The clinical laboratory sciences program offers a clinical certification track that includes a submajor in medical laboratory science. The track is designed to prepare graduates for employment in hospitals, physician’s offices, private laboratories, public health agencies, pharmaceutical companies and academic or industrial research. The professional track is the preferred course of study for students considering graduate school or advanced studies in the clinical sciences. The professional track also can be used as preparation for careers in medicine, dentistry, and veterinary science.

Advising is available by faculty through the clinical laboratory sciences program. To assess progress, students should meet with their advisor each semester in which they are enrolled in classes. The MLS program is accredited by:

National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
5600 North River Road
Suite 720
Rosemont, IL 60018

Certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist

Once the student has completed the requirements for a B.S. through our NAACLS accredited Medical Laboratory Science Program he or she is eligible to sit for the Board of Certification exam sponsored by the American Society of Clinical Pathologist.

Clinical Certification Track

This curriculum is a four-year program at Eastern Michigan University:

The medical laboratory science option consists of seven semesters of course work in general education, basic sciences and clinical sciences and includes 22 weeks of rotation through an accredited clinical laboratory. These rotations for the clinical track include:

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Mercy Memorial Hospital, Monroe
Garden City Hospital, Garden City
VA Hospital, Ann Arbor
St. John Providence, Southfield
Promedica Health System, Toledo OH
Alverno Clinical Labs, Hammond IN
Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit for Cytogenetics
William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak Histotechnology

Because enrollment in the fourth year is limited by the size of classes in the affiliated hospitals, admission to the program does not ensure admission to the clinical rotations of the curriculum. Admission into the clinical rotations is competitive. The Medical Laboratory Science program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences.

The major in clinical laboratory sciences follows an interdisciplinary format composed of courses in clinical laboratory sciences, biology, chemistry and mathematics.

All students must complete the courses in each of the four areas of general education. At least 30 hours of the academic program must be completed at Eastern Michigan University. Students should be aware of the 60- and 75-hour rule regarding transfer of community college credit.

Admission and continuation in the clinical laboratory sciences program is based upon the following:

1. A minimum EMU cumulative GPA of 2.0. A cumulative GPA of less than 2.8 mandates warning students of their ineligibility for acceptance into the clinical track.
2. No grade below C in any mathematics or science course.
3. A grade of D (including D- and F) in one courses in the clinical laboratory sciences major may, upon recommendation by the Program Review Committee, result in dismissal from the CLS program.
4. Freedom from any kind of probation (administrative, academic, academic dishonesty or other university sanctioned probations) must be maintained. While on academic probation, no student may register for, remain in, or receive credit for science courses or practicum courses within the clinical laboratory sciences program.
5. TOEFL scores of 570 or above (230 on the computer-based exam or 88 on the internet-based exam).
6. Students may retake any science, math or CLSC course only one time in order to improve a grade.
7. Transfer credits from any institution must be at least a B or above.

Successful completion of the clinical track and the Bachelor of Science degree qualifies students to take the national board examination in medical laboratory science.

Clinical Track Requirements

Students must be accepted to Eastern Michigan University before they can be considered by the Clinical Laboratory Science Program Screening Committee. However, admission to EMU does not guarantee admission into the clinical track program.

Students entering the program will be classified initially as clinical laboratory sciences “intents.” Application for full admission to the clinical track program should be made during the winter semester of the junior year.

Application packets can be obtained from the program director. Completed applications must be in the office by March 15 in order to be considered for acceptance for the winter semester.

Selection criteria include overall EMU GPA, letters of recommendation, overall science GPA, interview evaluations, freedom from any academic dishonesty and completed application form.

Admission to the clinical laboratory sciences curriculum/clinical track is competitive and is based on the following:

1. A minimum GPA of 2.8 with no grade below C in any science, mathematics or pre-professional course. The prerequisite courses may be taken at EMU, or other four-year college/university or at a community college.
2. A minimum science GPA of 2.8.
3. Completion of at least 60 hours of University credit, including 45 credit hours of prerequisite mathematics and science courses, as indicated on the application form.
4. Three letters of recommendation. It is suggested that references should include a science instructor and an employer.
5. Documentation that an applicant will have completed all prerequisite clinical laboratory sciences courses prior to beginning clinical rotations in the spring of the senior year.

The first three years of clinical laboratory sciences are similar for both the professional and clinical tracks. It is likely that acceptance into the clinical track will be highly competitive. Clinical laboratory sciences majors who are not accepted into the clinical track program, yet desire to sit for the registry examination in medical laboratory science, have the following options:

1. Completion of the Bachelor of Science degree in clinical laboratory sciences (professional track) at Eastern Michigan University and filing a reapplication to the clinical track program.
2. Completion of all required course work for the Bachelor of Science degree in clinical laboratory sciences and application to an approved hospital-based school of medical technology. The faculty advisors will assist students in the application process. Students are selected for internship placement through a statewide computer matching process. The selection process is completed in September each year, with internships usually beginning during the month of July. A bachelor of science in clinical laboratory sciences will qualify the student to apply to hospitals within Michigan and throughout the United States.

Hospital-based schools of medical technology (internship programs) associated with the computer match process are:

Detroit Medical Center, Detroit
St. John Hospital, Detroit
Hurley Hospital, Flint
William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak