Bachelor of Science: Biology - Clinical Laboratory Science Emphasis
University Requirements
General Education
UMKC Essentials is the university-wide curriculum that all undergraduate students will complete. The 30-credit hour program includes a First Year Experience course; three critical thinking courses in the areas of Arts & Humanities, Natural & Physical Sciences, and Social & Behavioral Sciences; a Culture and Diversity course; a Civic & Urban Engagement course; two courses in Written Composition and one course in Oral Communication; and a Math Pathway course. Transfer students entering UMKC will elect from the UMKC Essentials General Education Program or the Missouri Core 42 General Education Curriculum. Academic advisors will meet with incoming transfer students to determine which option best serves the student’s educational needs. More information about General Education may be found here: https://catalog.umkc.edu/undergraduate-academic-regulations-information/general-education-requirements/
Constitution Course
Every undergraduate student must take a course covering the United States Constitution and the Missouri State Constitution before graduation. Course options are included in the program requirements section below.
Exit Examinations
Information on exit examinations is available in the Undergraduate Academic Regulations and Information section of the catalog.
Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement Examination
In accordance with Missouri Senate Bill 807 (section 170.013.1), 'any student entering a public institution of higher education for the first time after July 2019 who is pursuing an associate's or bachelor's degree from such institution shall successfully pass an examination on the provisions and principles of American civics with a score of seventy percent or greater as a condition of graduation from such institution'. To satisfy this requirement at UMKC, students access the exam through the Canvas site. This requirement will be listed in the degree audit system as, 'Take State Mandated Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement Examination', and listed on the transcript as 'Missouri Civics Examination'.
Student Learning Outcomes
Students graduating from this program will:
- Identify fundamental concepts in the biological sciences, including the relationship between structure and function at all levels of biological organization, evolution and the role of natural selection in the process, ecological relationships between organisms and their environment.
- Differentiate among cellular structure and explain the major biochemical processes that occur in cells.
- Explain the mechanisms of heredity and the flow of genetic information.
- Apply knowledge in basic mathematics, chemistry, and physics to solve biological problems.
- Employ techniques and procedures commonly used in modern biology laboratories.
- Analyze and critically evaluate scientific data.
Students interested in pursuing undergraduate degree programs offered by Division of Biological and Biomedical Systems are admitted through the UMKC Office of Admissions. Transfer or Readmitted students should contact the University admissions office and Division of Biological and Biomedical Systems for information about transfer admissions and evaluation of transfer coursework. Transfer admission eligibility includes an overall grade-point average of at least 2.0 for all college-level coursework attempted at previous institutions, an overall GPA of at least 2.0 in courses used to fulfill Biological Sciences major requirements, and a University of Missouri Biology GPA of at least 2.0.
Program Requirements
Division of Biological and Biomedical Systems offers a program leading to a BS degree in Biology with the Clinical Laboratory Science emphasis. The typical student spends the first three years on the UMKC campus completing the general education and basic science course requirements of the baccalaureate degree. A final 12 month course of clinical studies is completed in an affiliated hospital clinical program, which is approved by the Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association and accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). Affiliated clinical programs are located at North Kansas City Memorial and Saint Luke's hospitals. After completing the clinical program and earning a bachelor's degree, students are eligible to take a national certification board examination. Passing the certification examination is not a condition for receiving the BS degree in Biology with the Clinical Laboratory Science emphasis but is often required for employment in the field.
Acceptance into a hospital clinical program is competitive. Admission into the BS degree in Biology with the Clinical Laboratory Science emphasis at UMKC does not guarantee acceptance of the student by an affiliated hospital
clinical program. Clinical instruction in the hospital is a 12-month, full-time day program.
Application to the clinical program is made directly by the student to any (or all) of the affiliated hospitals. The student should apply during the summer or fall of his/her junior year. A list of program contacts is available from an SBC Advisor. Hospital programs differ in admission criteria, application deadlines and early admission options. Early application is advised.
UMKC Essentials
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First Semester Experience Course (GEFSE) | 3 | |
| Written Communication: | ||
| ENGLISH 110 | Introduction to Academic Prose | 3 |
| ENGLISH 225 | English II: Intermediate Academic Prose | 3 |
| Oral Communication (choose one of the following): | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of Effective Speaking and Listening | ||
| Introduction to Communication | ||
| Argumentation And Debate (offered via dual credit only) | ||
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Math Pathway (satisfied in major requirements below) | ||
| Critical Thinking in Arts & Humanities (GECRT-AH) | 3 | |
| Critical Thinking in Natural & Physical Sciences (GECRT-SC) | 3 | |
| Critical Thinking in Social & Behavioral Sciences (GECRT-SS) | 3 | |
| Culture & Diversity Course (GECDV) | 3 | |
| Civic & Urban Engagement Course (GECUE) | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 27 | |
Constitution Course Requirement
Section 170.011.1 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, 2015, states that all candidates for a degree issued by a college or university in the state of Missouri must have “satisfactorily passed an examination on the provisions and principles of the Constitution of the United States and of the state of Missouri, and in American history and American institutions.”
Courses at UMKC that satisfy this state requirement are:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| The Supreme Court And The Criminal Process | ||
| U.S. History to 1877 | ||
| U.S. History Since 1877 | ||
| Honors American Government | ||
| American Government | ||
| Total Credits | 3 | |
There are a few other ways this requirement can be satisfied for students transferring to UMKC:
- Take an equivalent course from the list above at a regionally accredited institution.
- Earn credit for one of the above courses through AP, IB, or CLEP.
- Take a course that directly satisfies the Missouri Constitution Requirement at another Missouri institution.
- Have a previous bachelors degree (or higher) from a regionally accredited institution.
- Have an Associate of Arts degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- Complete the 42 Hour Core at a Missouri institution and have it listed on the official transcript.
Major Requirements
Biology course requirements. Biology courses that fulfill the BS in Biology with the Clinical Laboratory Science emphasis requirements are listed below. A total of 32 credit hours of biology courses is required and at least 16 of these must be at the 300 or 400 level. A minimum of 16 credit hours of Biology courses must be earned from UMKC SBC. A grade of C- or better is required in each course used to fulfill these requirements.
The following courses are required of all students seeking the BS degree in Biology with the Clinical Laboratory Science emphasis.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOLOGY 108L & BIOLOGY 108 | General Biology I Laboratory and General Biology I | 4 |
| or MOTRBIOL 100LB | MOTR Essential Biology w/ Lab - Botany | |
| or MOTRBIOL 150LB | MOTR Biology with Lab | |
| BIOLOGY 109L & BIOLOGY 109 | General Biology II Laboratory and General Biology II | 4 |
| or MOTRBIOL 100LZ | MOTR Essential Biology with Lab | |
| or MOTRBIOL 150LZ | MOTR Biology w/Lab | |
| BIOLOGY 202 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| BIOLOGY 206 | Genetics | 3 |
| BIOLOGY 313 | Microbiology | 3 |
| BIOLOGY 316 | Principles of Physiology | 3 |
| BIOLOGY 313L | Laboratory in Microbiology | 3 |
| BIOLOGY 435 | Immunology | 3 |
| BIOLOGY 441 | Biochemistry | 3 |
| Total Credits | 29 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Choose Three or More Additional Hours in biology(one hour must be upper level) | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 3 | |
Physical sciences and mathematics requirements. The following are required. A grade of C- or better is required in each course used to fulfill these requirements.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 211 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
| or MOTRCHEM 150 | MOTR Chemistry I | |
| CHEM 211L | Experimental General Chemistry I | 1 |
| CHEM 212R | General Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHEM 212LR | Experimental General Chemistry II | 1 |
| CHEM 320 | Elementary Organic Chemistry | 4 |
| CHEM 320L | Experimental Organic Chemistry | 1 |
| CHEM 341WI | Analytical Chemistry I: Quantitative Analysis | 4 |
| MATH 120 | Precalculus (satisfies Math Pathway and may be required based on placement) | 5 |
| MATH 210 | Calculus I | 3-4 |
| or BIOLOGY 304 | Biostatistics 1 | |
| or STAT 235 | Elementary Statistics | |
| or STAT 115 | Statistical Reasoning | |
| or MOTRMATH 110 | MOTR Statistical Reasoning | |
| PHYSICS 210 | General Physics I | 4 |
| PHYSICS 220 | General Physics II | 4 |
| Total Credits | 35-36 | |
Satisfactory completion of a clinical program at an affiliated hospital. This will allow the student to earn 30 credit hours toward the bachelor's degree. Ten of the clinical hours are allowed as upper level biology toward the 42 hours required for the BS. Twenty of the clinical hours are allowed as upper level general science credit. Completion of the clinical program also fulfills the Biology Synthesis requirement.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Program | 30 | |
A total of 120 credit hours (minimum) is required; these may be taken from any area once other degree requirements have been met. For most students, more than 120 credit hours will be needed to meet all requirements.
A maximum of 12 hours for a combination of 399, 497, and 499 coursework may be applied toward with major with only 4 credit hours at the 400-level.
Minimum GPA: 2.0 (UM cumulative; UM Biology)
Total Credit Hours: 122-127
Tools for Planning and Fulfilling Academic Requirements
UMKC's Major Maps are detailed, semester by semester plans that lead a student to complete all degree requirements within four years. Plans include benchmarks and critical courses by term that assist a student’s evaluation of progress and major “fit”. In order to ensure that the appropriate courses are taken, students are encouraged to consult with the undergraduate advisor for this major. Please see the tab above to view the major map for this program.
UMKC’s Transfer Guides provide detailed guidance on recommended transfer coursework, plans of study, transfer timelines, and transfer contact information. To ensure a seamless transfer experience, students are encouraged to work with both their community college advisor and a UMKC advisor when planning their coursework.
UMKC’s PlanMyDegree ‘Audit’ degree audit system provides an individual evaluation of all degree requirements (General Education, Degree Specific, Major Specific, etc.) for students' officially recorded (Office of the Registrar) and “what if” exploratory plans of study. This evaluation is used to certify all graduation requirements.
UMKC’s PlanMyDegree ‘Plans’ degree planning tool enables students to develop a personalized semester by semester plan of study towards completion of degree requirements for student’s officially recorded (Office of the Registrar) and “what if” exploratory plans of study. Update and edit your full plan to degree completion each term and confirm accuracy each semester with your Academic Advisor(s).
