Masters Program

The Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences offers a Master of Science degree in ClinicalLaboratory Sciences. The degree program has two tracks—one in Forensic and Analytical Toxicology and the other in Immunohematology. These programs are designed for the clinical laboratory practitioner or science graduate who wants to specialize in a specific area of laboratory science. The degree programs require 40 credit hours (including research and thesis) for graduation. The course work may be taken as a part-time or full-time student.

Admission requirements

Students should:

• Have a Bachelor's degree in clinical laboratory science, biology, chemistry or other related discipline from a regionally accredited institution in the United States
• Have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale)
• Have a minimum score of 1000 on the GRE (combined verbal and quantitative). Score must not be older than 5 years
• Submit at least two reference forms

Foreign applicants

If the applicant is from a foreign country the transcript must be evaluated by an agency acceptable to the UTHSCSA. The transcript must be equivalent to a bachelor's degree in the United States. Applicants whose native language is not English must score at least a 213 on the computerized TOEFL examination (or 550 on the paper and pencil exam)

Toxicology track

Course prerequisites

• One semester of calculus
• 8 semester hours of general chemistry with lab
  
• 8 semester hours of Organic I and II with lab
  
• 4 semester hours of biochemistry with lab
  
• 8 semester hours of biology (including physiology)
• 8 semester hours of physics with lab (electronics may be substituted)
  
• 4 semester hours of clinical chemistry with lab (instrumental analysis may be substituted)
  
• One semester of computer science
  
• One semester of statistics is strongly recommended

Students are required to complete a core course curriculum as well as professional courses. Each student will complete a practicum in toxicology at one of several toxicology laboratories affiliated with the program. After completion of course work and the practicum, Students must complete a research project and thesis.

Immunohematology track

Because the first year of this program is the Specialist in Blood Bank (SBB) curriculum, applicants to this track MUST be certified as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) or immunohematologist (CLS/I) by NCA or medical technologist (MT) or blood bank technologist (BB) by ASCP. Foreign certification is NOT recognized as equivalent.

In addition, applicants must have at least one year post-baccalaureate experience in a blood bank acceptable to the medical director of the SBB program.

Course prerequisites

• 16 semester hours of biology (including one semester of immunology and one semester of microbiology)
• 16 semester hours of chemistry (including one semester of either organic chemistry with lab or biochemistry with lab)
  
• one semester of precalculus
  
• one semester of statistics

Year one consists of the curriculum for the Specialist in Blood Bank program. Students enroll in specific courses and practicums and sit for a national examination at the end of year one. Following completion of the SBB program and a passing score on the national examination, students enroll in core and elective courses as well as complete a research project and thesis.

Applicants who have successfully completed an approved SBB program and passed the national examination should consult with the graduate director for options.

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Application deadlines

April 1 for fall admission.
October 1 for spring admission.

Core Courses

All graduate students in the program are expected to take the following core courses

• Biochemistry
  
• Biostatistics
  
• Ethics in Research
  
• Immunology
  
• Research
  
• Thesis

Students will take electives that complement career goals and that have the approval of the advisor.

Other required courses for the toxicology track include:

• Pathophysiology
  
• Pharmacology
  
• Special topics in Medical/Forensic Toxicology
  
• Toxicology Seminars
  
• Topics in Applied Toxicology
  
• Principles and Applications in Analytical Toxicology
  
• Principles of Forensic Science
  
• Toxicology Practicum

Other required courses in the immunohematology track include:

• Basic Concepts in Immunohematology
  
• Immunohematology III
  
• Transfusion Medicine
  
• Seminar
  
• Practicum III

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Salaries

Salary will depend on the position chosen and the geographical area.
In many cases starting salary will be > $35,000.

Career Opportunities

Toxicology graduates may work in a number of different facilities including:

• Toxicology Reference Laboratory
• Medical Examiner's Office
• Department of Public Safety Laboratory
• Academic Research
• Biomedical Corporations (research and development)
• Drug Enforcement Agency

Immunohematology graduates work in:

• Regional Blood Centers
• Hospitals
• Blood Band Reference Labs
• Biomedical Corporations
  

Examples of student research projects

• Effect of Anticonvulsants on MRP-2 Gene Expression
• Metabolic Profile of the Drug Famprofazone
• Metabolic Profile of the Drug Famprofazone following Multidose Administration
• GHB: Evaluation of Current Analytical Methodologies and Determination of Endogenous Postmortem Concentrations in Biological Samples
• Correlation of Cocaine and Opiate Levels Between Two Routine Post-mortem Samples -- Blood and Skeletal Muscle.
• The Effects of Consumption of Herbal Dietary Supplements on Amphetamine/Metamphetamine Urinalysis: The Herbal Dietary Supplement Defense
• Effect of Accutane on Uptake of Catecholamines

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be a Clinical Laboratory Scientist (medical technologist) to enroll?

Students who have a baccalaureate degree in biology, chemistry, Clinical Laboratory Science or other science fields may enroll in the Forensic and Analytical Toxicology track. Students who are interested in the Immunohematology track must be a CLS with experience in the blood bank.

Do I have to go full-time?

The curriculum was designed for part-time as well as full time students. Students have 6 years to complete the program.

Are there stipends or teaching assistantships?

The MS program does not offer stipends or teaching assistantships. Those students who are not employed full-time but who are clinical laboratory scientists may be able to find part-time work in clinical laboratories in the medical center area.

How many students are accepted each year?

We generally accept only 2-3 students per year because of limited practicum sites.

©2002 UTHSCSA School of Allied Health Sciences, Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences.
All rights reserved. Updated 1/3/2005.
For comments or questions about this Web site contact neuen@uthscsa.edu.