BS HTL - Histotechnology (BS)

Download as PDF

SHRP-BS Histotechnology (Academic_Department) ACADEMIC_LEVEL_UNDERGRADUATE

Program Title

Histotechnology (BS)

Default Credentials

BS - Bachelor of Science

Program Description

The histotechnologist (HTL) is a health care professional who processes and prepares human and animal tissues to be observed by various forms of microscopy. Following proper tissue preparation, a histotechnologist stains tissue for routine and special identification of bacteria, fungi, cancer, and tissue structure abnormalities for pathological diagnosis. The histotechnologist performs standardized laboratory skills that include tissue fixation, processing, embedding, sectioning, and staining. Employment for the majority of histotechnologists is in anatomic pathology laboratories within hospitals and clinics; however, career opportunities also exist in pharmaceutical, veterinary, biomedical, and academic laboratories.

The histotechnology program is a five (5) semester, entry-level program incorporated within the Department of Medical Laboratory Science.

Following satisfactory completion of all requirements, students will be awarded the Bachelor of Science in Histotechnology from the University of Mississippi and are eligible to apply to take the HTL(ASCP) or HT(ASCP) national certification examination. Some states may require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the national certification examination. Be advised that a misdemeanor or felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the national certification examination or attain state licensure.

Accreditation Status

The Bachelor of Science in Histotechnology program is programmatically accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), 5600 North River Road, Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018-5119. NAACLS's phone number is (773) 714-8880. https://www.naacls.org/

Learning Outcomes

Prepare graduates who demonstrate entry-level competencies to be able to enter the workforce as a histotechnologist.

Provide training and learning experiences in the preparation of microscopic, stained specimens for the diagnosis and prognosis of disease by a pathologist.

Develop students' ability to think critically in the didactic and clinical setting.

Prepare students to be professional and ethical members of a health care team.

Admission Requirements

In addition to the admission standards of the institution and the general admission requirements of the School of Health Related Professions, candidates seeking admission to the Histotechnology program must:

Have completed a minimum of 60 semester hours of academic credit from an accredited institution of higher learning;
Have completed a total of 12 semester hours in required science courses before the application deadline;
Have an overall cumulative grade point average of 2.50 on a 4.00 scale; and
Successfully complete (a grade of "C" or better) the following minimum prerequisite requirements:

Prerequisite Courses	Number of Courses	Semester Hours
English Composition	2	6
College Algebra, Quantitative Reasoning or Higher Mathematics	1	3
Social or Behavioral Science¹	2	6
Humanities and Fine Arts²	3	9
Anatomy and Physiology with Lab	2	8
Microbiology with Lab	1	4
Biological Sciences³	2	8
Chemistry with Lab⁴	1	4
Electives⁵		12
Total Prerequisites		60

¹Social and Behavioral Sciences include courses such as anthropology, economics, political science, psychology or sociology.

²Humanities and Fine Arts include courses such as art history, dance, history, modern languages, music, philosophy, religion or theatre.

³Biological Sciences include courses such as general biology, cell biology, genetics, embryology and zoology. Science survey courses and science courses designed for non-majors are not acceptable for transfer credit.

⁴Chemistry courses such as inorganic, organic, biochemistry, and Principles of Chemistry are acceptable. Science survey courses and science courses designed for non-majors are not acceptable for transfer credit.

⁵Electives should be selected from a broad range of academic courses which may include immunology, cell biology, genetics, embryology, calculus, management or computer applications.

Program Application Deadline

All application documents and the application fees must be received by the Office of Enrollment Management by April 1 for fall admission. General application information and application procedures may be found in the SHRP General Admission Requirements Policy in PolicyTech. The School reserves the right to consider and accept applications after the established deadline. To determine if a deadline has been extended, call the Office of Enrollment Management after the deadline at (601) 984-1080.

Degree Requirements

Candidates for the Histotechnology degree must have completed the prescribed curriculum with an overall cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or higher on a 4.00 scale. Due to the variability of available clinical sites, completion of the required curriculum may be extended beyond the minimum of 22 months. Following satisfactory completion of all requirements, students will be awarded the Bachelor of Science in Histotechnology degree from the University of Mississippi.

Professional Course of Study

Junior Year
Fall		Semester Hours
HTL 300	Introduction to Histology	3
HTL 305	Basic Clinical Biochemistry	2
HTL 310	Medical Terminology	2
MLS 311	Basic and Clinical Immunology	3
MLS 312	Essentials of Hematology	3
MLS 327	Laboratory Operations	2
		15
Spring
HTL 320	Histotechniques I	4
HTL 330	Staining Techniques I	3
MLS 313	Clinical Bacteriology	3
MLS 416	Research Design and Statistics	3
MLS 417	Principles of Management and Education in MLS	1
		14
Senior Year
Summer
HTL 410	Ethics and Professional Issues	2
HTL 415	Histopathology	2
MLS 323	Mycology, Parasitology and Virology	3
MLS 405	Introduction to Molecular Diagnostics	3
		10
Fall
HTL 420	Histotechniques II	4
HTL 425	Seminar	2
HTL 430	Staining Techniques II	3
MLS 310	Body Fluid Analysis	3
		12
Spring
HTL 435	Histotechnology Capstone	2
HTL 440	Histotechnology Practicum I	5
HTL 445	Histotechnology Practicum II	5
		12
Total Required Hours		63

Clinical Facilities

Clinical educational experiences in Histotechnology are provided in conjunction with the following health care facilities:

Delta Pathology Group – Shreveport, LA
King's Daughters Medical Center – Brookhaven, MS
Ochsner Medical Center: Jefferson Hwy – New Orleans, LA
St. Dominic-Jackson Memorial Hospital – Jackson, MS
University of Mississippi Medical Center – Jackson, MS

For more information about this program, contact:

Renee Wilkins, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM
Phone: (601) 984-6309
Email: rwilkins@umc.edu