2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog
Medical Laboratory Science Department
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Kari Potter, Chair
School of Health Sciences
Center for Health Education, Room 302
(605) 658-6365
medlab@usd.edu
http://link.usd.edu/MedicalLaboratoryScience
FACULTY:
Instructor:
Kari Potter, M.S. MLS (ASCP)CM
Adjunct Instructors:
Viviana Deleon, MPH
Program Officials of Affiliated Schools of Medical Laboratory Science:
- Meredith Loosbrock, Sanford Health, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
- Angie Corderman, St. Luke’s College Medical Laboratory Science Program, Sioux City, Iowa
(not currently accepting applicants)
*Students will rotate through both UnityPoint Health and MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center, Sioux City
- Brooke Solberg, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota
- Kyla Dippold, Mercy College of Health Sciences Medical Laboratory Science Program, Des Moines, Iowa
- Lynn Poth, Hennepin Healthcare (HCMC) Medical Laboratory Science Program, Minneapolis, Minnesota
MAJOR:
Medical Laboratory Science, B.S.
Individuals who enjoy science, like solving puzzles and enjoy working with people may find Medical Laboratory Science a rewarding career option. It is a career that will provide life-long mobility, flexibility and opportunity. Modern medicine would be impossible without medical laboratory professionals. The Medical Laboratory Science Program is a part of the School of Health Sciences. A Medical Laboratory Scientist is the member of the health-care team trained to perform a wide variety of scientific fact-finding tests in the clinical laboratory. These tests encompass the areas of clinical chemistry, clinical microbiology, parasitology, hematology, hemostasis, clinical urinalysis, immunology, immunohematology, and molecular diagnostics. The results of these tests are used in the diagnosis, treatment, and, in some cases, prevention of disease. An abundance of employment opportunities exists in hospital laboratories, commercial reference laboratories, private laboratories, public health laboratories, clinics, and research centers. After experience within the field there are opportunities for advancement into management, information technology, consulting and teaching positions. Industry also offers opportunities in the area of sales, public relations, research and development. There are channels for continued academic specialization and advanced degrees that in turn bring further employment opportunities and benefits. A degree in Medical Laboratory Science can also be used as a stepping stone to pathologist assistant, physician assistant, or medical school.
Students spend 3 years on the USD campus completing medical laboratory science major requirements, university degree, and general education requirements, while the fourth year is spent at an affiliated NCAALS-accredited Medical Laboratory Science program where students complete their clinical requirements. The program culminates in a Bachelor of Science degree from the USD School of Health Sciences.
Declaration of Medical Laboratory Science Major
Students may be eligible to declare the Medical Laboratory Science major after successful completion of 12 credits with confirmation of good academic standing defined as a minimum cumulative GPA of 1.8 for 1-44.9 credits or a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 for 45 or more credits per SDBOR policy 2.8.1.C(4).
Location Matters. This undergraduate program is designed to meet the educational requirements for a professional license or certification and allows students to enroll in at least one course through distance education during the first semester. Pursuant to Federal Regulations, the program may only admit students who are located in states where the program meets the educational requirements for professional licensure or who attest in writing that they intend to seek licensure or employment in a state where the program meets those requirements.
Please fill out the corresponding form to indicate the state where you will be living (located) on the first day of the semester you begin the program.
Upon successful completion of the location form, a representative from the program will reach out to you about the next steps to declare the MLS major.
Completion of the declaration of MLS major does not guarantee placement for clinical internship. There will be an additional external application process. Each clinical site has their own minimum requirements and application process. Students may apply to any number of USD’s clinical affiliates. Details of affiliates’ requirements can be found on their respective websites which can be accessed via USD MLS website.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Please contact the department for additional information about available scholarships and awards. Also see School of Health Sciences for school level scholarships.
Student Learning Outcomes for Medical Laboratory Science (B.S.)
- Students will connect ideas and experiences in order to synthesize and transfer learning to new, complex situations within and beyond the campus.
- Students will interact with other students and evaluate the effort put into team tasks, interactions with others, and the quantity and quality made to team discussions.
- Students will recognize when there is a need for information and identify, locate, evaluate and effectively and responsibly use and convey that information to address the need or problem at hand.
- Students will comprehensively explore issues, ideas, artifacts and events before accepting or formulating an opinion or conclusion, and combine or synthesize existing ideas, images or expertise in original ways reflecting a high degree of innovation, divergent thinking, and risk taking.
- Students will be able to systematically explore issues, objects or works through the collection and analysis of evidence that results in informed conclusions or judgments, and break down complex topics or issues into parts to gain a better understanding of them.
- The Medical Laboratory Science student will demonstrate cognitive understanding of essential hematology, parasitology, immunohematology, clinical chemistry, and clinical microbiology theory and the testing procedures that are associated with each area.
- The Medical Laboratory Science student will demonstrate entry-level laboratory psychomotor skills.
- The Medical Laboratory Science student will demonstrate affective professional behaviors in the classroom and at the clinical internship sites as they interact with clients, student classmates, instructors, clinical supervisors, and other health professionals.
Programs
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