Medical Laboratory Science Major
The medical laboratory science program is designed to furnish the student with a liberal arts education and with the skills required to serve as a medical lab scientist. The program is based upon three years of college preparatory work and one year in clinical, professional training at one of several hospital-based programs affiliated with Northwestern College. Upon satisfactory completion of the four years of study, the student will receive the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in medical laboratory science. (Students may elect to spend four years at Northwestern before entering the clinical year, a so-called 4+1 program.) At the conclusion of the program, a national registration examination is taken, leading to certification in medical laboratory science. A certificate of completion will be issued by the affiliated hospital-based school.
The medical laboratory science student must fulfill all of Northwestern College’s Bachelor of Arts degree requirements, and a minimum of 96 credits must be earned at Northwestern. Additionally, between 30 and 40 credits are received for the course work completed while enrolled in the hospital-based clinical program.
Courses in anatomy, biochemistry, computer science, statistics, physics, communication (speech), management, psychology, parasitology, and education are also recommended. A minimum of 96 credits must be earned with a minimum grade point average of 2.80 for admission into the clinical year. The clinical year of professional study at an affiliated hospital includes the following courses:
Clinical Chemistry 6-12
Clinical Hematology 5-8
Clinical Immunohematology 3-6
Clinical Immunology 2-5
Clinical Microbiology 6-12
Clinical Urinalysis/Microscopy/Body Fluids 1-3
Northwestern College is affiliated with hospital-based schools of medical laboratory science located at:
Mercy Medical Center
Sioux City, Iowa
St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center
Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux Valley Hospital
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Applications to the hospital-based programs are usually made early in the academic year preceding the clinical year. The application deadline is October 1. Specific information regarding each hospital program, including application deadlines and procedures, credit hours awarded by each hospital program, fees, and other information is available from the coordinator on Northwestern’s campus. Students must register at Northwestern in order to receive financial aid. An administrative fee is charged for all off-campus programs. Northwestern does not charge tuition for the year of professional training. Costs vary with each hospital-based program. Students interested in careers in medical laboratory science are urged to consult with the coordinator for this program at the earliest possible time.
Program Coordinator: T. Lubben
The pre-professional preparation at Northwestern must include the following courses:
| Requirements |
| BIO 115 - General Biology: Molecular and Cellular Biology |
| BIO 202 - Genetics |
| BIO 203 - Microbiology |
| BIO 222 - Human Physiology |
| BIO 315 - Immunology |
| CHE 211 - Quantitative Analysis |
| CHE 315 - Instrumental Analysis |
| CHE 321 - Organic Chemistry |
| CHE 322 - Organic Chemistry |
| MAT 208 - Biostatistics |
| Choose one sequence: 8 |
| CHE 101 - College Chemistry |
| CHE 102 - College Chemistry |
|
| CHE 111 - General Chemistry |
| CHE 112 - General Chemistry |
| Total credits required: 48 |
Note:
*Recommended option
An introductory course in organic and biological chemistry. The content is especially suited to meet the needs of students whose programs require only one year of chemistry.Prerequisite: CHE101.(4 credits)
This course covers the statistical concepts and methodology commonly used in the biological and health sciences. Topics include: descriptive statistics, probability, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, correlation and regression, contingency tables and non-parametric tests. Prerequisite: C- or better in MAT090, an ACT math score of 20 or above (SAT 480 or above), or a passing score on MAT090 placement exam. (4 credits)
An introductory course in inorganic chemistry. The treatment of topics is predominantly descriptive and the content is especially suited to meet the needs of students whose programs require only one year of chemistry.(4 credits)
An introductory course in chemistry that emphasizes physical and inorganic concepts, problems and calculations. Topics include chemical reactions, stoichiometry, properties of gases, thermochemistry, theories of atomic structure, and chemical bonding. The general chemistry sequence (Chemistry 111 and Chemistry 112) is recommended for students with good math / science preparations who intend to proceed to advanced courses in chemistry, the biological sciences or engineering.Prerequisites: high school chemistry and ACT math and natural science scores above the 74th percentile.(4 credits)
A continuation of Chemistry 111. Topics covered include kinetics, thermodynamics, chemical equilibria, acid-base chemistry and nuclear chemistry.Prerequisite: CHE111 or consent of the instructor.(4 credits)
The theory and practice of volumetric and gravimetric analysis, including the use of oxidation-reduction reactions and spectrophotometry.Prerequisite: CHE112 or CHE102 and permission of instructor.(4 credits; alternate years, consult department)
A study of the theory and operation of common laboratory instruments. Topics include: infrared, visible and ultraviolet spectroscopy; atomic absorption and emission spectroscopy; nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy; mass spectrometry; gas and liquid chromatography; electrochemical methods.Prerequisite: CHE211.(4 credits; alternate years, consult department)
The study of carbon compounds and their functional groups, including nomenclature, synthesis, reactions, structures, mechanisms and spectroscopic analysis.Prerequisites: CHE102 or 112 or permission of instructor.(4 credits)
A continuation of the study of carbon compounds and their functional groups, including nomenclature, synthesis, reactions, structures, mechanisms and spectroscopic analysis.Prerequisite: CHE321.(4 credits)
General Biology I emphasizes the unity of life, examining the processes common to living organisms, and introduce the diversity of life, examining unicellular organisms. This introduction will provide students with a basic understanding of macromolecules, cell structure and function, respiration and photosynthesis, the cell cycle, meiosis, the relationship between gene structure and function, mechanisms of evolutionary change and Christian perspectives on evolutionary biology. (4 credits)
An introduction to the principles of heredity and their practical application.Prerequisites: BIO115 or 116.(4 credits)
A study of the morphology and physiology of microorganisms with special emphasis on bacteria and viruses. Those organisms that have an economic or medical importance will be highlighted, and basic laboratory techniques will be stressed.Prerequisites: BIO115, 116 and CHE101, 102 or CHE111, 112.(4 credits)
A study of the mechanisms by which the human body functions. Emphasis will be given to nerve and muscle function, and thereafter to hormonal control and the integrated systems that allow for respiratory, digestive, excretory and reproductive activities.Prerequisites: BIO102 or 115 and CHE101, 102 or CHE111, 112 or permission of instructor.(4 credits)
The basis of the immune system throughout the animal kingdom is the ability to recognize "self" from "not-self". This course will investigate the molecular and cellular mechanisms that allow organisms to recognize, control and eliminate such not-self entities as bacterial pathogens, foreign tissue grafts and even transformed cells. Prerequisites: BIO115, 116 and CHE101, 102 or CHE111, 112. (4 credits; alternate years, consult department)
