Priority Deadline - December 15

Applications may be accepted after the deadline based on space available in the next class.

Review Admission Eligibility

Before beginning an application, please contact a KU advisor to review admission eligibility. Failure to contact an advisor could result in a delay in starting the program if you are missing prerequisite courses or if certain courses already taken are not transferable to the University of Kansas.

Technical Standards

Review the technical standards and requirements describing the abilities and expectations of all students in the KU Clinical Laboratory Science program. Before submitting the application, you must acknowledge having read this document.

International Students

An applicant is considered an international student if they require a visa, currently reside in the U.S. with non-immigrant status or currently reside in the U.S. while applying for permanent residency. Please review the information for international students before applying.

English Language Proficiency

English language requirements apply to any student who is not currently enrolled in a U.S. college or university.

To verify English language requirements for international students, official exam results from either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) must have been obtained within the two years prior to application. ETS school code for KUMC is 6895. For scores see Eligibility requirements.

Prepare Your Materials

Before you start the online application, it's helpful to gather the following information. We may not be able to review your application until all the requested information is received.

Personal Statement

In 1-2 pages (no more than 350-500 words), explain how you became interested in clinical laboratory science (CLS), describe coursework, experiences and/or activities that you think have prepared you to enter the CLS program and describe your personal and professional goals and explain how a career in CLS will help you achieve these goals.

Recommendations

Applicants will enter the names and contact information (including email addresses) of three (3) individuals into the online application. The system will then prompt each person to submit the reference online.

A reference provides a professional recommendation on your behalf. At least two (2) of the references must be science instructors, preferably laboratory instructors (graduate teaching assistants are acceptable). The third reference may be provided by an employer or an instructor in an area other than science. The recommendations may not be obtained from family members, friends, etc. 

Make sure each reference is willing to submit this electronically and inform them that they will be receiving an email from “KU Medical Center” requesting them to submit a reference for you online.

Course Work Plan

Have ready a list of all courses in which you are currently enrolled and in which you plan to enroll to complete the prerequisites. All required coursework must be completed prior to the start date of our program. You will need to list the course number, title, credit hours and institution attended for each course.

Shadowing Documentation

We strongly recommended that applicants to the CLS program participate in a shadowing activity to ensure that they are fully aware of the type of work performed by medical laboratory scientists. Shadowing involves observing the operations of a medical laboratory, the job duties and responsibilities of the various personnel and becoming aware of the level of professionalism needed to function in this career. Applicants are not penalized for not completing a shadowing activity. 

There are three ways to meet this requirement; applicants only need to provide evidence for one of these following activities.

1. Students who successfully complete CLS/BIOL 210, Introduction to Clinical Laboratory Science, at the KU-Lawrence campus do not need to perform a shadowing observation. The student may enroll in CLS/BIOL 210 during the spring semester following application submission but must complete the class prior to entering the CLS program.
2. Work experience in a clinical laboratory setting (hospital or reference laboratory) may be used to fulfill the requirement. Types of acceptable work include working as a phlebotomist, lab assistant, or specimen processor. Submission of the shadowing documentation form (PDF) is required. 
3. Shadowing in a hospital clinical laboratory. Applicants should contact a hospital laboratory and ask to spend some time observing specimen processing, workflow, phlebotomy, and other laboratory procedures. A minimum of 2-4 hours of observation is recommended. However, to cover as many aspects of the laboratory as possible, more than 2 hours is highly recommended. Submission of the shadowing documentation form (PDF) is required.

Employment History

We are interested in paid employment positions held while attending college classes. Please provide the approximate number of hours per week worked per semester, the number of credit hours enrolled while employed, each semester's GPA, the name of the employer and job responsibilities. Applicants are not penalized if they have not worked while attending college.

Transcripts

Arrange to have one official copy of each transcript from every college and university that you have attended, both graduate and undergraduate, sent directly to KU Medical Center.

For credits earned outside of the U.S., an official copy of each transcript should be submitted together with an official copy of the transcript evaluation by either World Education Services OR Educational Credential Evaluators. The evaluation must include course-by-course evaluation, grade evaluation, and indicate the degree earned in U.S. terms (bachelors, masters, doctorate, etc.) if applicable.

If the institution(s) provide electronic transcripts, please have them sent to CLStranscripts@kumc.edu. If using the U.S. national transcripts clearinghouse, please do NOT select "University of Kansas" and instead use the email address provided here.

Hardcopy transcripts can be mailed to the address below:

Attn: CLS Admissions
KU Dept. of Clinical Laboratory Sciences
Mail Stop 4048
3901 Rainbow Blvd.
Kansas City, KS 66160

Note: KU students do not need to send official transcripts for course work completed or in progress at KU, but KU students will need to send official transcripts from any other school(s) attended.