Student in biology lab

PLEASE NOTE: Admission to the Clinical Laboratory Sciences M.S. and Ph.D. programs is currently suspended. At this time, we are not accepting new applications.

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The purpose of the master's program in clinical laboratory science is to prepare first-rate laboratorians who are ready to address the challenges of the 21st century. Graduates of the M.S. program have assumed positions as faculty in academia or as laboratory managers in hospitals. The unique aspect of The Catholic University graduate programs and the characteristic that distinguishes them from similar programs is the strength and quality of the clinical experience. Students spend two to four full semesters completing internships or research problems under the direction of renowned laboratory directors and managers in affiliated hospitals. Students have completed projects at Washington Hospital Center, Children’s National Medical Center, and the National Institutes of Health. These clinical experiences are customized to the career needs and goals of each student.

Curriculum

There are two tracks in the program. These are Hematology and Microbiology. Each of these tracks requires completion of 30 credit hours.  Required courses are listed below. Course descriptions are in the course catalogue.

Hematology Track

  • BIOL 538  Gene Organization & Expression (3 credits)
  • BIOL 559  Cell Structure & Function (3 credits)
  • BIOL 586  Molecular Genetics & Recombinant DNA (3 credits)
  • BIOL 693A Clinical Research Problems-Master’s (4 credits)
  • BIOL 727  Methods-Biological Research  (3 credits)
  • BIOL 742  Quality Assurance and Regulations in the Clinical Laboratory (1 credit)
  • BIOL 744  Red & White Blood Cell Disorders (2 credits)
  • BIOL 747 Advanced Hematology (2 credits)
  • BIOL 750  Hematopathology (2 credits)
  • BIOL 781  Clin Lab Sciences/Biotech Seminar (1 credit)*
    *Students take seminar two times for credit; they complete it on a pass/fail basis for all other semesters. The remainder of the 30 credit hours consists of electives selected from the list below.

Clinical Microbiology Track

  • BIOL 538 – Gene Organization and Expression (3 credits)
  • BIOL 559 – Cell Structure and Function (3 credits)
  • BIOL 550 – Molecular Diagnosis of Infectious Disease (2 credits)
  • BIOL 758 - Medical Microbiology (3 credits)
  • BIOL 693A – Clinical Research Problems-Master’s (4 credits)
  • BIOL 721 – Case Studies in Clinical Microbiology (2 credits)
  • BIOL 727 – Methods-Biological Research (3 credits)
  • BIOL 742 – Quality Assurance and Regulations in the Clinical Laboratory (1 credit)
  • BIOL 774 – Comparative Metabolism (3 credits)
  • BIOL 781 – Clinical Lab Sciences/Biotech Seminar (1 credit)*
    *Students take seminar two times for credit; they complete it on a pass/fail basis for all other semesters. The remainder of the 30 credit hours consists of electives selected from the list below.

Electives for All Tracks

  • BIOL 550 Molecular Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases
  • BIOL 551 Clinical Laboratory Education
  • BIOL 559 Cell Structure and Function
  • BIOL 565 Model Organisms and Human Disease
  • BIOL 566 Immunology
  • BIOL 589 Introduction to Nanobiotechnology
  • BIOL 593 Rational Drug Design
  • BIOL 595 Molecular Biotechnology
  • BIOL 596 Computational Genomics
  • BIOL 597 Fundamentals of Statistics in Biology, Medicine and Biotechnology
  • BIOL 598 Membrane Trafficking and Diseases
  • BIOL 599 Signal Transduction and Biomembranes
  • BIOL 721 Case Studies in Clinical Microbiology
  • BIOL 744 Red and White Blood Cell Disorders
  • BIOL 747 Advanced Hematology
  • BIOL 750 Hematopathology
  • BIOL 751 Laboratory Management
  • BIOL 758 Medical Microbiology
  • BIOL 774 Comparative Metabolism

Admission

PLEASE NOTE: Admission to the Clinical Laboratory Science M.S. and Ph.D. programs is currently suspended. At this time, we are not accepting new applications.

 

Application may be made for fall, spring, or summer.  The following application materials are required for admission into the program:

  1. Completed application for admission to graduate studies with accompanying application fee. Application may be completed online.
  2. Official transcripts of undergraduate and graduate degrees, including year of clinical studies.
  3. Two or more letters of recommendation from individuals who can attest to the candidate’s academic and/or work experience.
  4. Scores from the Graduate Record Examination.  The GRE is given year-round at computer-based test centers in the United States, Canada and many other countries. For more information on taking the GRE, see http://www.ets.org/gre/.
  5. Scores from clinical laboratory science certification examination (if available).
  6. Additional information for international students is available on the International Students Graduate Admission page. 

Prerequisites
In order to enter the program, students must meet the following prerequisite:

  1. Possession of a B.S. degree in medical technology or possession of a B.A. or B.S. degree plus completion of one year of clinical studies in medical technology.