Program Requirements

You’re not required to have a minor for this degree.

If you’d like to add a minor, talk with your advisor.

In your senior year, you’ll complete a clinical program.

Clinical Laboratory Sciences-Medical Technology (Comprehensive)

Bachelor of Science

Students desiring to enter clinical laboratory sciences-medical technology may secure preparatory training at Missouri State University. All the requirements for the Bachelor of Science must be met with a minimum of 95 credit hours, including the capstone course, completed prior to entry into the clinical phase of the program. For the major, the University will grant 30-39 hours of upper-division credit upon completion of the work given in a NAACLS approved school of clinical laboratory sciences-medical technology. The actual number of hours granted depends on which school of clinical laboratory sciences-medical technology the student attends. Before a student matriculates to an approved school, he/she must secure a letter from the Office of the Registrar which indicates the completion of all requirements for the degree other than the training at the school of clinical laboratory sciences-medical technology.

Missouri State University has entered into agreements with the school of clinical laboratory sciences-medical technology at Mercy (Joplin), Cox Medical Center (Springfield), and North Kansas City Hospital (Kansas City) whereby a clinical laboratory sciences-medical technology major may complete his/her work at one of those schools. Under these agreements, the student must meet the requirements for admission at the school of his/her choice as outlined above. Courses taken at one of the above schools will be entered directly on the Missouri State academic record and the grades earned in those courses will be calculated into the cumulative Missouri State grade point average. This combined averaging of grades applies only to clinical laboratory sciences-medical technology students attending one of the affiliated schools. MTC courses may not be used toward satisfying the University’s residence requirements for graduation. Those requirements must be met before entering a school of clinical laboratory sciences-medical technology. The descriptions of the courses to be taken at the school of clinical laboratory sciences-medical technology are listed under the MTC prefix.

Neither admission to the Missouri State program of preparatory training nor completion of that program will ensure admission to a school of clinical laboratory sciences-medical technology. The student may apply for admission at the beginning of the third year at Missouri State, but acceptance by the clinical laboratory sciences-medical technology school is at the discretion of that school. Recent graduates of other majors who have met the prerequisites may also apply to these schools.

Major requirements:

  1. Specific General Education requirement: BIO 121(4) or BMS 110(3) and 111(1).
  2. BMS 231(4) or BIO 235(3) and 236(1); and BMS 307(4) and BMS 308(4); and BIO 312(3) and BIO 313(2) and BIO 511(3).
  3. CHM 160(4) and CHM 161(1); CHM 170(3) and CHM 171(1); and CHM 201(3) and 202(2), or CHM 342(3) and 345(2); BMS 321(4) or CHM 352(3) and CHM 353(2).
  4. Statistics course: BIO 550 or MTH 340 or PSY 200 or QBA 237 or SOC 220 or equivalent.
  5. Complete one of the following emphases:
    1. Microbiology Emphasis: BIO 520(3) and BMS 524(3).
    2. Molecular Diagnostics Emphasis: BMS 321(4) and BMS 521(4) and BMS 525(4). Note: BMS 321 may also count as one of the required science courses.
    3. Management Emphasis: MGT 286(3) and MGT 340(3).
  6. With advisor approval, choose at least one additional course from the following that is not taken in the required courses or emphasis: BMS 321(4) or BIO 520(3) or BMS 521(4) or BMS 524(3) or CHM 302(5) or CHM 352(3) and CHM 353(2) or MGT 286(3) or MGT 340(3).
  7. Clinical Course Requirements: MTC 401(10-12), 402(1-3), 403(4-6), 404(3-4), 405(7), 406(3-5), 407(2).
  8. Public Affairs Capstone Experience will be fulfilled by completion of any combination of the following courses equaling 3 total hours: BMS 300(1), BIO 300(1), CHM 300(1), BMS 380(1-3), BMS 400(2), BMS 460(1).

University level requirements:

  1. General Education Program and Requirements
  2. General Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

Final year: Finish at a clinical program

Your courses are only part of your clinical laboratory sciences degree.

To finish, you must apply to and complete a National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) program at a partnership site.

You should have a grade point average (GPA) above 3.0 when you apply to the clinical program. This will increase your chances of getting accepted.

Approved clinical sites

These sites all have NAACLS approval.

The program director at your site supervises you.

When and how to apply

Apply to your clinical program at the beginning of your third year (junior year) at Missouri State.

You’ll need a letter from the Office of the Registrar that states you have completed all requirements for your degree other than your clinical program.

Your advisor and the MSU clinical laboratory sciences program director can help you apply.

Finishing your degree and becoming certified

When you finish your clinical program, you’ll transfer 30-to-39 credit hours toward your CLS degree. This enables you to graduate from Missouri State.

Then, to become a certified clinical laboratory scientist, you must pass the national registration exam.