Student in biology lab

PLEASE NOTE: Admission to the Clinical Laboratory Science M.S. and Ph.D. programs is currently suspended. We do not accept any new applications.

The purpose of the Ph.D. program in clinical laboratory science is to is to prepare first-rate laboratorians who are ready to address the challenges of the 21st century. Graduates of the Ph.D. program have assumed positions as faculty or administrators in academia, as administrators in hospitals or industry, and as clinical researchers. The unique aspect of the Catholic University graduate programs and the characteristic that distinguish 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

A total of 56 credit hours are required for the completion of the degree.

Core Courses

  • BIOL 538 Gene Organization and Expression (3 credits)
  • BIOL 559 Cell Structure and Function (3 credits)
  • BIOL 586 Molecular Genetics and Recombinant DNA (3 credits)
  • BIOL 725 Methods – Biological Research Lab (1 credit)
  • BIOL 727 Methods – Biological Research (3 credits)
  • BIOL 713, 714, 777, 778 Cell Biology and Microbiology Seminars – Students take seminar four times for credit; they complete it on a pass/fail basis for all other semesters. (see Graduate Student Guide for more information)

Required Courses in Major

Hematology Track

  • BIOL 742 Quality Assurance and Regulations in the Clinical Laboratory (1 credit)
  • BIOL 744 Red and White Blood Cell Disorders (2 credits)
  • BIOL 747 Advanced Hematology (2 credits)
  • BIOL 750 Hematopathology (2 credits)
  • BIOL 793A Clinical Research Problems – Doctoral (4 credits) (x 2)
  • Remainder of 56 credit hours are taken as electives (select from list below)

Clinical Microbiology Track

  • BIOL 550 Molecular Diagnosis of Infectious Disease (2 credits)
  • BIOL 721 Case Studies in Clinical Microbiology (2 credits)
  • BIOL 742 Quality Assurance and Regulations in the Clinical Laboratory (1 credit)
  • BIOL 758 Medical Microbiology (3 credits)
  • BIOL 774 Comparative Metabolism (3 credits)
  • BIOL 793A Clinical Research Problems – Doctoral (4 credits) (x 2)
  • Remainder of 56 credit hours are taken as electives (select from 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

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.