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Clinical Biology Program

Program Director, Clinical Biology Program

Daniel Packert, MS, Program Director, Histotechnology Specialization

Sumera Ackbarali, MS, Program Director, Medical Technology Specialization

Overview of Program

Clinical Biology is a term used to describe a range of occupations in which individuals have responsibility for assisting, facilitating, or complementing physicians and other specialists in delivering healthcare services to patients. Advances in the prevention and diagnosis of disease, in therapy and rehabilitation, and the need to cope with new health and environmental concerns have increased demands for skilled personnel in allied health fields. A student entering these fields must possess moral character, reliability, manual dexterity, and the ability to remain calm, courteous, and efficient under adverse conditions and stressful situations. Barry offers programs for students seeking to meet the growing demand in these fields: Histotechnology and Medical Technology.

The curricula of the Clinical Biology Program are dynamic, supported by the belief that society and the healthcare field are ever-changing. In keeping with the mission of Barry University, the Clinical Biology Program aims to provide a quality education amidst an atmosphere of social responsibility, scholarly research, and respect for human dignity.

Acceptance to Barry University does not automatically guarantee acceptance to the Clinical Biology Program.

Accreditation

Barry University’s Histotechnology Specialization Program is approved by the Florida Department of Health, Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel, and accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS): 5600 N. River Road, Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018 / Telephone: (773) 714‑8880 / Fax:(773)714‑8886 / E-mail: info@naacls.org.

Barry University’s Medical Technology Specialization Program is approved by the Florida Department of Health, Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel, and accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS): 5600 N. River Road, Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018 / Telephone: (773) 714‑8880 / Fax: (773) 714‑8886 / E-mail: info@naacls.org.

Mission and Philosophy

The philosophy of the Clinical Biology Program is consistent with the Barry University mission.

Our faculty and staff are committed to helping students achieve their goals and producing graduates who can make a difference as leaders in the international health care community. Existing as a scholarly community, we are committed to the highest academic standards in undergraduate education. As part of the Clinical Biology Program students will learn to grow as individuals committed to lifelong learning and social justice.

This mission of Clinical Biology aligns with the goals of NAACLS and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Barry University. The mission of the Clinical Biology Program is to prepare our graduates with skills that will allow them to apply scientific knowledge, while collaborating with others using verbal, written, and technological skills inherent to health care. We provide them the tools to engage in professional practices that adhere to the concepts of integrity, ethics, life-long learning, and patient advocacy.

Program Goals

Upon successful completion of the Program, all Program graduates will be able to:

  1. Comprehend and apply knowledge, analyze case studies and synthesize and apply the best available evidence as the basis for evaluating healthcare practices (Critical Thinking);
  2. Collaborate and communicate with others using verbal, written, and technological skills inherent to health care, healthcare professionals, and healthcare scientists (Communication); and
  3. Engage in professional practices that adhere to the concepts of integrity, ethics, life-long learning and patient advocacy (Professionalism).

Program Objectives

The educational objectives for the Program correlate with the three (3) goals of the curriculum: critical thinking, communication, and professionalism. Upon completion of the Program, the graduate shall have acquired knowledge, skills, and competence related to the Program goals as evidenced by the ability to:

  1. Analyze individual case studies and evaluate clinical laboratory sciences (Critical Thinking);
  2. Demonstrate collaboration by actively engaging in interdisciplinary local and global community outreach efforts for health promotion (Communication, Professionalism);
  3. Participate in health-related research and scholarship (Professionalism);
  4. Demonstrate technology skills to enhance overall lifelong learning through continuing education (Communication, Professionalism); and
  5. Demonstrate achievement of the Program’s objectives and synthesis of educational activities by completing a scholarly work in the form of a research project (Critical Thinking, Communication, and Professionalism).

Expected Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates will have acquired the ability to:

Demonstrate entry-level competencies in the basic procedures of the chosen field;

Implement basic principles of laboratory and clinical safety procedures;

Develop the knowledge and skill in education, management, and research to fulfill the leadership roles within the clinical environment;

Integrate knowledge and research to be able to critique and analyze data and published studies related to the field; and

Develop an awareness of major health, social, and economic problems of the community and the world at large.

Admission Requirements

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. Incoming freshmen seeking admission must submit a completed application for undergraduate study and provide official transcripts from high schools attended. Transfer students must be able to demonstrate through the satisfactory completion of previous coursework and interview with admissions committee that they are able to perform well in a rigorous academic program focusing on the clinical sciences.

Below are minimum scores required for incoming freshman for admissions to the Health Professions Foundation coursework:

SAT 1100 (minimum Math 600 and Verbal 490)

ACT Composite variable (minimum Math 26 and English 22)

HS. GPA of 3.0 or above (inclusive of dual enrollment courses)

International Students

International students who have completed all or part of their college coursework outside of the United States at an internationally listed institution must submit their transcripts to an official international transcript evaluation service. Information about professional evaluating services in the United States is available from the Division of Enrollment. Official transcripts and the international credit evaluation must be submitted to Barry University for admission and evaluation purposes.

Students are also required to obtain a score of at least 500 (61 on the internet-based test) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Official test results must be submitted to the Office of Health Sciences Admissions, Barry University.

General Non-Academic Requirements

Vision

  • Read charts, labels, graphs; discriminate colors and record results

Speech and Hearing

  • Communicate effectively using standard English, and assess non-verbal information

Fine Motor Skills

  • Skills necessary to operate instruments and manipulate tools related to the chosen field

Psychological Skills

  • Possess the emotional health required to utilize full intellectual abilities
  • Recognize emergency situations and take appropriate actions

Immunization and Physical Examination

Before attending the Clinical Experience, the student must present proof of medical insurance, a physical examination, and current immunizations to include annual TB screening (PPD), Diphtheria Inoculation Tetanus (DTP), MMRx2, and Hepatitis B. These documents must be presented before the student will be allowed to progress to Clinical Experience status. Physical exams and immunizations will be done at the student’s expense.

Clinical Biology (B.S.) Specialization Programs

The Specialization Programs are open to those students applying for transfer from the Health Professions Foundation Program, other programs within Barry University, and students transferring from other institutions. All students must be able to demonstrate through the satisfactory completion of previous coursework that they are able to perform well in a rigorous academic program focusing on the clinical sciences. The application process also requires an interview with the admissions committee. Students will graduate from this program with a bachelor’s degree in Clinical Biology and a specialization in either Histotechnology or Medical Technology. Participation in clinical experiences is a required part of the curriculum and will be undertaken off-campus at clinical affiliate sites. Credit hours for the Clinical Experience courses are charged the standard tuition rate.

Participation in the Clinical Experience (Histotechnology and Medical Technology Specialization Programs)

Students need 30 hours taken in residence at Barry University before enrolling in the Clinical Experience. Students must provide their own transportation to the clinical site. Clinical relocation may be necessary, which may include the student providing for and maintaining housing and living expenses for the duration of the program. Students must be financially prepared to enter and complete the program.

Students enrolled in the Seamless B.S. to M.S. option are required to participate in the clinical experience described for the B.S. in Medical Technology only.

Important Notice:

Participation in clinical experiences, rotations, or fieldwork is a required part of the curriculum for the B.S. in Clinical Biology Specialization Programs (Histotechnology and Medical Technology) and a requirement for graduation. Clinical affiliate sites require a drug and criminal background check in order to permit participation in the Clinical Experience. The program may deny a student’s participation in the Clinical Experience because of a felony or misdemeanor conviction, failure of a required drug test, or inability to produce an appropriate health clearance, which would result in delayed graduation or the inability to graduate from the program. Individuals who have been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor may be denied certification or licensure as a health professional. Information regarding individual eligibility may be obtained from the appropriate credentialing bodies. Drug screening and background checks will be done at the student’s expense.

The minimum passing grade for each Clinical Experience is: Clinical Experience I, “73” (C) or higher; Clinical Experience II and III, “83” (B) or higher.

The grading scale for the Clinical Experience courses is as follows:

93–100 A
83–92 B
73–82 C
68–72 D
Below 68 F

Progression in the Program and Academic Dismissal

Students must maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.0 at all times. Each didactic course must be passed with at least the minimally acceptable grade of C or higher. In the event a grade lower than C is received in any didactic biology course, the student must submit a letter to the program’s Student Affairs Committee, requesting permission to repeat the course and continue in the program. The members of the Committee will evaluate the student’s academic and advisee records, and depending upon this evaluation, the student may be allowed to repeat the course. If the permission is not granted, the student will not be able to continue in the program.

One didactic course may be repeated one time with the consent of the program’s Student Affairs Committee. The grades of D, F, and W are considered the same as a grade lower than C when repeating any didactic course.

Students will not be able to enroll in any Clinical Experience until all didactic courses have been successfully completed. Should a student fail to meet the minimum passing grade of “73” (C) or higher for Clinical Experience I, the student can be dismissed from the remainder of the program.

Students participating in the Clinical Experience are expected to demonstrate progression of clinical and professional skills and good laboratory practice at all times. Students’ failure to do so can result in dismissal from the Clinical Experience and therefore the program.

B.S. to M.S. students must have obtained at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA to begin graduate coursework by the end of the sixth semester of study or the summer semester prior to their senior year. Students not meeting and maintaining the cumulative program GPA requirement will not be allowed to begin or continue with graduate coursework. Students will have their major changed from B.S. to M.S. to only the B.S. degree program for degree completion.

Graduation Requirements

Students are eligible for graduation after all program requirements have been satisfactorily met and verified by the Undergraduate Program Director. After graduation students are qualified to apply for licensure by examination for their respective specialization. The granting of the degree or certificate must not be contingent upon the student passing any type of external certification or licensure examination.

Grade Policy

The following grades may be recorded for a didactic course:

A 90–100 points
B 80–89 points
C 70–79 points
D 60–69 points
F Below 60 points
I Incomplete
IP In progress (incomplete internship, project); students have six months to complete the course requirements or the grade will be converted to an “F”
W Withdrew from course before the withdrawal deadline

An ‘I’ grade is not automatically given for absence from class or incomplete work. An ‘I’ grade will need to be requested in writing by the student to the course instructor when course assignments have not been satisfactorily completed. Students who are granted an ‘I’ grade in a course must complete all the course requirements by the end of the next semester. An ‘I’ grade becomes an ‘F’ if assignments are not completed.

Transfer Credits

Students are able to transfer 64 semester hours from an accredited community college or state college program, and up to an additional 26 semester hours from an accredited four-year university. Students must complete their final 30 credits at Barry University.

Sites

Didactic and lab courses are taught at Barry University. Clinical Experiences are offered at clinical affiliate sites throughout the State of Florida.