Clinical Laboratory Sciences

Students in Clinical Laboratory Sciences may concentrate in Medical Technology or Cytotechnology.

Medical technology prepares students for positions in the laboratory/diagnostic sector of the health professions industry and research laboratories. Students interested in the Medical Technology program must enroll as pre-medical technology students and apply for formal admission to the program after completing three semesters of study. Admission is not automatic and depends on academic performance and aptitude for the field. Medical technology students are on campus for three academic years and then spend the senior year in a twelve-month medical center practicum. The University of Maine is affiliated with the Eastern Maine Medical Center (EMMC) in Bangor. Juniors in the Medical Technology program apply directly to the EMMC program for admission to the practicum. A student must have a GPA of 2.5 overall and 2.5 in the sciences to be considered for admission to the EMMC program. EMMC reserves the right to refuse admission to students who in their judgement would not be satisfactory. After completing the practicum, students are eligible to take the certifying examination administered by the American Society of Clinical Pathology.

Cytotechnology is a specialty in clinical laboratory medicine involving the microscopic evaluation of human cells for the detection of changes indicative of various diseases, pre-cancerous conditions and cancer. Cytotechnologists are employed in clinical pathology laboratories and reference laboratories. The University of Maine is affiliated with the Fletcher Allen Health Care School of Cytotechnology at the Medical Center Hospital of Vermont, in Burlington. Students interested in the Cytotechnology program must enroll as pre-cytotechnology students and apply for formal admission to the program after completing three semesters of study. Admission is not automatic and depends upon academic performance and aptitude for the field. Cytotechnology students are on campus for three academic years and then spend the senior year in a twelve-month medical center practicum. A student must have a GPA of 2.7 overall and a GPA of 2.7 in the sciences to be considered by the Fletcher Allen Health Care School of Cytotechnology. After completing the practicum, students take the certifying examination administered by the American Society of Clinical Pathology.

For the BS in Clinical Laboratory Sciences, a minimum grade of “C” is required in BIO 100 and BIO 208 for degree credit.

Students majoring in Clinical Laboratory Sciences must earn a score of 4 or 5 in order to receive advanced placement credit for BIO 100.

Specific Requirements

Students may earn the BS in Clinical Laboratory Sciences by completing the curriculum outlined as follows. A minimum of 16 credits of chemistry is required by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science. The senior year practicum meets the requirement for the General Education Capstone Experience.