CLS Degree
General Education Requirements
Pre-professional Classification
Pre-professional Course Requirements
Admission to the Professional Programs in Clinical Laboratory
Science (CLS)—Medical Technology and Cytotechnology
CLS—Medical Technology
CLS—Cytotechnology
Retention in the Professional Program
Accreditation
Professional Organizations
Suggested Study Program for PCL
Courses
CLS Medical Technology: 6175 Medical Sciences Center, 1300 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706; 608-262-2085; www.clsmedtech.wisc.edu; clsprogram@pathology.wisc.edu
CLS Cytology: Room 255, 465 Henry Mall, Madison, WI 53706; 608-262-2802; www.slh.wisc.edu/cytology
Professors Ehrmeyer (CLS/MT director), Kurtycz, Wiebe, Westgard; Associate Professors Darcy (CLS/MT medical director); Clinical Assistant Professors Shalkham (CT director), Weiss; Adjunct Assistant Professor Borgh
Clinical laboratory scientists have expertise in clinical laboratory medicine. They generate vital information used by clinicians for diagnosis and treatment. The two professional programs (Medical Technology and Cytotechnology) in CLS require students to have a strong basic science background and develop expertise in clinical science and laboratory procedures.
Medical technologists are responsible for performing complex biological and chemical analysis on blood and other body fluids to provide accurate and reliable laboratory test data to clinicians. Medical technologists know proper utilization of laboratory tests for diagnosis and treatment of disease, how to obtain appropriate specimens following sampling protocols, ways to use and maintain automated analytical systems, procedures for quality assurance and quality control testing, and interpretation and correlation of test results with disease states.
Cytotechnologists examine cell samples under the microscope to differentiate normal cells from abnormal alterations that are signs for cancer or other diseases. They work closely with pathologists to arrive at a final diagnosis. While many CLS professionals work in hospitals, clinics, and reference laboratories, they also find career opportunities in biotechnology, medical research laboratories, laboratory instrument sales, medical data processing, and public health organizations. A degree in clinical laboratory science (CLS) provides an excellent background for medical school, graduate study in other medical science fields, and areas such as law or business where knowledge of health care is useful. Graduates from the CLS program at UW-Madison are eligible to take national board certification examinations.
The SMPH Health Professions Programs undergraduate CLS degree leads to a bachelor of science with options in either medical technology or cytotechnology. Both programs consist of two years of academic, pre-professional courses and two years of professional courses. The pre-professional curriculum provides the background in physical and biological sciences essential for the courses in the professional program. The professional programs provide clinical information and hands-on experience in preparation for board certification as a medical technologist/clinical laboratory scientist or cytotechnologist.
Students completing the pre-professional course work can apply to either professional program. The final year of the CLS Cytotechnology degree is a 12-month internship that includes a summer session. The CLS Medical Technology degree can be completed in four years.
It is recommended that prospective clinical laboratory science students have high school preparation in: chemistry, physics, biology, algebra, trigonometry, foreign language, English grammar and composition. All students must satisfy the general admissions requirements of UW-Madison and all students who matriculated at any college or university in summer 1996 or later must satisfy the UW-Madison general education requirements.
General education requirements are included in the suggested plan of study for CLS majors. Students should check with an advisor for recently approved courses that meet the general education requirements. The general education requirements are fulfilled for clinical laboratory science major as follows:
Communication A—English 100 or exemption by placement examination satisfies the Communication A requirement. Alternative Communication A courses, designated in the "ge" information in the Schedule of Classes (Timetable) by "a," also fulfill this requirement.
Communication B—Certain humanities and social studies courses satisfy the Communication B requirement. Those courses may be counted for humanities or social studies as well as Communication B. Communication B courses are designated in the "ge" information in the Schedule of Classes (Timetable) by "b."
Quantitative Reasoning A—Math 112 and 113 or 114, or exemption by placement examination is required for the major. Those course(s) fulfill the requirement for Quantitative Reasoning A.
Quantitative Reasoning B—Some program electives meet the Quantitative Reasoning B requirement. Quantitative reasoning courses are designated in the "ge" information in the Schedule of Classes (Timetable) by "r."
First-year students entering the university directly from high school and intending to follow the CLS curriculum may indicate, on the application to the university, their desire to be classified as a Clinical Laboratory Science major. They will be admitted to the program as Pre-Clinical Laboratory Science (PCL) students.
Both degree options complete the same PCL curriculum. Effective fall 1999, the following courses or their equivalents must be completed before beginning either professional program. (See additional information about English and mathematics requirements below.)
Communication A, unless exempt, 0-3 credits
Math 112, 113 or 114, 5 cr
CLS 102, 1 cr
Humanities, 6 cr
Social Studies, 6 cr
Ethnic Studies, 3 cr—may also fulfill 3 credits
of humanities or social studies
The CLS program requires that the following prerequisite course work: physiology, microbiology, immunology, and pathology be completed within 5 years of admission to the professional program.
The PCL classification does not guarantee entry into the professional program. Space limitations may prevent the program from accepting all students who apply for the final two years of academic study. The Admissions and Retention Committees for each program select students annually. Available spaces are assigned to eligible students with the best academic records as reflected by the cumulative grade point averages.
Program staff continually advise students as to their progress. The
CLS/Medical Technology Professional Program can accommodate a limited number of
part-time students. The CLS/Cytotechnology
Professional Program cannot accommodate part-time students during the 12-month,
clinical internship. Application forms for CLS/Medical Technology are available
from the CLS/MT Web site under
Admissions or in 6175
Applications for CLS/Cytotechnology are available online and at the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, 465 Henry Mall.
To be considered for professional program admission, UW-Madison students and transfer applicants must meet the following requirements:
Students selected into the two-year professional program complete advanced science and bioscience courses along with clinical laboratory science/medical technology courses. Most of these CLS courses include clinical testing as part of the laboratory activities. Students also have the opportunity for additional clinical experiences at UW Hospital and Clinics, the Wisconsin State Hygiene Laboratory, UW Vet Lab, local clinics, and biotechnology companies. Applications for the CLS/Medical Technology Program must be received by February 1 in order to be considered for admission into the professional program the following fall.
Upon satisfactory completion of the required courses of the professional program and a minimum of 120 credits, UW-Madison awards the Bachelor of Science-Clinical Laboratory Science degree, Medical Technology.
Students selected into the cytotechnology program complete campus science and CLS courses in the first year of the professional program and specific CLS/Cytology courses during the 12-month clinical internship, in the second year of the professional curriculum. This internship begins summer session between the first and second year of the cytotechnology professional program. Applications for the cytotechnology option must be submitted to that program by March 1 in order to be considered for admission into the professional program for the following fall semester.
Upon satisfactory completion of the required courses of the professional program and a minimum of 126 credits, UW-Madison awards the Bachelor of Science-Clinical Laboratory Science degree, Cytotechnology. The cytotechnology program issues a certificate for completion of the professional program.
All students are expected to adhere to the highest standards of professional and ethical behavior. Professional student records are reviewed by the Program Retention Committee at the end of each semester. A minimum grade of C is required in each professional course and a cumulative GPA of 2.0 is required for graduation. Students who earn less than a C in a professional course may be subject to dismissal from the program, or may be allowed to continue after repeating the course and earning a B or better. Both the original grade and the grade earned in the repeated course are used in the calculation of the cumulative GPA. Reentry is allowed on a space-available basis. Students waiting to repeat a course, who are in good standing with the university, may take courses with a Pre-Clinical Laboratory (PCL) classification.
Cytology students must earn a minimum of 2.5 GPA in the internship year for graduation.
The National Accrediting Association (NAACLS, 8410 West Bryn Mawr Avenue, Suite 670, Chicago, IL 60631; 773/714-8880) accredits the Clinical Laboratory Sciences/Medical Technology Program. Graduates of the program are eligible to take the American Society of Clinical Pathologists' MT (ASCP) certifying examination and/or the National Certification Agency for Medical Laboratory Personnel's, CLS (NCA) certifying exam.
The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAHEA, 35 East Wacker Drive, Suite 1970, Chicago, IL 60601-2208) accredits the Cytotechnology Professional Program. Graduates of the program are eligible to take the American Society of Clinical Pathologists' CT (ASCP) certifying examination.
Clinical Laboratory Science majors are eligible for student membership in the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS), American Society of Clinical Pathologists, the Wisconsin chapter of ASCLS, and the Madison Area Society for Clinical Laboratory Science.
Cytotechnology professional students are eligible for student membership in the American Society of Cytopathology, the Wisconsin Society of Cytology, The American Society for Cytotechnologists, and the American Society of Clinical Pathologists.
See program Web site.