Unique Curriculum Elements

The undergraduate program in Clinical Laboratory Sciences is one of the degree programs offered by the Department of Biology. The clinical year of the Program in Clinical Laboratory Sciences constitutes the last year of 4 to 4½ years of study, including summer semesters. Students take general education courses and science prerequisites during the freshman/sophomore years. This is followed by two semesters of upper division biology prerequisites to include Genetics, Pathophysiology, Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology.  

During the Spring semester of their junior year, students apply for selection into the clinical year of the program. Each year, one class of selected students begin the clinical year in the month of May and graduate with a B.S. degree in medical technology in August of the following year. The UWF Program in Clinical Laboratory Sciences is approved by State of Florida Board of Regents as a Limited Access Program. The class size is limited to 20 per year. The clinical year curriculum is taught in two phases. Phase one courses are university-based lecture/lab sessions and phase two courses are hospital-based clinical rotations.

Selected students begin the clinical year during the first week of May, and complete the course work listed below over a period of four semesters.

University Based Courses

Summer (11 sh)

• MLS 4625 Clinical Chemistry I/Lab (3 sh)
• MLS 4220 Urinalysis/BodyFluids I/Lab (2 sh)
• MLS 4334 Hemostasis & Thrombosis/Lab (2 sh)
• MLS 4462 Medical Microbiology I/Lab (4 sh)

Fall (12 sh)

• MLS 4630 Clinical Chemistry II/Lab (3 sh)
• MLS 4990 Molecular Diagnostics (2 sh)
• MLS 4705 Special Clinical Topics (1 sh)
• MLS 4550 Immunohematology I/Lab (4 sh)
• MLS 4505 Serology/Lab (2 sh)

Note: Students must maintain a minimum grade of "C" in each of the above courses in order to proceed to the hospital laboratory courses.

Hospital-Based Courses

In January, upon successful completion of the above courses, students will be placed in individual clinical rotations at one of the university's clinical affiliates. Hospital training is 29 weeks long, including one week off during Spring Break in April. Students are required to attend 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday, while undergoing advanced practical training in the clinical laboratory. Clinical rotations are divided approximately into the units listed below. Students should register for the corresponding university courses in order to receive college credit.

Spring

Summer

Sample Hospital Rotations Schedule