Clinical Laboratory Sciences

Lower Division Admission Requirements

First-time in college (FTIC) freshmen considered for admission into the Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Sciences must present proof of having met the following criteria:

• Graduation from high school ranking in the upper half of their graduating class. An official transcript or GED certificate must be sent directly from the high school to the Howard University Office of Admissions showing courses pursued, grades earned, rank in class, and proof of graduation.
• A minimum score of 500 mathematics and 500 verbal on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or an equivalent score of 20 on the American College Test (ACT)
• All students admitted as freshmen must have completed the following high school units with a grade C or better:
  • English, 4 units
  • Mathematics, 3 units (to include Algebra 1, Algebra II, & Geometry, Trigonometry or Calculus)
  • Biology, 1 unit
  • Chemistry, 1 unit

Upper Division Admission Requirements

Admission to the Upper Division program is competitive and restricted to the fall semester of each year. The program has limited enrollment and applicants who meet lower division requirements are not guaranteed admission. Lower Division students enrolled at Howard University who meet the admission criteria will receive first preference in the selection process.

Upper Division students in the Department of Clinical Laboratory Science  complete their clinical training in the senior year at affiliated clinical sites in hospitals or other approved facilities.  To ensure the safety of patients and the confidentiality of patient information, most clinical sites require students to pass a background check and  drug screen prior to their placement at the clinical site. While neither  the background check nor the drug screens are requirements for admission to Howard University and  Department of Clinical Laboratory Science You should be aware that failing this requirement will affect your clinical placement and your completion of the program.

For acceptance into the Upper Division of the Clinical Laboratory Science program, students must fulfill the following requirements:

• Submission of an Upper Division application
• Completion of required prerequisite courses with a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale and a cumulative science grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
• A minimum grade of "C" in all prerequisite science and mathematics courses
• Two letters of recommendation
• Personal interviews with the Clinical Laboratory Science Admissions Committee

Employment Opportunities

Employment opportunities for clinical laboratory scientists are projected to increase both nationally and internationally in the coming decade.  A Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Sciences from a nationally accredited university prepares one academically for entry into the profession. The Clinical Laboratory Sciences department at Howard University is committed to the preparation of confident, competent, and “market ready” professionals who can compete successfully in today’s job market.

Our curriculum is constantly assessed and updated to ensure that students are provided with the education and technical competence necessary for the many job options available.

The employment outlook for clinical laboratory scientists is also impacted by the national move toward licensure and certification for all employees.  Most hospitals and medical centers currently employ only individuals with national certification. National certification by the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP-BOC) is accepted as equivalent to state licensure by most states.

Today’s clinical laboratory scientist is involved in the development, maintenance, and use of new technologies, molecular diagnostic procedures, information technology systems, direction of robotic systems, and in the creation of ordering pathways and reflex testing algorithms. The education and quality assurance expertise achieved in the program are essential components of maintaining the standards of test performance and laboratory compliance.  

A degree in Clinical Laboratory Science prepares graduates for employment opportunities in clinical, veterinary, and forensic laboratories; biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries; and management, marketing, and biomedical sales. Clinical Laboratory Scientists (Medical Technologists), including graduates of Howard University, are employed nationally in the following settings:

• Hospital Laboratories
• Physician Office Laboratories
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Public Health Laboratories
• The National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• The Red Cross
• Bioterrorism Laboratories
• Traveling Technologists

Global Outreach

The need for qualified, competent clinical laboratory scientists is also of concern in resource-poor nations worldwide.  Clinical laboratory scientists are needed internationally to assist in building laboratory capacity, developing laboratory educational programs, improving laboratory facilities, and preparing laboratories for regulatory oversight--especially in sub-Saharan Africa and some regions of the Caribbean. Expanded HIV testing and the exploding global epidemic of tuberculosis, including multiple drug resistance (MDR-TB) and extreme drug resistance (XDR–TB), increases the demand for laboratory capacity to facilitate diagnosis and management by providing microbial identification, real-time drug resistance testing, strain fingerprinting and the monitoring of patients’ infectious  status.