Post-baccalaureate Certificate in Chemistry for Medical Laboratory Science (STEM)

The online post-baccalaureate certificate in clinical chemistry for medical laboratory science is designed to provide the knowledge and hands-on skills needed to become a certified technologist in clinical chemistry. Students learn how to use chemistry to evaluate patient health, study DNA, and examine tissue, along with developing laboratory procedures that help physicians make earlier, more precise patient diagnoses and determine treatment.

This certificate can be completed in as little as one year and allows students to qualify to sit for the Technologist in Chemistry (C) exam offered by national certifying agencies. Students who complete this certificate program learn to:

Apply principles of traditional and molecular laboratory procedures to perform diagnostic analyses.
Correlate laboratory and quality control data to assess patient test results.
Apply knowledge of laboratory science principles as they relate to human disease diagnosis.
Maintain a safe work environment.
Comply with laboratory safety regulations and regulatory policies.
Apply ethical decision making to issues related to clinical laboratory practice.

Students complete required courses either on a part-time or full-time basis. Courses in the major are designed to broaden the student's foundation in the sciences in preparation for the clinical phase of the program. All courses are taught online, with the exception of the clinical practicum. The clinical practicum is usually taken on a full-time basis upon completion of didactic coursework. Students are typically in a clinical laboratory eight hours per day (daytime hours), five days per week. Admitted students must be able to fulfill the necessary time requirement for the practicum.*

This is a STEM designated program.

Visit the program website for additional information.

*Clinical rotations, lasting between one to three weeks each, are completed at an approved clinical site.

Adminssion Requirements
Article	Requirement
Term Start:	Summer - March 20
Degree and GPA Requirements:	A bachelor's degree
	2.5 GPA or above on a 4.0 scale
Prerequisites:	Completed coursework: All required courses must be completed with a C grade (C- grades and lower do not transfer) or better at a regionally accredited institution of higher learning:
	English Composition (3 credits)
	College Algebra, Statistics, or higher (3 credits)
	Combination of 30 semester hours of Biology and Chemistry coursework, including 16 hours of Chemistry
Additional Requirements:	Resume/CV
	Students who live outside of the Washington, D.C., metro area are required to secure a satisfactory clinical site at the time of admission.
	Review the Criminal Background Check and Drug Screening Policies in the Health Sciences Programs Bulletin
Statement of Purpose:	Applicants must include a 250–500 word essay describing your reasons for undertaking study at GW, your academic objectives, career goals, and related qualifications including collegiate, professional, and community activities relevant to your program of interest. Include any substantial accomplishments not already mentioned on the application form.
Recommendations Required:	One (1) letter of recommendation
Prior academic records:	Official transcripts are required from all colleges and universities attended (including via dual enrollment), whether or not credit was earned, the program was completed, or the credit appears as transfer credit on another transcript. Official transcripts must be forwarded in their original sealed envelopes or sent electronically directly from the institution.
	If academic records are in a language other than English, a certified English language translation must be provided in addition to the original transcripts; translations alone will not be accepted.
	Official transcripts from institutions outside the U.S. must be accompanied by an official transcript evaluation from an accredited independent evaluating agency. Please be sure you request a detailed evaluation that includes all course titles, credit hours, grades, U.S. degree equivalency, grade-point averages (GPA), and date of degree conferral. Please see the list of acceptable foreign credential evaluation services (https://www.naces.org/members).

Adminssion Requirements
Article	Requirement
International applicants:	International students should check with individual programs regarding eligibility for visa sponsorship. Generally, online and hybrid programs are not eligible for student visa sponsorship from GW. This includes transfer students from any other institution with an existing visa.
	Applicants who have not completed a post-secondary degree from an institution where English is the sole language of instruction must submit TOEFL, IELTS, PTE Academic, or the Duolingo English Test scores to be considered for admission. The following are the minimum scores for admission consideration:
	- Academic IELTS: An overall band score of 7.0, with no individual band score below 6.0.
	- TOEFL: 600 paper-based or 100 internet-based.
	- PTE: Overall score of 68
	- DET: Overall score of 120
	Undergraduate applicants who meet one of the following conditions can be considered for admission without submitting TOEFL, PTE or IELTS or DET scores:
	Scores cannot be more than two years old. To ensure TOEFL scores are sent to GW, use institutional code 5246. An institutional code is not required to send IELTS or PTE scores to GW. DET scores must be submitted via the Duolingo English Test system directly to GW.
	Based on their application and the results of the English proficiency examination students can be required to take English for Academic Purposes (EAP) during their first year of study at GW. GW evaluates each application holistically and applicants can be recommended for EAP even if they meet the requirements for exemption. Students placed in EAP courses should anticipate additional tuition expenses as well as possible extension of time needed to complete their degree programs.

Supporting documents not submitted online should be mailed to:

George Washington University

ATTN: Transcript Processing Center
1415 W 22^nd St.
Suite 220
Oak Brook, IL 60523

Documents can be submitted electronically to: transcripts@hsprograms.gwu.edu.

Contact for questions:

hsphora@gwu.edu
202-994-0384 (phone)
Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Required
MLS 4141	Immunology and Serology
MLS 4145	Clinical Biochemistry I
MLS 4151	Molecular Diagnostics
MLS 4161	Clinical Biochemistry Practicum
MLS 4146	Clinical Biochemistry II
MLS 4158	Laboratory Management and Operations

Clinical rotations are completed at an approved clinical site and vary in length, lasting between 1 to 4 weeks each.