TARLETON STATE UNIVERSITY Master of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences
(51.0999)
Program Review Outline
BACKGROUND & PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The proposed Master of Science degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences will be housed in the Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, a part of the college of Science and Technology, in Fort Worth, Texas in the Richard C. Schaffer Building. The Schaffer Building is located in the heart of the Fort Worth Medical District on the campus of Baylor All Saints Medical Center. The Master of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences is designed to provide graduate education for practitioners (individuals certified or employed in the medical laboratory) and other individuals who seek a graduate degree with a laboratory emphasis. This degree will focus on emerging high complexity sciences such as molecular diagnostics, molecular genetics and molecular and cellular pathology. Areas of emphasis including Molecular Diagnostics and Laboratory Management, allow students to enhance and enrich their knowledge and professional standing. Limited graduate opportunities in the area of medical laboratory sciences exist nationally, and no opportunities are available in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. Numerous opportunities exist in the emerging molecular diagnostics area, with current laboratory professionals lacking the knowledge and training to support increasing workforce demands. Students selecting the Molecular Diagnostics emphasis will be prepared to take the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Molecular Biology professional certification examination. Students will receive training and have use of the state-of-the-art Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory, constructed in 2007, and supported by the May Owen Foundation. The May Owen Foundation is a private, community supported foundation whose sole mission is the support of the department of Medical Laboratory Sciences.
Educational objectives for the M.S. in Medical Laboratory Science
Programmatic Objectives
• Enhance graduates current knowledge and skills in the medical laboratory sciences to meet the challenges of a changing profession and health care system
• To develop within graduates a more sophisticated approach to accessing, evaluating, synthesizing, and communicating health-related information.
• To provide the skills to advance professionally as a result of his/her ability to solve complex technical problems and to work with other pathology teams on problems whose solutions lead to significant benefits and improvement in the laboratory process
• Prepare graduates to demonstrate professional molecular diagnostics competence via promotions and/or positions of increasing laboratory management responsibility, or successfully transition from the "traditional" laboratory career path into industry, government, or education.
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Student Learning Outcomes Students should be able to:
• Demonstrate an understanding of the need for life-long learning via progress toward, or
successful completion of an advanced degree, professional development or advanced American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Molecular Biology Certification.
• Make scholarly contributions to knowledge as demonstrated by publishing papers and/or
technical reports, delivering effective conference presentations, and/or contributing to innovative leadership articles
• Demonstrate a commitment to the community and the profession through involvement
with community and/or professional organizations and/or make contributions towards society's greater good and prosperity.
Curricular Requirements for the M.S. in Medical Laboratory Science
The Master of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences offers students either a non-thesis track with two emphasis areas (Molecular Diagnostics or Laboratory Management) or a thesis track with emphasis in Molecular Diagnostics. All of the M.S. degree options are thirty-six credit hours. Admission to either the thesis or non-thesis tracks of the MS in Medical Laboratory Sciences requires professional certification in one of the following areas: MLS/MT (ASCP), HTL (ASCP), CT (ASCP) , CG (ASCP ) or ASCP Specialist certification including SM, SC, SH or SBB, or a B.S. in Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Microbiology or a related field with a minimum 16 credit hours in biology (including microbiology, immunology, molecular biology), 16 credit hours in chemistry (including 8 hours in inorganic chemistry and 8 hours of organic chemistry or 4 hours organic chemistry and 4 hours biochemistry) and approval of the Program Director.
NEED
Employment Opportunities
Developments in biotechnology in the past two decades have led to the clinical diagnostic laboratory entering a new phase of development and expansion. Laboratories are plagued by a shortage of both entry level and management professionals, especially those trained in molecular diagnostic techniques. Molecular diagnostics is the youngest and fastest growing field of laboratory science, aided by the continued explosion of biotechnology platforms. The rapid growth of genomics and molecular techniques available to the healthcare professional is dramatically changing the detection, treatment, and assessment of disease. Employment opportunities exist in clinical, reference and public health laboratories in Texas, regionally and nationally.
Projected Enrollment
Due to the high interest of recent graduates of the Tarleton State University Medical Laboratory Sciences certificate program, other MLS certificate program graduates, and graduates with existing degrees in biology, chemistry, microbiology and molecular biology, we project that enrollment would reach 24-30 students upon maturation of the program. Thesis majors would be limited to approximately 5 students.
Existing State Programs
In the state of Texas, there are no M.S. in Medical Laboratory Science programs. Texas Tech University has a M.S. in Molecular Pathology, but this degree does not have a thesis option, nor
a laboratory management option. Nationally, less than twenty M.S. in Medical Laboratory Science (Clinical Laboratory Science) programs exist, primarily due to the lack of doctoral prepared faculty.
QUALITY & RESOURCES
Faculty
Program Administration
A M.S. in MLS Program Director would be responsible for administration of the program and coordination of the NAACLS Molecular Biology certificate accreditation activities. Once accreditation is awarded, the Program Director would also serve as Program Director of the NAACLS accredited Molecular Biology certificate program.
Other Personnel
The department administrative assistant and the clinical coordinator would be used to provide administrative and clinical coordination assistance.
Graduate Assistants
One to two graduate student positions would be available to thesis track students.
Supplies, Materials
The budgeted $3000 will cover expendable supplies for techniques laboratories and for graduate research.
Library
Current library holdings will support the program as the currently offered certificate in
Molecular Diagnostics has added library holdings over the past few years in preparation of NAACLS Molecular Biology accreditation. The budgeted $2000 will cover additional volumes that may be added in years 3-5.
Equipment, Facilities
Our state-of-the-art Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory housed in the Schaffer Building contains laboratory technology which will provide outstanding opportunities for student training. The laboratory continues to acquire additional molecular technologies to train students. Technology platforms supported in the molecular laboratory include amplification platforms (including real- time PCR, Roche), Southern, Western and Northern Blotting technologies with digital documentation (Kodak) equipment, a bead-based genotyping platform (Luminex), automated nucleic acid extraction, cell culture technology, and sequencing technology (ABI). The budgeted $10,000 will cover updating of laboratory diagnostic software for a variety of instruments used in the Molecular Techniques Laboratories and in graduate research.
Clinical/Internship Sites
Numerous opportunities exist for clinical practicums including the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Baylor Medical Center, Cook Children’s Medical Center, Dallas Children’s Medical Center, Quest Diagnostics, the Veterans Administration Medical Center of Dallas and Clinical Pathology Laboratories in Austin. .
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