Requirements

Admission Criteria - CLS On-campus Track

To be eligible to enter the on-campus professional phase of the Clinical Laboratory Science (CLS) Program, students must have at least a 2.5 cumulative grade point average (GPA) and 2.8 math/science GPA on a 4.0 scale. In addition, students must have completed general education requirements and CLS pre-professional courses prior to admission. Transfer students must comply with the university’s admission and general prerequisite requirements. Second-degree students must complete required pre-professional courses.

Students must apply for the professional phase of the Clinical Laboratory Science Program. Completed applications are due in the office of the Chair, Department of Clinical Laboratory Science by February 1st. All students will be notified of eligibility for an interview with the Clinical Laboratory Science Admission and Selection Committee. The committee will notify applicants of its decision by May 15th.

The student must have sufficient upper body muscle coordination and adequate dexterity to handle body fluid specimens, biohazards, chemical hazards and instruments safely in order to prevent harm to self or others. He/she must be able to perform delicate manipulations on specimens, instruments and equipment (such as calibrated pipettes) sufficient to meet specifications for accuracy in diagnostic testing. He/she must be able to lift and move objects, e.g., load individual tubes in an analyzer and move test tube racks from one bench to another. He/she must have fine motor control skills to carry out technical procedures, such as isolating bacteria by smoothly moving a loop (a 6-inch wire with a looped end) over the surface of an agar (gel) culture plate without tearing the surface of the agar. The student must have sufficient touch discrimination to discern veins in order to perform venipunctures.

The student must be able and willing to work with blood and with organisms that may be infectious. He/she must be able to work safely with a wide variety of chemical reagents.

Approximately 75% of each day is spent standing or walking and 25% is spent sitting in an indoor setting. Lifting of up to 50 pounds of equipment or supplies is required. Frequent interaction with computer terminals and laboratory equipment is necessary, requiring interpretation of visual presentation on screen, repetitive hand movements and fine manipulation.

The student must possess the emotional stability required for full utilization of his/her intellectual abilities. He/she must be able to work accurately and safely under stress, e.g., work under time constraints; read and record numbers accurately; perform repetitive tasks; concentrate in distracting situations; and make subjective evaluations and decisions where mistakes may have a high impact on patient care. He/she must be able to adapt to changing environments and be able to prioritize tasks.

The student must be able to communicate effectively in verbal and written English in order to obtain and transmit information to patients and members of the health care team. The appropriate communication may also rely on the student’s ability to make a correct judgment in seeking supervisory help and consultation in a timely manner.

The student must possess attributes which include integrity, responsibility, and tolerance. He/she must show respect for self and others, work independently as well as with others, and project an image of professionalism.

These standards identify the requirements for admission, retention and graduation from the program. It is the responsibility of the student with disabilities to request those accommodations that he/she feels are reasonable and are needed to execute the essential functions described.

To receive assistance, students who believe they will need special assistance must complete a Student Accommodations Request Form. The Student Accommodations Request Form is also available on the Campus Resources link on the Current Students webpage.

Students who wish to obtain further information regarding disability accommodations
should contact:

The Department of Disability Services
217 Anderson Center
336-750-8658
waddellm@wssu.edu