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Clinical Year Curriculum

Outline of Yearly Curriculum in Medical Laboratory Sciences


A scientist in a lab

Unique Curriculum Elements

The undergraduate program in Medical Laboratory Sciences is one of the degree programs offered by the Department of Medical Laboratory Science. The clinical year of the Program in Medical 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 their junior year, students apply for selection into the clinical year of the program. The UWF Program in Medical Laboratory Sciences is approved by State of Florida Board of Governors as a Specialized Admissons Program. The class size is limited to 40 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.

Courses are offered once per year, and students can start any semester

A student in a classroom

University Based Courses

Semester 1 (12hr)

  • MLS 4305 Hematology I/Lab (4 sh)
  • MLS 4460 Diagnostic Microbiology I/Lab (4 sh)
  • MLS 4505 Clinical Immunology/Lab (4 sh)

Semester 2 (11 sh)

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

Semester 3 (12 sh)

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

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 for semester break. Students are required to attend 32 hours per week Monday through Thursday, while undergoing advanced practical training in the clinical laboratory. Clinical rotations are divided approximately into the units listed below. Students will register for the corresponding university courses in order to receive college credit. Students are responsible for providing their own transportation to and from their clinical rotations.

Semester 1 Rotation
Hospital Clinical Rotation Weeks University Course Credit SH
Diagnostics Microbiology 5 MLS 4821L Diagnostic Microbiology II 4
Hematology & Coagulation 5 MLS 4822L Hematology II 4
Clinical Chemistry 4 MLS 4820L Clinical Chemistry III 4
Total 15 Weeks   12 SH
Semester 2 Rotation
Hospital Clinical Rotation Weeks University Course Credit SH
Special Chemistry & TB/Mycology 3 MLS 4824L Special Clinical Methods 2
Blood Bank & Serology 7 MLS 4823L Immunohematology II 4
Urinalysis, Parasitology & Phlebotomy 3 MLS 4825L Urinalysis & Body Fluids II 2
Miscellaneous & Makeup 1 N/A  
Spring Vacation 1 N/A  
Total 14 Weeks   8 SH
Sample Hospital Rotations Schedule (each row is 1 week)
Student 1 Student 2 Student 3 Student 4
Phlebotomy Phlebotomy Phlebotomy Phlebotomy
Microbiology Blood Bank Chemistry Hematology
2 2 Chemistry Hematology
3 3 Chemistry Hematology
4 4 Chemistry Hematology
5 5 Coagulation Blood Bank
6 Microbiology Hematology 2
7 2 Hematology 3
Chemistry 3 Hematology 4
Chemistry 4 Hematology 5
SPRING BREAK
Chemistry 5 Sp. Chem Coagulation
Chemistry 6 Sp. Chem Serology 1
Urinalysis 7 Microbiology Serology 2
Hematology Chemistry 2 Chemistry
Hematology Chemistry 3 Chemistry
Hematology Chemistry 4 Chemistry
Hematology Chemistry 5 Chemistry
Serology 1 Urinalysis 6 Urinalysis
Serology 2 Hematology 7 Sp. Chem
Sp. Chem Hematology Blood Bank Sp. Chem
Sp. Chem Hematology 2 Microbiology
Coagulation Hematology 3 2
Blood Bank Serology 1 4 3
2 Serology 2 5 4
3 Coagulation Urinalysis 5
4 Sp. Chem Serology 1 6
5 Sp. Chem Serology 2 7
HOSPITAL REVIEW WEEK
CERTIFICATION EXAM REVIEW WEEK ON CAMPUS