Department of Medical Laboratory Science

Wisenor, Chapman, Lasiter

General Information

Medical laboratory scientists (medical technologists) provide objective data used to make clinical decisions by the laboratory analyses they perform and evaluate. Medical laboratory scientists may pursue diverse career paths including those in hospital laboratories, clinics, research, public health, reference laboratories, forensic laboratories, and educational institutions.

The Medical Laboratory Science (MLSC) curriculum consists of two segments, pre-medical laboratory science (PMLS) and professional medical laboratory science (MLSC). The PMLS segment includes four academic semesters, or the equivalent, in an accredited college or university. No grade below a “C” may be transferred from another college or university.

The MLSC segment consists of two calendar years or four academic semesters. The first year of the professional program includes on-campus medical laboratory science didactic and laboratory courses. The second year includes off-campus practicum rotations in affiliated medical laboratories. Medical laboratories affiliated with the ULM MLSC program include St. Francis Medical Center, Monroe, LA; Iasis Glenwood Regional Medical Center, West Monroe, LA; Louisiana State University Health Science Center-Shreveport-E.A. Conway Medical Center, Monroe, LA; West Carroll Memorial Hospital, Oak Grove, LA; LifeShare Blood Centers, Shreveport, LA; Synergy Laboratory, West Monroe, LA; and Oncology Associates of Monroe Laboratory, Monroe, LA.

The Medical Laboratory Science Program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), 5600 N. River Road, Suite 720, Chicago, IL 60018, (773)714-8880. Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the national certification examination administered by the Board of Certification of the American Society for Clinical Pathology.

Mission Statement

The Medical Laboratory Science Department at ULM is committed to providing northeast Louisiana and the region beyond with competent, ethical graduates who will help to meet the needs of the community and the nation.

Admission to Pre-Medical Laboratory Science

Applicants for admission to the pre-professional curriculum (PMLS) must meet the general admission requirements for admission to the University. Applications are submitted to the University Admissions Office.

Admission to the Professional Medical Laboratory Science Program

The Medical Laboratory Science curriculum offers clinical instruction in its educational program as required by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences. Admissions are determined annually based upon the availability of clinical positions and instructional resources available to the program. Applicants for admission to the professional program must complete the requirements of the PMLS curriculum with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 (uncorrected, based on a 4.0 system) exclusive of developmental courses, a minimum grade point average of 2.7 (corrected, based on a 4.0 system) in all required pre-professional courses, and possess a grade of “C” or better in all required science, mathematics, and Medical Laboratory Science courses. In addition, applicants must pass a psychomotor evaluation.

Application forms and requirements for admission into the professional program may be obtained from the Medical Laboratory Science website at http://www.ulm.edu/mls. Completed application forms, along with the application fee, must be received by the Medical Laboratory Science Admissions Committee by March 15 of the year the student seeks admission for the fall semester. Each application will be reviewed individually for compliance with the requirements for admission. Each qualified student will be granted an interview with the Medical Laboratory Science Admissions Committee to evaluate communication skills and potential for professionalism. The Program Director, with the committee’s recommendation, will notify each applicant regarding admission status. Because there are a limited number of clinical positions, students are selected on a competitive basis. Due to utilization of objective criteria in processing applications, attainment of minimum requirements in the pre-Medical Laboratory Science curriculum does not guarantee admission to the professional Medical Laboratory Science program. If a student is not admitted to the professional MLS program, reapplication must be made following the regular procedure. The student must fulfill all prerequisites in the required sequence of courses leading to the application for the professional program in Medical Laboratory Science.

Retention in the Professional Medical Laboratory Science Program

Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale and earn a minimum grade of “C” in all required professional courses. Failure of a student to earn a minimum grade of “C” in a professional course may preclude progression in the MLSC program.

In the event that a student earns a non-progressive grade of “D” in one professional non-practicum MLSC course, the student may petition the program director to remediate the course. The Medical Laboratory Science Academics Standards Committee will determine if remediation will be granted according to the program’s remediation policy. Remediation must be completed by the deadline imposed by the course instructor. The highest grade that a student may earn in a remediated course is “C”. A student who earns less than a grade of “C” in a professional non-practicum MLSC course following remediation will be suspended from the MLSC professional program.

A student who fails to earn a progressive grade in more than one professional non-practicum course will be suspended from the professional program. A student who earns a failing grade of “F” in one professional non-practicum course will be suspended from the professional program.

Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in all practicum courses. Students who earn less than a grade of “C” in a practicum course will be suspended from the professional program.

A student who is not in compliance with ethical, professional behavior or patient welfare guidelines of the program may have sanctions imposed by the Medical Laboratory Science Academic Standards Committee. Sanctions may include dismissal from the program with a course grade of “F”.

A student who is suspended from the professional MLSC program must reapply for admission to the program during the next admission cycle of the program. If a student is accepted for readmission, the student must retake all professional MLSC courses.

Students who wish to appeal their suspension from the professional program may appeal to the Medical Laboratory Science Academic Standards Committee to determine if repeated or additional coursework could justify readmission.