Medical Laboratory Science Program
Clinical Year Curriculum
Summer Session
All students enter the CLS/MLS Program in the summer session. This session consists of an 11-week session of lectures and instructional laboratories covering all the major disciplines in clinical laboratory sciences.
Fall and Spring Sessions
During the fall and spring sessions students will rotate in the clinical laboratories of the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and the Iowa City Veterans Administration Medical Center. During this time students will spend time in each of the disciplines of clinical laboratory sciences, conducting laboratory work on patient specimens and correlating laboratory practice with theoretical knowledge. Students will also participate in additional courses through UNMC via web-based coursework.
Completion of the Program
Students complete the program in May, 11 months after entering the program. Graduates will receive a letter of completion from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Those seeking bachelor’s degrees will be awarded them by the University of Iowa.
All graduates are eligible for national certification as clinical laboratory scientists.
Course Descriptions
The following courses are required components of the CLS curriculum:
Summer Session
069:150 Clinical Laboratory Skills (6 semester hours)
Introductory instruction in all disciplines of the clinical laboratory. This course includes lectures and instructional laboratories and is taught at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. This course is available for R grade only.
Fall Session
069:154 Clinical Chemistry I (4 semester hours)
This course incorporates advanced theory, practical application and evaluation of clinical laboratory procedures. Correlation of clinical laboratory data with the diagnosis and treatment of endocrine disorders, toxicology disturbances and therapeutic drug monitoring is emphasized. The educational process includes application and correlation through lectures and assessments.
069:156 Clinical Hematology I (4 semester hours)
This course includes the introduction to the theory, practical application, technical performance and evaluation of hematological and coagulation procedures. There is an emphasis on the correlation of clinical laboratory data with the diagnosis and treatment of anemia, leukemia, and bleeding/clotting disorders. The educational process includes mentoring and evaluation of students to assure development and practice of appropriate professional behavior, ethical decision making, leadership, teamwork, critical thinking and effective oral and written communications.
069:158 Clinical Microbiology I (4 semester hours)
This course includes the introduction of the theory, practical application, technical performance and evaluation of procedures for isolation, identification and susceptibility testing of infectious disease organisms in humans. This course includes bacteriology, mycology, parasitology, virology and serology, and emphasizes the correlation of clinical laboratory data with the patient’s diagnosis and treatment. The educational process includes mentoring and evaluation of students to assure development and practice of appropriate professional behavior, ethical decision making, leadership, teamwork, critical thinking and effective oral and written communications.
069:160 Clinical Immunology and Molecular Diagnostics (1 semester hour)
This course includes the theory, practical application, and evaluation of immunological components, principles and methodologies used in the assessment of immunologically related disorders, including hypersensitivity reactions, autoimmune, immunoproliferative and immunodeficiency disorders, tumors, and transplantations. Theory and application of molecular diagnostic tools, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), nucleic acid probes, fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and microarray are also addressed. Critical thinking skills are developed in the critical analysis of published written articles with resultant written report.
069:162 Clinical Immunohematology I (3 semester hours)
This course includes the introduction to the theory, practical application, technical performance and evaluation of hematological and coagulation procedures. There is an emphasis on the correlation of clinical laboratory data with the diagnosis and treatment of anemia, leukemia, and bleeding/clotting disorders. The educational process includes mentoring and evaluation of students to assure development and practice of appropriate professional behavior, ethical decision making, leadership, teamwork, critical thinking and effective oral and written communications.
069:170 Clinical Laboratory Management I (2 semester hours)
This course includes the theory, practical application, technical performance and evaluation of laboratory management principles and associated models. Lectures and assignments focus on effective written and oral communications, critical evaluation of research studies, compliance and regulatory issues, educational methodology, human resource and financial management, laboratory operations, cultural competency, professionalism and ethical decision making. Opportunities to build problem-solving, teamwork and management skills are provided.
069:172 Clinical Endocrinology and Toxicology (1 sem hrs)
This course incorporates advanced theory, practical application and evaluation of clinical laboratory procedures. Correlation of clinical laboratory data with the diagnosis and treatment of endocrine disorders, toxicology disturbances and therapeutic drug monitoring is emphasized. The educational process includes application and correlation through lectures and assessments.
Spring Session
069:152 Clinical Laboratory Science Theory, Application and Correlation (5 semester hours)
This course includes the application, evaluation and correlation of laboratory procedures used in the diagnosis and treatment of common disease states. Opportunities for building critical thinking, problem solving, and leadership skills are provided in small group clinical case discussions.
069:155 Clinical Chemistry II (3 semester hours)
This course incorporates advanced theory, practical application, technical performance and evaluation of clinical chemistry laboratory procedures. Correlation of clinical laboratory data with the diagnosis and treatment of carbohydrate, renal, liver, lipid, protein, pancreatic and endocrine disorders is emphasized. The educational process includes mentoring and evaluation of students to assure development and practice of appropriate professional behavior, ethical decision making, leadership, teamwork, critical thinking and effective oral and written communications.
069:157 Clinical Hematology II (3 semester hours)
This course incorporates advanced theory, practical application, technical performance and evaluation of hematological and coagulation procedures. There is an emphasis on the correlation of clinical laboratory data with the diagnosis and treatment of anemia, leukemia, and bleeding/clotting disorders. The educational process includes mentoring and evaluation of students to assure development and practice of appropriate professional behavior, ethical decision making, leadership, teamwork, critical thinking and effective oral and written communications.
069:159 Clinical Microbiology II (3 semester hours)
This course incorporates advanced theory, practical application, technical performance and evaluation of procedures for isolation, identification and susceptibility testing of infectious disease organisms in humans. This course includes bacteriology, mycology, parasitology, virology and serology, and emphasizes the correlation of clinical laboratory data with the patient’s diagnosis and treatment. The educational process includes mentoring and evaluation of students to assure development and practice of appropriate professional behavior, ethical decision making, leadership, teamwork, critical thinking and effective oral and written communications.
069:163 Clinical Immunohematology II (2 semester hours)
This course incorporates advanced theory, practical application, technical performance and evaluation of blood bank procedures required for transfusion of blood and blood components and for handling and storage of blood and blood components. The educational process includes mentoring and evaluation of students to assure development and practice of appropriate professional behavior, ethical decision making, leadership, teamwork, critical thinking and effective oral and written communication skills.
069:164 Phlebotomy (1 semester hour)
This course includes the theory, practical application, technical performance and evaluation of procedures used in collecting, handling and processing blood specimens. The educational process includes mentoring and evaluation of students to assure development and practice of appropriate professional behavior, ethical decision making, teamwork, cultural competency, and effective oral and written communications.
069:166 Urine and Body Fluid Analysis (1 semester hour)
This course includes the theory, practical application, technical performance and evaluation of procedures used in the analysis of urine and other body fluids, including cerebrospinal, synovial, serous and amniotic fluids. The educational process includes mentoring and evaluation of students to assure development and practice of appropriate professional behavior, ethical decision making, teamwork, and effective oral communication skills.
069:171 Clinical Laboratory Management II (3 semester hours)
This course incorporates advanced theory, practical application, technical performance and evaluation of laboratory management principles and associated models. Lectures and assignments focus on effective written and oral communications, critical evaluation of research studies, compliance and regulatory issues, educational methodology, human resource and financial management, laboratory operations, cultural competency, professionalism and ethical decision making. Opportunities to build problem-solving, teamwork and management skills are provided.