Frequently Asked Questions

Yes.  MLS courses have limited spots and are reserved for students in the MLS program.

Students must complete the following five prerequisite courses prior to submitting the CLS application: 

BIO 1330/1130, BIO 1331/1131,  CHEM 1341/1141, CHEM 1342/1142, and the mathematics course or acceptable equivalent courses from other colleges and/or universities.

You must have completed most of the prerequisite courses by the time you enter the program.  You must have 9 or fewer credit hours remaining (with no remaining credit hours in prerequisite science and math courses) prior to beginning of the CLS Program in the Fall. 

Preference will be given to those applicants that have completed all of the science prerequisites before applying.

If you are enrolled in prerequisite courses when you apply, you may receive  "Conditional Acceptance" into the CLS program. If you drop a prerequisite course before you begin the program, you may forfeit your spot at the discretion of the MLS faculty and staff. If you have a "D or F" in an MLS prerequisite course, you technically do not qualify for admission until the grade is replaced.  Please contact the MLS office if you want to apply and you have this situation.

If you took Microbiology, Chemistry II, Math, and Statistics over 6 years ago, you may be asked to retake that course.  You will need to discuss this with your MLS Advisor or MLS Program Chair.

Yes.  You must take all of the MLS courses because they are designed to prepare you with skills and theory of diagnostics.  This is a significantly different focus from general chemistry or microbiology.

This course is a Freshman Seminar course. If you are transferring in with 30 or more college credit hours, you will NOT need to take US 1100.

This is determined on a case-by-case basis.  The decisions are based on your coursework, clinical rotation experience, as well as recent work experience. You will be required to take all Senior level MLS courses.  When you complete the End of MLS Admissions Module quiz, you will be contacted by an MLS faculty or staff member who will be happy to answer your questions.

Not in most cases. You must apply to the MLS program and proceed through all of the MLS courses because they are designed to prepare you with skills and theory of diagnostics.  This is a significantly different focus from general chemistry, microbiology, or other sciences.  If you have MLS/CLS courses, substitutions might be possible on a case-by-case basis.  You will need to discuss this with your MLS advisor or MLS Program Chair.

It is HIGHLY recommended that you have a home computer with a fairly fast internet connection.  Many assignments are completed online or uploaded into the online CANVAS system; however, a home computer is not mandatory.  There are many computer labs on campus that you may use. 

The Texas State website and CANVAS are not fully compatible with mobile devices.  You will get partial functionality on tablets or smartphones.  When completing assignments online, it is recommended that you use a laptop or a desktop computer.

We do not forbid our students from working while in the program; however, we recommend that students reduce hours significantly or stop working if at all possible.  This program is rigorous and time-consuming. 

During the Junior year it will be easier to work than the Senior year.  You will not have MLS courses during the Junior summer. 

During the Senior spring and summer, you are off-campus at clinical rotations for 3 weeks for 6-8 hours per day Monday through Friday.  Between rotations you will be on campus for lectures, testing, and labs.  These weeks on campus are challenging.  It is quite difficult for working students during this time. (Senior spring and summer)

The most important prerequisite courses are the sciences.  If you are unable to have all courses complete before you apply, try to have the science and math courses complete.  Make the highest grades you can...GPA does matter. This will make your application more competitive. 

Inform yourself about the field of laboratory science.  Become a member of the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science.  Become a member of the Texas State Society for Clinical Laboratory Scientists (our student organization). Attend meetings for these groups.  Volunteer in a lab if possible. Taking this type of initiative will make your application more competitive.

We will sent emails or mail hard-copy letters out in early to mid-March.  You will be told of your status (accepted, not accepted, or alternate.)  You will also be told if you have been given a "conditional acceptance" based on successful completion of your prerequisites in the Spring semester.

When you receive an acceptance notification, you will need to return the form stating that you accept a position in the MLS program within 2 weeks of receiving the letter. 

Subsequently, you will be sent information regarding the required criminal background check. 

You will need the Health Report completed and returned by July 31st. (The Hepatitis B shot series is the most time consuming so plan early.)

You will be emailed a list of MLS classes you need to register for.

Check your email often for updates or instructions.

Throughout the MLS Program, emails will be the primary form of communication.