Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics

Curriculum (BS)

With a strong emphasis on hands-on experience in the laboratory and through clinical placements, our accredited curriculum prepares students for immediate employment or further study. While granting of the Bachelor of Science (BS) degree is not contingent on passing any external certification or licensure examination, the BLD program also prepares graduates to sit for the national certification examination given by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification (BOC).

The first two years of study consist of a pre-professional curriculum where students complete prerequisite coursework, while the last two years consist of the Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics professional curriculum. The pre-professional curriculum can be completed at WVU main campus, one of the WVU regional campuses, or any regionally accredited college or university. Prerequisites are outlined under regular admission requirements, and include biology, inorganic and organic chemistry, college algebra or higher, introductory statistics, physiology, medical terminology, and other general education requirements.

The Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics professional curriculum is based at the WVU Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center. The first year consists of didactic and laboratory sessions focusing on routine laboratory procedures and techniques. The second year focuses on complex procedures and techniques and on-site and clinical rotations. Clinical rotations will be completed at the program’s affiliated clinical laboratories. During laboratory sessions and clinical rotations, students will apply their knowledge and skills by using state-of-the-art equipment to perform laboratory procedures under supervision.

Program Requirements

Students completing the Bachelor of Science (BS) in biomedical laboratory diagnostics must complete the General Education Foundations (GEF), prerequisite, and major requirements as outlined in the West Virginia University Academic Catalog. Each student will have a personalized plan of study located in DegreeWorks, including any previously-completed college coursework that is approved as transfer credit.

To be eligible for graduation, students must complete a minimum of 120 hours, as specified in the catalog. Additionally, students must: 

  • Maintain at least a 2.5 overall GPA and achieve a 2.5 semester GPA each semester while in the program.
  • Pass the comprehensive examination given at the end of the spring semester, second year (see below). 
  • Maintain appropriate professional behavior, demeanor, conduct, and attendance (see student handbook for additional information). 
  • Successfully complete all clinical rotations. 
  • Successfully complete a capstone project (see below). 
  • Complete 50 hours of approved community service, including a minimum of 25 hours entered and approved by the end of the six-week summer semester.

Comprehensive Examination

A comprehensive examination is given near the completion of the senior year that covers all content of the Medical Laboratory Science or Histotechnology curriculum. The examination is one criterion used to determine the student's eligibility for graduation, and successful completion of the comprehensive examination is a requirement for PALM 475: Medical Relevance (see below).

The examination will be scheduled during the spring semester of the senior year. Students must pass the comprehensive examination with a minimum score of 70% on the first attempt. Students will be allowed to repeat the examination once without required remediation in the case of failing the examination on the first try, and the minimum passing score for subsequent attempts will be published in the course syllabus. Additional information is available in the applicable student handbook. 

Capstone

According to the Office of the University Registrar, a capstone project is "an academic experience in which students demonstrate, in a significant, relevant project that has an oral and a written component, their abilities to:

  1. Gather material independently, as needed
  2. Think critically about and to integrate the theoretical and/or practical knowledge that they have acquired throughout their undergraduate careers
  3. Reflect on the ethical issues that are implicit in their project and/or their project’s design"

Students in the Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics program will fulfill this requirement in PALM 475: Medical Relevance, which will help students develop scientific writing skills and methods of scientific inquiry.