What We Look for in a Clinical Laboratory Sciences Applicant

Interested in Getting Your Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Sciences?

The Clinical Laboratory Sciences Program at Stony Brook University is an upper-division program leading to a Bachelor of Science degree. Upon completion of the program, the graduates are eligible to take the National MLS ASCP Board Certification Exam and are New York State License eligible. Granting of the B.S. Degree in CLS is not contingent upon passing an external certification or licensure exam.

The curriculum offered by the Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences is designed to produce a practicing healthcare professional fully capable to begin a career as a competent Clinical Laboratory Scientist. A clinical laboratory scientist is an important member of the health care team who performs and/or supervises many laboratory tests that confirm diagnoses, rule out suspected conditions, or monitor treatment to ensure that patients receive appropriate medication and therapy. In addition, clinical laboratory scientists participate in the development and implementation of new techniques in the clinical setting.

The program goals are to:

• provide adequate didactic instruction and clinical experience to students so that they may qualify as registered Clinical Laboratory Scientists and function competently in a variety of clinical settings;
  The students are guided by responsible and dedicated clinical scientists, supervisors and managers.
• help students develop a professional manner as demonstrated by their conduct, appearance and ethics;
• encourage the utilization of problem solving skills when interpreting laboratory findings;
  provide a firm foundation in quality assurance;
• graduate knowledgeable, self-confident students who demonstrate an interest in growing professionally.
• obtain NYS Licensure.

Which program is right for you?
Pre-Clinical Laboratory Sciences for First Year Applicants First-year applicants who have not taken any college courses after graduating high school are considered for admission to the College of Arts and Sciences, where students are offered the opportunity to complete prerequisite courses prior to applying to the Clinical Laboratory Sciences major at the end of their second year. This is not a direct admission program, but does provide all the prerequisite requirements needed to apply to the Clinical Laboratory Sciences Program.
Clinical Laboratory Sciences for Transfer Applicants Transfer applicants who have completed the required 57 credits of prerequisite courses with a C or better in all prerequisite courses and a minimum of a 2.5 overall GPA can apply directly to the Clinical Laboratory Sciences program.

Deadlines to submit your application, recommendations, and transcripts:

Application Deadline	Program Start	Application Opens
March 1, 2025	Summer 2025	August 1, 2024

Additional Application Requirements

Review Program Prerequisites

We offer two application options (apply using just one). There is a $50 application fee.

Option 1

THE COMMON APPLICATION

APPLY: COMMON APP

Option 2

THE SUNY APPLICATION*

APPLY: SUNY APP

Once your application is submitted and processed, you will receive an email with your login to the StartSBU portal.

If you would like to be considered for more than one program, such as the Clinical Laboratory Sciences program and Health Science major, you will be able to indicate this on your supplemental application, but will only be able to choose one on the Common Application or SUNY application.

Transcripts

• Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended must be uploaded with your application 
• Transcript(s) must include completed or in-progress required prerequisites.
• All outstanding prerequisite coursework must be posted on the official transcript(s) and your transcript(s) must be submitted and evaluated prior to the first day of classes.

References

All References must be submitted online with your application.

Additional Requirements

There are additional prerequisites required for the Clinical Laboratory Sciences programs and must be completed prior to the application deadline.

Admission to the Clinical Laboratory Sciences program is highly competitive. Meeting minimum criteria for admission does not guarantee acceptance. The Clinical Laboratory Sciences program reserves the right to make final decisions based upon the applicant pool each year.

The Clinical Laboratory Sciences program reserves the right to change admission and program criteria to meet prevailing accreditation and registration requirements.

Clinical Laboratory Sciences applicants must submit all items listed below prior to the application deadline:
Application and personal statement Paid application fee or approved waiver Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended Three letters of recommendation submitted via the portal request form Meet the Technical Standards For Admission and Retention

 

Clinical Laboratory Sciences Application Requirements

Prerequisites

• Minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 2.5 is required
• 57 credits with a grade C or higher in the following courses

Required Courses	Credits
Mathematics	3
English Composition	3
Humanities	3
Art	3
Level 100 Social and Behavioral	3
Level 200 Social and Behavioral *	3
Global	3
Respect Diversity*	3
General Biology with Laboratory	8
General Microbiology	3
Chemistry (with laboratory and Organic Chemistry)	12
Statistics	3
Total Credits	57 minimum

All science courses should include a laboratory and be designated for science majors, and must have been completed within the past seven years.

Students preparing for careers as clinical laboratory scientists are also expected to perform patient testing safely and accurately, maintain competence under challenging conditions, exhibit good manual dexterity, work with sophisticated instrumentation, communicate effectively in written and spoken English, show respect for self and others, work independently, and project an image of professionalism.

Your application will be reviewed by the CLS Program Admissions Committee. If eligible you will be contacted to schedule an interview.

*Each course can only be counted towards one prerequisite with the exception of DIV.
A student is permitted to take a course that fulfills GLO/DIV, HUM/DIV, SBS/DIV or SBS+/DIV
*The course should be designated as a SBS+. Learn more about the SBS+ requirement.

These courses together with the Clinical Laboratory Sciences curriculum satisfy Stony Brook curriculum requirements and  provide our students with a diverse educational foundation.

Transfer Equivalencies for Prerequisites

You can use Stony Brook University's Transfer Equivalency Database to determine if a course will satisfy the Clinical Laboratory Sciences Program Requirements.

Transfer Course Equivalences

Transfer Credit Policies

Admitted Students Requirements
Students who are offered admission must submit the following or risk being removed from the program. Updated official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended Evidence of health insurance All prerequisite coursework must be completed prior to the start of the program Read and consider the Technical Standards for the Clinical Laboratory Sciences Program.

State University of New York (SUNY) policy prohibits Stony Brook University admission applications from inquiring into an applicant’s prior criminal history. After acceptance, the College shall inquire if the student previously has been convicted of a felony if such individual seeks campus housing or participation in clinical or field experiences, internships (where a criminal history background check is required) or study abroad programs. The information required to be disclosed under SUNY policy regarding such felony convictions shall be reviewed by a standing campus committee consistent with the legal standards articulated in New York State Corrections Law, and other applicable law.

Students who have previously been convicted of a felony are advised that their prior criminal history may impede their ability to complete the requirements of certain academic programs and/or to meet licensure requirements for certain professions. Students who have concerns about such matters are advised to contact the dean's office of their intended academic program.