General Catalog 2003-2004
April 4, 2003

The MLS Programs are accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS).  8410 W. BRYN MAWR AVE, Suite 670, Chicago, IL  60631.

Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) is administered by the Department of Pathology, School of Medicine. 

Program Office: 5R472 School of Medicine, 581-7913 

Mailing Address: Department of Pathology, Medical Laboratory Science, 30 North 1900 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84132-2501

Web Address: www.path.utah.edu/mls

Director of MLS Education, JoAnn Fenn, M.S., M.T. (ASCP), 5R442 School of Medicine, 581-3971, jfenn@path.utah.edu

Medical Technology Specialization

Program Director, Larry E. Schoeff, M.S., M.T. (ASCP), 5R441 School of Medicine, 585-6989, lschoeff@path.utah.edu

Program Recruiter/Academic Adviser, J. Michele Stuart, M.S.P.H./H.S.A., M.T. (ASCP), 5R477 School of Medicine, 585-5452, michele.stuart@path.utah.edu

Medical Director, Joseph A. Knight, M.D. 

Faculty

Professor. J. Knight. 

Associate Professors. K. Brown, J. Fenn, L. Schoeff. 

Assistant Professor. R. Buxton. 

Instructor. M. Stuart. 

Additional faculty are listed under Pathology elsewhere in this section. 

The B.S. degree curriculum gives the student early exposure to the profession through professional course work and clinical experience integrated with other University classes. The student typically is accepted into the program their junior year and takes professional courses both Fall and Spring semester.  Clinical experience occurs during the senior year and utilizes local affiliated institutions. 

 This program provides students the knowledge and technical skills to work in a modern diagnostic medical laboratory. The performance of laboratory tests and analyses by the medical laboratory scientist aids the physician in the diagnosis and treatment of disease and the maintenance of health. Medical Laboratory Science is comprised of study in clinical chemistry, microbiology, immunology, immunohematology, and hematology. A scheduled clinical practicum through each of these areas of the laboratory in a clinical facility is required. Upon completion of the degree program, students are eligible to take a national certification examination. 

 All students must meet with Michele Stuart for program advising prior to application to the MLS program. 

Admission. Pre-medical laboratory science may be selected as a pre-major by any student planning to seek admission to the Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) Program. Applicants must successfully complete the prerequisite courses in chemistry, biology, and mathematics and have cumulative and science GPAs of 2.5 or higher. International applicants must score 45 or higher on the SPEAK examination prior to admission. Currently, 16-20 students are accepted each year. The criteria used for selection of students include cumulative and science GPA, three reference letters, essay, and  experience. Interviews may be conducted when applicants have equal qualifications. 

 Students should submit applications to the program between January 1 and April 1 to be considered for Fall admission.  If space is available, late admission is considered.

Requirements for Graduation. The following are minimum requirements for graduating with the B.S. degree in Medical Laboratory Science: 

 1. Completion of prerequisite science courses and University general education requirements. 

 2. Successful completion of all MLS professional courses. All MD LB professional courses must be completed with a grade of C or better. 

 3. Student conduct consistent with professional standards and ethics. 

 4. Successful completion of MLS Comprehensive Exam at the end of the MLS Program. 

Requirements for the Major - Medical Technology

Total Hours: 99 

Pre-Medical Laboratory Science Courses (Pre-Professional)

BIOL 1000 General Biology (4)

BIOL 2020 Cell Biology (3) 

BIOL 2320 Human Physiology (4) 

BIOL 2315 Human Anatomy (4) 

BIOL 2030 Genetics (3) 

CHEM 1210/1230 and 1220/1240 General Chemistry I, II (10) 

CHEM 2310 Organic Chemistry I (4) 

PATH 3900 Biochemistry for Medical Lab Science (3) or CHEM 3510 Biological Chemistry I (3)

MATH 1050 and 1070 College Algebra (4), Elementary Statistics (3) 

COMM 1010 or 1200 or 1120, Elements of Speech, or Principles of Public Speaking, or Group Decision Making (3) 

Medical Laboratory Science Courses

MD LB 3600 Introduction to Medical Lab Science (1) 

PATH 5030 Basic Immunology (3) 

MD LB 3750 Immunology Techniques (1) 

MD LB 3850 Body Fluids (2) 

MD LB 4200 and 4210 Clinical Chemistry I, II (7) 

MD LB 4300 and 4310 Hematology I, II (5) 

MD LB 4320 Coagulation (2) 

MD LB 4400 Immunohematology (3) 

MD LB 4500 and 4510 Pathogenic and Diagnostic Microbiology (9) 

MD LB 4511 Molecular Diagnostics and Advanced Topics in Clinical Microbiology (2)

MD LB 5200 and 5210 Applied Clinical Chemistry I, II (4) 

MD LB 5300 and 5310 Applied Clinical Hematology I, II (4) 

MD LB 5400 Applied Clinical Immunohematology (2) 

MD LB 5500 and 5510 Applied Clinical Microbiology I, II (4) 

MD LB 5530 Applied Clinical Immunology (2) 

MD LB 5100 Introduction to Educational Methodology (1) 

MD LB 5110 Special Topics (1) 

MD LB 5120 Principles of Lab Instruments and Techniques (1) 

MD LB 5130 Laboratory Management (1) 

Cytotechnology Specialization

Program Director, Michael C. Berry, C.T. (ASCP), Cytology Laboratory, ARUP, 583-2787, (e-mail) berrymc@aruplab.com 

Web Address: http://telpath2.med.utah.edu/study/mls/cytotech/cytotech.htm 

Medical Director, C.J. Marshall 

Faculty

Associate Professor. C.J. Marshall. 

Instructors. M. Berry, L. Rowe. 

Additional faculty are listed under Pathology elsewhere in this section. 

The department also offers a specialization in cytotechnology. The use of diagnostic cytology allows cells from virtually any body cavity or organ to be examined for detection of a wide range of abnormalities, including cancer. Students gain an in-depth understanding of clinical cytology by studying the theoretical and practical aspects of cytopathology in addition to the anatomy, physiology, endocrinology, and histology of each organ accessible to cytologic study. 

 Cytotechnology graduates can readily fill positions in hospital, reference, and private laboratories as well as in industry and research. Additional education allows graduates to expand their careers into teaching, administration, and advanced research and scientific technology. 

Admission. Requirements for admission to the cytotechnology specialization are similar to those for the medical technologist specialization. Students should contact the program director for details and submit applications to the program between September 1 and  December 1 to be considered for summer admission. The cytotechnology student typically has finished all preprofessional course work by the end of the junior year and begins professional course work the summer preceding the senior year. 

Requirements for Graduation. Students must successfully complete all cytotechnology program requirements. 

 The other minimum requirements for the B.S. degree in medical laboratory science with a specialization in cytotechnology are the same as those for the medical technology specialization. 

 All professional courses must be passed with a grade of C or better. 

Requirements for the Major--Cytology

Total Hours: 79 

Pre-Medical Laboratory Science Courses

BIOL 1000 General Biology (4) 

BIOL 2320 Human Physiology (4) 

BIOL 2315 Human Anatomy (4) 

BIOL 2020 Principles of Cell Biology (3) 

CHEM 1210/1230 and 1220/1240 General Chemistry I, II (10) 

CHEM 2310, 2330 Organic Chemistry I, Lab (5) 

MATH 1050 College Algebra (4) 

(at least 5 additional hours in biology)

Medical Laboratory Science Courses

MD LB 4450 Diagnostic Cytopathology (3) 

MD LB 4460 Clinical Microscopy (3) 

MD LB 4470 Cytopreparatory Techniques (1) 

MD LB 4480 Diagnostic Cytopathology (3) 

MD LB 4550 Diagnostic Cytopathology (3) 

MD LB 4560 Clinical Microscopy (3) 

MD LB 4570 Cytopreparatory Techniques (1) 

MD LB 4580 Diagnostic Cytopathology (3) 

MD LB 4650 Clinical Cytopathology (4) 

MD LB 4660 Clinical Cytopathology (4) 

MD LB 4670 Clinical Cytopathology (4) 

MD LB 4950 Medical Writing (1) 

MD LB 4980 Clinical Cytopathology  (4) 

MD LB 4990 Independent Study (2 or 4) 

MD LB 5130 Laboratory Management (1) 

Graduate Program

Master's Program Office: 5R472 School of Medicine, 581-3971 

Co-Directors for Master's Program: Joseph Knight, M.D., and JoAnn Fenn, M.S., M.T. (ASCP) 

Web Address: http://telpath2.med.utah.edu/study/mls/mlsms.htm

Faculty. Instructors are drawn from the regular faculty of the Department of Pathology. For information, see Pathology elsewhere in this section of the catalog. 

Degree. M.S. in Medical Laboratory Science 

Areas of Specialization. Clinical chemistry, immunochemistry, hematology, immunohematology, cytology, clinical microbiology, clinical virology, immunology, cellular and molecular biology. 

Special Admission Requirements. Recommended are a B.S. degree in medical laboratory science or related science, certification by a nationally recognized agency, three letters of recommendation, and clinical experience. For international students, the TOEFL and GRE are required. 

MD LB Course Descriptions