Michael Minnick (Professor of Biologic Sciences), Advisor
Medical Technology is a combined study of chemistry, physiology and microbiology. A medical technologist is capable of performing, under the supervision of a pathologist or other qualified physician or laboratory director, the various chemical, microscopic, bacteriologic and other medical laboratory procedures used in the diagnosis, study and treatment of disease. Medical technologists are in demand in hospital laboratories, physicians’ offices, research institutions and in federal and state health departments. Although certification is essential for clinical practice, persons receiving a B.S. in Medical Technology also are qualified bacteriologists and can obtain positions in many laboratories as technicians. The degree also is an excellent foundation for those students planning to go on to professional schools in the health sciences or graduate school in the molecular biosciences.
Four years are required to earn the degree of Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology. The first two years are devoted to the development of a sound foundation in chemistry and biology. The last two years are designed to develop efficiency in the fields of microbiology and clinical methods. The student is encouraged to obtain an understanding of social science and cultural subjects.
To be certified by the Board of Registry a student, after satisfying the minimum course requirements, serves a clinical internship of at least 12 consecutive months in an approved school of medical technology endorsed by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) and American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) of the American Medical Association. Schools of medical technology are located in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Canal Zone. After completing the internship and passing the Registry examination, the student receives a diploma from the Board of Registry with the professional designation of Medical Technologist M.T. SCP).
The University of Montana-Missoula has two coursework options for the medical technology degree: Option A is a 4+1 curriculum in which the student completes the bachelor’s degree and applies for a clinical internship only if desired. Student who choose the 4+1 curriculum have the option to do a clinical internship at our affiliate by applying the fall of their senior year at UM. Details and application forms can be obtained online at the Medical Technology website. Internship applications are due by October 22 for enrollment the following May.
Option B is a 3+1 curriculum designed to fast-track students who definitely wish to become practicing medical technologists. The first three years of the 3+1 curriculum are completed at UM, while the fourth year is more applied and incorporates both classroom learning and a clinical internship at our medical school affiliate (University of North Dakota) in cooperation with clinical sites located in Montana and the Midwest. The degree and certification are granted after successful completion of the fourth year.
High School Preparation: In addition to the general University requirements for admission, it is recommended that high school preparation include algebra, geometry, trigonometry, chemistry, and a foreign language.
Special Degree Requirements
Refer to graduation requirements listed previously in the catalog. See index.
In addition to the General Education requirements, the following courses are required for either option leasing to a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology: Thirty or more credits (300-level or above) in biology, biochemistry and microbiology including MICB 300-301, 410-411, 412-413, 420, BIOC 380; BIOL 221, 223, 312, 400; CHEM 161N-162N, 221- 223 and MATH 150. The 4+1 option also requires CHEM 222- 224, 341; MICB 309, 406-407 and PHYS 121N-122N. The 3+1 option also requires CLS 460, 461, 462, 463, 464, 465, 467, 468, 470, 471, 472, 473, 474, 475, 476, 477, 480, 481, 482, 483, and 485.
To meet the Upper-Division Writing Expectations of the Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology, students must successfully complete one of MICB 404, 418, 419, 420, or 421 or complete three courses selected from MICB 410, 411, 412, or 450.
Suggested Course of Study
Option A (4+1)
| First Year | A | S |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 161N-162N College Chemistry and Laboratory | 5 | 5 |
| +MATH 150 Applied Calculus | 4 | - |
| +ENEX 101 Composition | 3 | - |
| General Education | 3 | 9 |
| Electives | - | 1 |
| 15 | 15 | |
| +Depends on placement test. | ||
| Second Year | A | S |
| BIOL 221 Cell and Molecular Biology | 4 | - |
| BIOL 223 Genetics and Evolution | - | 4 |
| CHEM 221-222, 223-224 Organic Chemistry and Laboratory | 5 | 5 |
| MICB 300-301 General Microbiology and Laboratory | - | 5 |
| Lower-Division Writing Course | 3 | - |
| General Education | 3 | - |
| Elective | - | 1 |
| 15 | 15 | |
| Third Year | A | S |
| BIOL 312 Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 | - |
| BIOC 380 Biochemistry | 4 | - |
| BIOL 400 Parasitology | 2 | - |
| MICB 410-411 Immunology and Laboratory | 5 | - |
| MICB 412-413 Medical Bacteriology and Laboratory | - | 5 |
| Upper-division elective | - | 1 |
| General Education | - | 3 |
| Elective | - | 6 |
| 15 | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | A | S |
| CHEM 341 Quantitative Analysis and Instrumental Methods | 4 | - |
| MICB 309 Hematology | 3 | - |
| MICB 406 Clinical Diagnosis | - | 2 |
| MICB 407 Clinical Diagnosis Laboratory | - | 1 |
| MICB 420 Virology | - | 3 |
| PHYS 121N-122N or 221N-222N General Physics | 5 | 5 |
| Elective | 3 | 4 |
| 15 | 15 |
Option B (3+1)
| First Year | A | S |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 161N-162N College Chemistry and Laboratory | 5 | 5 |
| +ENEX 101 Composition | 3 | - |
| +MATH 150 Applied Calculus | 4 | - |
| General Education | 3 | 9 |
| Electives | - | 1 |
| 15 | 15 | |
| +Depends on placement test. | ||
| Second Year | A | S |
| BIOL 221 Cell and Molecular Biology | 4 | - |
| BIOL 223 Genetics and Evolution | - | 4 |
| BIOL 312 Anatomy and Physiology | 4 | - |
| CHEM 221, 223 Organic Chemistry and Laboratory | 5 | - |
| MICB 300-301 General Microbiology and Laboratory | - | 5 |
| Lower-division writing course | - | 3 |
| General Education | - | 3 |
| Elective | 2 | - |
| 15 | 15 | |
| Third Year | A | S |
| BIOC 380 Biochemistry | 4 | - |
| BIOL 400 Parasitology | 2 | - |
| MICB 410-411 Immunology and Laboratory | 5 | - |
| MICB 412-413 Medical Bacteriology and Laboratory | - | 5 |
| MICB 420 Virology | - | 3 |
| General Education | - | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | 3 |
| 14 | 14 | |
| Summer | ||
| CLS 460 Clinical Immunohematology | 1 | |
| CLS 461 Clinical Chemistry Theory | 2 | |
| CLS 462 Clinical Laboratory I | 1 | |
| CLS 463 Clinical Hemostasis | 2 | |
| CLS 464 Clinical Microscopy Urinalysis | 2 | |
| CLS 465 Clinical Body Fluids | 1 | |
| CLS 467 Clinical Immunohematology Theory | 1 | |
| CLS 468 Clinical Microbiology Laboratory | 2 | |
| 12 | ||
| Fourth Year | A | S |
| CLS 470 Clinical Immunohematology II | 2 | - |
| CLS 471 Clinical Chemistry I | 3 | - |
| CLS 472 Clinical Hematology I | 2 | - |
| CLS 473 Clinical Laboratory II | 1 | - |
| CLS 474 Clinical Microbiology I | 2 | - |
| CLS 475 Clinical Laboratory III | 1 | - |
| CLS 476 Clinical Immunology | 1 | - |
| CLS 477 Medical Mycology | 1 | - |
| CLS 480 Clinical Laboratory Management | - | 3 |
| CLS 481 Clinical Chemistry II | - | 2 |
| CLS 482 Clinical Immunohematology III | - | 2 |
| CLS 483 Clinical Hematology II | - | 3 |
| CLS 485 Clinical Microbiology II | - | 2 |
| 13 | 12 |
Courses
U=for undergraduate credit only, UG=for undergraduate or graduate credit, G=for graduate credit. R after the credit indicates the course may be repeated for credit to the maximum indicated after the R.
Clinical Laboratory Science (CLS)
U 460 Clinical Immunohematology I 1 cr. Offered summer. Prereq., consent of medical technology advisor. Practical application of modern transfusion techniques, component therapy, and quality assurance.
U 461 Clinical Chemistry Theory 2 cr. Offered summer. Prereq., consent of medical technology advisor. Overview of clinical chemistry theory, principles, procedures, and correlations. Topics include instrumentation, carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, enzymes, liver function, blood gases, electrolytes, renal function, endocrinology, therapeutic drug monitoring and toxicity.
U 462 Clinical Laboratory I 1 cr. Offered summer. Prereq., consent of medical technology advisor. Theory and practice of phlebotomy in the clinical setting, specimen processing, review of state and federal regulations, safety and biohazard compliance, interpersonal relationship skills.
U 463 Clinical Hemostasis 2 cr. Offered summer. Prereq., consent of medical technology advisor. Physiological mechanisms of normal human hemostasis as well as hereditary and acquired bleeding and thrombotic defects are discussed. Laboratory techniques for obtaining blood, screening procedures, specific assays and procedures to monitor anticoagulant therapy.
U 464 Clinical Microscopy and Urinalysis 2 cr. Offered summer. Prereq., consent of medical technology advisor. Theory, techniques and practice of routine urinalysis.
U 465 Clinical Body Fluids 1 cr. Offered summer. Prereq., consent of medical technology advisor. Body fluid physiology, pathology, laboratory measurement and case study analysis. Focus on laboratory technologies, principles of operation of various laboratory instruments and quality management in the clinical setting.
U 467 Clinical Immunohematology Theory 1 cr. Offered summer. Prereq., consent of medical technology advisor. Theory of modern transfusion techniques, component therapy, and quality assurance.
U 468 Clinical Microbiology Theory and Laboratory 2 cr. Offered summer. Prereq., consent of medical technology advisor. Study of groups of medically important bacteria correlated to laboratory practice in identification. Includes antibiotic susceptibility testing, quality control, and methods of identification; rapid, automated and traditional methods.
U 470 Clinical Immunohematology II 2 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., consent of medical technology advisor. Techniques and modern transfusion practices at the clinical affiliate. Review of the basic and advanced information in blood banking with correlation between laboratory testing and patient care.
U 471 Clinical Chemistry I 3 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., consent of medical technology advisor. Applied theory and practice in clinical chemistry at the clinical affiliate. Review of the basic and advanced information in clinical chemistry with correlation between laboratory testing and patient care.
U 472 Clinical Hematology I 2 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., consent of medical technology advisor. Morphologic evaluation of blood smears, interpretive correlation of hematology finds and the pathophysiology of disorders of the hematopoietic system.
U 473 Clinical Laboratory II 1 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., consent of medical technology advisor. Focus on performing phlebotomy techniques, hemostasis procedures and laboratory safety. Communication skills, attitude and work performance will be evaluated.
U 474 Clinical Microbiology I 2 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., consent of medical technology advisor. Techniques and practices in clinical microbiology at the clinical affiliate. Psychomotor skills, performance and understanding of the procedure methodologies, along with the relationship of test results to the patient disease/care.
U 475 Clinical Laboratory III 1 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., consent of medical technology advisor. Observation, practice or research in specialized areas or settings at the clinical affiliate.
U 476 Clinical Immunology 1 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., consent of medical technology advisor. Applied theory and practice in clinical immunology and serology at the clinical affiliate.
U 477 Medical Mycology 1 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., consent of medical technology advisor. Comparative morphology, physiology and pathogenicity of medically important fungi. Laboratory methods for identification emphasize interpretation and evaluation of results including the recognition of contaminating organisms.
U 480 Financial and Quality Management of the Clinical Laboratory 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., consent of medical technology advisor. A capstone course designed to provide senior CLS students with the skills to manage a clinical laboratory. Brings together previous content with a focus on laboratory profitability, quality management and quality improvement.
U 481 Clinical Chemistry II 2 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., consent of medical technology advisor.
U 482 Clinical Immunohematology III 2 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., consent of medical technology advisor. Techniques and modern transfusion practices at the clinical affiliate. Psychomotor skills, performance and understanding of the procedure methodologies, along with the relationship of test results to the patient disease/care.
U 483 Clinical Hematology II 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., consent of medical technology advisor. Techniques and practices in clinical hematology at the clinical affiliate. Psychomotor skills, performance and understanding of the procedure methodologies, along with the relationship of test results to the patient disease/care.
U 485 Clinical Microbiology II 2 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., consent of medical technology advisor. Techniques and practices in clinical microbiology at the clinical affiliate. Psychomotor skills, performance and understanding of the procedure methodologies, along with the relationship of test results to the patient disease/care.