Pathology

  • Medical Laboratory Science Program

    Prerequisites for the Clinical Year

    A strong basic science background is essential for a career in the clinical laboratory. Pre-professional study should be carefully planned with a Medical Laboratory Sciences adviser.

    All required courses must be completed prior to the clinical year. The minimum required cumulative GPA is 2.7. Admission is on a competitive basis.

    The following coursework must be completed prior to starting the CLS Program. All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C- or higher.  Equivalent at UI
    1. Two semesters of general biology for science majors, including lab 002:010 and 002:011 
    2. Two semesters of general chemistry for science majors, including lab  004:011 and 004:012
    3. One semesters of organic chemistry  004:121
    4. One semester of biochemistry OR organic chemistry lab  004:141 and 004:141
    5. One semester course in general microbiology (for science majors) with laboratory  061:057
    6. One semester course in genetics 002:128
    7. One semester course in immunology  061.147*
    8. Mathematics through the pre-calculus level  22M:015 and 22M:009
    9. Statistics  22S:025, 22S:101, 22S:102
    Students seeking degrees from the University of Iowa must also complete all other degree requirements prior to starting the CLS Program. This includes all general education requirements of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, except for foreign language, which must be completed through second level proficiency only. See your adviser at UI to make sure all graduation requirements are being met.
    *In order to enroll in 061:147, students must have completed a biology course containing a physiology component (2:010 and 2:011) and it is highly recommended to have completed or be enrolled in biochemistry. As an alternative to 061:147, students may enroll in an online immunology course offered by UNMC in the spring before they begin the CLS Program. Enrollment in this course will involve payment of tuition to UNMC.
    Recommended Electives at UI
    027:130 Human Physiology 06A:001 Introduction to Financial Accounting
    027:053 Human Anatomy 06E:001 Principles of Microeconomics
    026:102 Ethics  029:011, 029:012 College Physics
    20E:103 Medical Terminology  061:159 Pathogenic Bacteriology
      Any writing course beyond rhetoric

    Students who intend to receive the BS degree in Medical Laboratory Science must also complete all College of Liberal Arts and Sciences general education course requirements before beginning the clinical year. (Exception: only one year or equivalent of foreign language is required.)

    To be eligible for enrollment in the certificate-only option, students must have or plan to receive a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution prior to enrolling in the CLS program. Alternatively, students who wish to use the CLS program clinical year as the fourth year toward a bachelor's degree at another institution may choose to enroll as a University of Iowa certificate-only student if their home institution formally agrees to award the bachelor's degree at the end of the CLS program. Certificate-only students do not receive academic credit from the University of Iowa and will not receive a bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa. If you have any questions about whether you qualify for certificate-only enrollment, please contact us at cls-program@uiowa.edu.

    Recommended Coursework for UI pre-CLS Students
    Freshman
    Fall Credits Spring SH
     4:011 Principles of Chemistry I 4  4:012 Principles of Chemistry II 4
     22M:015 Math for Bio Sci 4  2:10 Principles of Bio I 4
    General Education/Electives  7  General Education/Electives 7
    Total 15 Total 15
    Sophomore
    Fall Credits Spring Credits
    4:121 Organic Chemistry 1
    		 3 61:157 Gen Microbiology  5
     2:011 Principles of Biology II 4 22S:025, 101 or 102 Statistics  3
     General Education/Electives 7 General Education/Electives
    		 7
    Total 15 Total 15
    Junior
    Fall Credits Spring Credits
    61:147 Survey of Immunology 3 99:110 Biochemistry or 4:141 Organic Chemistry Lab 3
    General Education/Electives  10 2:128 Fundamentals of Genetics 4
         General Education/electivesl 6
    Total 13 Total 13
    *English composition and public speaking are required and offered as Rhetoric in General Education. Total: 86 credit hours and GPA ≥ 2.5 to apply to the Clinical Laboratory Science Program
    Senior – Clinical Year Curriculum
    Summer Term Credits    
    069:150 Clinical Laboratory Skills  6    
    Fall   Spring Credits
     069:154 Clinical Chemistry I 4 069:152 Clinical Laboratory Science Theory, Application and Correlation
    		 5
     069:156 Clinical Hematology I 4  069:155 Clinical Chemistry II 3
     069:158 Clinical Microbiology 4  069:157 Clinical Hematology II 3
    069:160 Clinical Immunology andMolecular Diagnostics
    		 1 069:159 Clinical Microbiology II
    		 3
    069:162 Clinical Immunohematology I
    		 3 069:163 Clinical Immunohematology II
    		 2
    069:170 Clinical Laboratory Management I  2  069: 164 Phlebotomy 1
    069:172 Endocrinology/Toxicology 1  069:166 Urine and Body Fluid Analysis 1
        069:171 Clinical Laboratory Management II  3
    Total 19 Total 21

    University of Iowa admission information may be obtained from the UI Admissions Office, Calvin Hall, Iowa City, IA 52242-1396.

    Specific Program course requirements and admission questions may be directed to the Medical Laboratory Sciences Program at 319-384-9617.