebotomy | 2 | Major | |
MDL 210 | Immunology and Serology | 3 | Major | |
MDL 216 | Blood Banking | 3 | Major | |
MDL 225 | Clinical Hematology II | 3 | Major | |
MDL 251 | Clinical Microbiology I | 3 | Major | |
MDL 252 | Clinical Microbiology II | 3 | Major | |
MDL 261 | Clinical Chemistry and Instrumentation I | 4 | Major | |
MDL 281 | Clinical Correlations (online course) | 1 | Major | |
MDL 290 | Coordinated Practice in Blood Bank/Transfusion Medicine | 2 | Major | |
MDL 290 | Coordinated Practice in Clinical Chemistry | 2 | Major | |
MDL 290 | Coordinated Practice in Hematology | 2 | Major | |
MDL 290 | Coordinated Practice in Microbiology | 2 | Major | |
Credits completed for AAS degree | 66 | |||
Additional science prerequisites | ||||
BIOLOGY | An additional 8 credits of Biology (BIO 101-102 or BIO 141-142) | BIOL | 8 | Major (admission prerequisite) |
CHM 112 | General Chemistry II | CHEM/Z 102 | 4 | Major (admission prerequisite) |
CHM 241 | Organic Chemistry I | CHEM 301 | 3 | Major (admission prerequisite) |
CHM 243 | Organic Chemistry I Lab | CHEZ 302 | 1 | Major (admission prerequisite) |
Total additional credits | 16 | |||
VCU will award proficiency credits to students admitted to the program after completion of the AAS degree. The total number of proficiency credits awarded to students for upper-level course requirements will be determined by VCU after transfer through challenge examinations or exemptions based on documented competencies in required laboratory skills. |
Course | Title | Credits | Requirements |
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CLLS 301 | Hematology (students will be eligible for 1.5 proficiency credits for this course) | 2 to 3.5 | Major |
CLLS 302 | Abnormal Hematology | 4 | Major |
CLLS 304 | Urine and Body Fluid Analysis (students will be eligible for .5 proficiency credits for this course) | 1.5 to 2 | Major |
CLLS 306 | Immunohematology (students will be eligible for 2 proficiency credits for this course) | 2.5 to 4.5 | Major |
CLLS 307 | Introduction to Pathogenic Microbiology | 3 | Major |
CLLS 308 | Pathogenic Bacteriology (students will be eligible for 2 proficiency credits for this course) | 3 to 5 | Major |
CLLS 310 | Clinical Immunology (students will be eligible for 1 proficiency credit for this course) | 3.5 to 4.5 | Major |
CLLS 311 | Clinical Chemistry and Instrumentation I (students will be eligible for 2 proficiency credits for this course) | 3 to 5 | Major |
CLLS 312 | Clinical Chemistry and Instrumentation II (students will be eligible for 1 proficiency credit for this course) | 4 to 5 | Major |
CLLS 337 | Clinical Education (students will be eligible for 1 proficiency credit for this course) | 0 to 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 (students will be eligible for 3 proficiency credits for this course) | 0 to 3 | Major |
CLLS 485 | Hematology Practicum (students will be eligible for 3 proficiency credits for this course) | 0 to 3 | Major |
CLLS 493 | Clinical Microbiology Practicum (students will be eligible for 3 proficiency credits for this course | 0 to 3 | Major |
CLLS 494 | Miscellaneous Clinical Practicum (students will be eligible for 3 proficiency credits for this course | 0 to 3 | Major |
CLLS 496 | Blood Bank Practicum (students will be eligible for 3 proficiency credits for this course | 0 to 3 | Major |
CLLS 438 | Research Paper | 1 | Elective |
Credits completed at VCU | 40 to 66 | ||
Minimum number of credits required for bachelor's degree | 125 |