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Marshall University Clinical Laboratory Sciences Department

The Clinical Laboratory Sciences (CLS) Department in the MU College of Health Professions, offers three degree programs:

Bachelor of Science in Cytotechnology (CYT)

Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology (MT)

Associate Degree in Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT)

Accreditation

The MLT and MT programs are fully accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). MLT and MT programs were granted full 7-year reaccreditation in 1999. Both programs will undergo reaccreditation review in 2005-2006. NAACLS can be contacted through their website, by telephone at 773.714-8880, by mail at PO Box 75634, Chicago IL 60675-5634, or by email at naaclsinfo@naacls.org. 

The Cabell Huntington Hospital and Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC) schools of cytotechnology are fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the American Society of Cytopathology, in collaboration with the American Society for Cytology. CAAHEP can be contacted through their website, by telephone at 312.553-9355, and by mail at 35 East Wacker Drive Suite 1970, Chicago IL 60601-9355.

Certification

Upon completing one of the CLS degree programs, the graduate will be eligible to take national certification examinations to become a certified medical laboratory technician, medical technologist, or cytotechnologist. Professional organizations which have granted certification to or graduates in recent years are: The American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP) Board of Registry and the National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel (NCA).

Academic Advisement

Students seeking degrees in cytotechnology, medical laboratory technology, or medical technology should apply for admission to MU. On admission forms they should indicate their preference for a degree program in the College of Health Professions. Students transferring to MU from another college should contact the CLS department regarding transferability of coursework. Once admitted to the university, students work with their academic advisor to select courses which will assist them in achieving admission to a CLS program.

Students interested in health related careers should take the course CLS 100, Introduction to Health Professions, in the first six weeks of the fall semester. Admission to the MU College Nursing and Health Professions does not guarantee access to other CLS and CYT courses, since enrollment in these programs is limited by availability of instructional resources and clinical rotation sites. Enhanced ACT scores of at least 18 in mathematics, general science, and in verbal sections indicate that a student has the academic ability to begin these highly structured curricula. Students with lower scores may be required to improve mathematics and English performance by taking developmental courses through the community and technical college. Beginning in fall semester 1999, academic standards may be higher for admission to the university. Please check with the MU office of admissions if you have any questions about minimum ACT scores. International students should check with the MU Center for International Students and Scholars for admission to Marshall University.

MLT, MT, and CYT Academic Advisement

Students who have definitely selected a CLS program as their major are encouraged to make an appointment and meet with a member of the CLS faculty to plan their academic program. All such students not fully admitted to a CLS program are categorized in the  "Pre-clinical lab sciences" major within the College of Health Professions. Students who are fully admitted to a CLS program are categorized as MLT, MT, or CYT majors within the College of Health Professions. All students are required to meet with their academic advisor before pre-registration each semester.

Clinical Laboratory Careers

The total number of positions for trained medical laboratory workers is expected to remain high in the next 5 years due to decreases in graduates and increases in retirement.  Nationwide in 1999, the average salary for beginning medical laboratory technicians was $21,500; for beginning medical technologists it was $29,643. Recent salary information is available through the ASCP Board of Registry.  

A 1995 survey of 457 Marshall CLS graduates since 1958 showed that 97% of the 144 respondents took jobs in a clinical laboratory immediately upon graduation. Of the 73% who were currently employed in a clinical laboratory, 59% were employed as full time laboratory scientists. Other job titles reported by CLS graduates were physician or medical student, dentist, physical therapist, nurse, health care computer specialist, hospital administrator, pharmaceutical salesperson, science teacher, housewife, college professor, biomedical researcher, librarian, medical sonographer, attorney, and scientific device reviewer. Several graduates had retired after medical laboratory careers.

Medical laboratory workers and students handle body fluids which may contain disease causing agents such as the hepatitis B and HIV virus. They are trained to avoid infection, but there is still potential health risk associated with these careers. Students admitted to these programs must comply with safety, health insurance, and immunization requirements at their own expense in both pre-clinical and clinical practicum phases.

To learn more about the career of medical technology, view the following:

Medical Laboratory Careers

The American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science
7910 Woodmont Avenue - Suite 530
Bethesda, Maryland 20814
PH 301-657-2768 - FAX 301-657-2909
Email: ascls@ascls.org

General Curriculum for CLS Degrees

See the MU Undergraduate Catalog for complete information on MU academic policies and procedures. See CYT curriculum review and  MLT/MT curriculum review forms for course requirements, or CLS Student Guide  (adobe acrobat format) for CLS course content.

Multicultural, international, computer, intensive writing, and capstone courses involved in the " Marshall Plan" must be included in medical technology and cytotechnology bachelors degree programs. Students seeking medical technology and cytotechnology bachelors degree programs must meet requirements of the Marshall Plan. The plan includes 6 hours of courses officially designated "international," and 3 hours officially designated as "multicultural," which are not otherwise included in the published curriculum. Students must also complete a 3 hour "WI" (writing intensive) course. CLS 310, Clinical Immunology fulfills this requirement for MT majors. The computer literacy requirement is fulfilled within the MT and CYT curricula overall, but students are encouraged to include additional computer courses in their elective curriculum when possible. The Medical Technology capstone course is CLS 468. The Cytotechnology capstone course is CYT 446.

Cytotechnology

The Profession of Cytotechnology

Cytotechnologists examine cells from the human body under the microscope for early detection of cancer. Much of their work involves microscopic screening of "pap smears," cells taken from various body sites, placed on glass slides and stained by the Papanicolaou method. They interpret fine cytological detail which may indicate cancer, infection, inflammation, or other medical conditions. Job opportunities in cytologists are currently available in both the hospital setting and in private laboratories. In 1999, starting salaries in the southeast U.S. averaged $21 per hour, with higher salaries in areas with a higher cost of living. There is currently a great shortage of cytotechnologists nationwide.

To learn more about the cytotechnology profession, view the following link:

 Laboratory Careers, Cytology

Accreditation

The Cabell Huntington Hospital and Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC) schools of cytotechnology are fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the American Society of Cytopathology, in collaboration with the American Society for Cytology. CAAHEP can be contacted through their website, by telephone at 312/553-9355, and by mail at 35 East Wacker Drive Suite 1970, Chicago IL 60601-9355.

Admission to the Cytotechnology Program

Admission to the hospital school of cytotechnology is competitive. Students majoring in cytotechnology should have an alternate plan in case they are not admitted. In 2001, two MU undergraduate students were placed in a CYT training rotation. 

Undergraduates seeking the degree in cytotechnology are categorized by the College of Health Professions as "Pre-clinical laboratory sciences." Once admitted to either the Cabell Huntington Hospital or Charleston Area Medical Center school of cytotechnology, the student is categorized as a CYT major.

A minimum 2.5 GPA on all college work attempted and completion of academic prerequisites are required for students to be considered for cytotechnology at an affiliating hospital.

Applicants for the degree in cytotechnology must have earned at least 24 credit hours at Marshall University prior to entering clinical training. Students wishing to be considered for the CYT clinical year beginning in June apply for admission by submitting a completed transcript review form, two letters of reference, and a letter of application to the MLT Program Director between January 1 and February 15 the same calendar year.

Academic records of qualified undergraduate applicants are supplied to the CAMC school of cytotechnology by the CLS Department at the request of applicants. An admissions committee then select students to fill available positions on the basis of grade point average, personal interview, and academic status at MU. CAMC School of Cytotechnology reserves clinical spaces each year for qualified applicants from MU.

In addition to undergraduate applicants, CHH and CAMC schools consider applications from qualified college graduates for unfilled clinical spaces. College graduates should apply for admission directly to the hospital school. 

Cost of Cytotechnology Training

The CHH and CAMC schools of cytotechnology currently charge $5000 for the year-long program. While in cytotechnology school, students register for appropriate courses at MU so those courses will appear on the student's transcript. Since cytotechnology students pay tuition to a hospital school, they apply for a MU tuition waiver upon acceptance to a hospital program. Applications are obtained from the Clinical Laboratory Sciences Department. Students are responsible for costs of cytotechnology training, transportation, housing and meals, uniforms, vaccinations, books, and medical insurance.

Click below for the
Cytotechnology Curriculum

Medical Laboratory Technicians and Technologists

Medical technicians and technologists perform a variety of tests on body fluids, such as blood and urine. They provide information which is used by the physician to determine the extent and cause of disease. Computerized instrumentation and traditional chemical, physical, and microscopic methods of analysis are utilized to provide accurate, reliable laboratory results. Both MLT and MT certified lab workers perform tests in the specialties of hematology, blood banking, serology, immunology, clinical chemistry, bacteriology, virology, and parasitology. The bachelors level in medical technology also includes performance of clinical laboratory research, writing for publication, management and quality assurance, principles of analytical instruments, preparing and presenting professional continuing education presentations, principles and procedures in molecular diagnostics, and advanced biomedical studies.

Although approximately 80% of medical technologists and technicians work in laboratory-related positions, today's laboratorians have a number of career options at their disposal--education sales and marketing, research and development, supervision, and more. In 1999, the average starting salary for beginning medical laboratory technicians in our region was $24,375; for medical technologists it was $30,500.

MLT Program

Admission to the MLT Program

Entry to the MLT program involves formal application by candidates and competitive selection by an admissions committee. The number of class spaces is determined annually by the MLT program director, based upon available instructional resources both on campus and in affiliated hospital laboratories. The enrollment limit is approximately 11 per year. Admission of qualified applicants is not guaranteed. Students seeking admission to the MLT program should develop an alternative academic plan in the event that they are not admitted. 

Minimum qualifications for admission include an overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.0, completion of at least 18 credit hours of courses in the MLT-MT program curriculum with a minimum 2.5 GPA, including "C" or better grades in BSC 227, CHM 211 & CHM 217, and MTH 127 (or equivalent courses). Applicants who have completed 24 credit hours or more in the MLT-MT curriculum, including CLS 100, receive preference. 

Students apply for admission by completing and submitting a transcript review form, two letters of reference, and a letter of application to the MLT Program Director between March 1 and May 31 for admission to the fall semester of the current year. Transcript review form and sample letters of application are available at the Clinical Laboratory Sciences Department. Late applications are considered on a space available basis. The CLS admissions committee reviews letters of application, college level course work, and letters of reference. The committee then selects students to fill available class spaces and develops a ranked waiting list.

Letters will be mailed to all qualified applicants by July 10, notifying them of admission status or position on the waiting list. Students accepted into the MLT program obtain permission to register for the courses CLS 110 and CLS 200 from the MLT program director. Accepted students who are not properly registered or who are absent during the first week of regular classes without prior approval will lose their space to a wait-listed applicant. Admitted students will be required to attend an instructional program on blood borne pathogens and must either begin the Hepatitis B vaccine series or sign a waiver once they begin CLS laboratory courses. Vaccinations are at the student's expense.

Readmission

Decisions regarding readmitting students to pre-clinical CLS courses will be made by the admissions committee subject to space availability. No student is guaranteed readmission. Students seeking readmission apply by letter to the MLT program director as above during the regular admissions period. Readmitted students may be required to repeat one or more CLS courses or undertake directed independent study.

MT Program

Progression through the MLT-MT Program

CLS Students are required to surpass defined minimum standards of academic and technical competence at every level. Upon entering the program, each student obtains a copy of the CLS Student Handbook. Upon entering MLT and MT hospital clinical practica, each student obtains a copy of the Clinical Practicum Handbook, which contains written policies and procedures for the hospital rotations. Orientation to the hospital setting is part of the preclinical sequence.

Click below for for

• MLT/MT Curriculum

MT hospital based clinical practicum consists of an 18-week clinical rotation at hospital affiliates, including St. Mary's Hospital (Huntington), Cabell Huntington Hospital, and Charleston Area Medical Center. Students are each based in one hospital, but have rotations in all three.

Admission to the MT Program

All students apply for admission by completing and submitting a transcript review form, two letters of reference, and a letter of application to the MT Program Director between March 1 and May 31 for admission to the fall semester of the current year. Transcript review forms and sample letters of application are available at the Clinical Laboratory Sciences Department. Students who have completed the MLT associate degree program at Marshall University meet admission requirements for the 2 + 2 MT curriculum.

Transfer students who have earned the associate degree at another college or university qualify for the bachelors degree program provided that they completed their MLT-A. D. program at a NAACLS-accredited school. The course CLS 255 or other pre-clinical orientation may be required of transfer students. Advanced standing and credit by examination in CLS courses are available. Part time students frequently participate in the pre-clinical phase of this program.

Hospital Clinical Practicum, MLT and MT

Available hospital clinical training positions are allocated to students who have completed the preclinical sequence by the CLS department faculty. If space for students in clinical practicum should be inadequate, qualified students are selected competitively on the basis of overall college grade point average. Students not selected are given first preference for training positions which later become available.

To enter clinical practicum, students must have earned a grade of "C" or better in each CLS course, have a minimum GPA of 2.5 in CLS courses or their transferred equivalents, have a minimum 2.0 overall GPA, and have successfully completed all prerequisite courses. Students who have earned grades of W or F more than once in CLS course work may be prohibited from entering clinical practicum unless their recent academic work has shown improvement. Prior to starting clinical practicum rotations, students must provide documentation: proof of major medical insurance, a statement of health, results of a skin test for tuberculosis, and proof of immunization against hepatitis B (or a signed waiver).

Scholarships and Financial Aid

The staff of the student financial assistance office in room 122 Old Main at Marshall University assists students in furthering their education through the use of scholarships, grants, low interest loans, and employment.

Medical Technology Scholarships are awarded by state and national medical laboratory associations such as the ASCP and ASCLS. Private donors, such as Fairmont General Hospital and Thomas Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, sponsor promising medical laboratory students. Senior medical technology students may apply in October for the Mary W. George Memorial Scholarship in medical technology, awarded by the CLS Department faculty. 

Updated 11/14/2005

Clinical Laboratory Sciences Dept.
Marshall University
400 Hal Greer Blvd.
Huntington, WV 25755

Contact us by email at:
clinical@marshall.edu