School of Allied Health Professions

MLT to MLS Articulation Curriculum

for

LSU Health Sciences Center

Department of Medical Laboratory Science

Revised June 2023

 

Eligibility Requirements

• Associate Degree
• MLT Certification by ASCP

Description

The program is structured as a part time two-year hybrid curriculum for certified medical laboratory technicians (MLT) with at least 1 year of medical laboratory experience.  The student must complete the LSUHSC application for the BS in Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) program. The clinical laboratory at which the applicant is employed must contract with the Department to provide the clinical practicum courses required for the degree. 

Admission Process

1. Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements listed above, complete the prerequisite courses as listed for the MLT to MLS curriculum, and submit the same admission materials as other students applying to the MLS program (transcripts, admission form, recommendations, etc.).
2. Documentation of certification must be submitted.
3. Applicant prerequisites must be completed before the applicant starts the program.
4. MLT articulation students must apply and application documents be received at least 2 months prior to the intended start date.
5. Students may be admitted at the beginning of any semester.
6. MLT applicants will be placed in a separate applicant pool and admission will be on a continuous basis (as soon as all required materials are submitted, admission will be considered). An interview will be scheduled after all materials have been received, and it has been determined that the applicant meets the recommended criteria (2.5 overall GPA, 2.0 science GPA, etc.). Based on available resources and other factors, the Department determines the number of MLT articulation students participating in the program.
7. The student’s employer must agree to assess the competency of the applicant to award credit for clinical practicum courses, to adjust the student’s work schedule to allow them to attend all required classes (exams, presentations, etc.) and to maintain the usual number of traditional students in practicum rotations in addition to the articulating student.
8. The student’s employer must sign a letter of agreement for MLT articulation prior to the student’s admission.
9. Prior to acceptance of the student into the program, the supervisors of all major laboratory departments responsible for each practicum rotation must agree to participate in the training rotation of the student and must sign a letter of agreement.
10. The Department will determine a degree plan for the student. The Department may change the order in the degree plan if it is deemed necessary.  The student may not make any changes to the degree plan without the approval of the Department.
11. The program will typically be completed in 2 years unless there is some extenuating circumstance. Progression in the program may be delayed by mutual agreement of the department and the employer under special circumstances.  Total time for the completion of the program shall not exceed 3 years.
12. All practicum courses must be taken on vacation time or leave without pay unless the student's employer grants educational leave.
13. The student must remain an employee of the contracted hospital laboratory throughout enrollment in the MLT articulation program. If employment is terminated for any reason, the student will not be allowed to continue in the program.
14. Practicum courses will be scheduled by the student's employer in consultation with the Department. The student may not make any changes to the schedule without the approval of the employer and the Department.
15. Since the student is not full time, it will be necessary for the student to check his/her email daily for any changes in the course schedule or for assignments or other notices.
16. The student must pass all coursework to remain in the program. Passing a course includes making a score of 64 or higher on comprehensive final exams in addition to making an overall score of 70 or higher in the course. The remediation policy in the MLS Handbook will be followed.
17. The employer may request that certain courses be included in the degree plan.

Prerequisite Courses (Note: need 80 prerequisites)

                       

 

Curriculum - LSUHSC Courses

1. Students will be required to take the courses listed below.
2. Courses will be taught using a hybrid model. Students will be required to purchase all class notes and attend all examinations and presentations on the date scheduled in the syllabus. No make-up exams will be given except for an excused absence. Scheduled work will not be considered an excused absence.
3. Faculty reserves the right to limit the number of students in a class. This may affect the sequencing of courses.
4. Students will be required to abide by the Medical Laboratory Science Handbook with noted exceptions outlined in this document.

LSUHSC Department of Medical Laboratory Science Courses

* Credit by equivalency exam possible for laboratory portion of course

                                   

 

 

 

1. Credit for clinical practicum courses will be given by meeting certain competencies and will be evaluated by the employer. Competency checklists will be provided by LSUHSC and will be equivalent to objectives for clinical practicum courses for MLS students.
2. Grades for practicum courses will be calculated the same for all MLS students: a combination of written exams, practical exams, affective and technical competency evaluations.  The same exams will be used for the MLT to MLS students as for the MLS students.  Students will be given only one opportunity to take and pass exams.  Any deviation from this policy will require consultation with and approval by LSUHSC faculty.