Medical Laboratory Science Department

The Department of Medical Laboratory Science of the Faculty of Health Sciences College of Health Sciences Madonna University was established in 2000/2001 Academic Session with 21 students as its first intake under Assoc. Professor E.A. Nwokoro as the first Head of the Department. This was sequel to the approval from the University Senate and the National Universities Commission. The Department is located in the Elele Campus of the University. The pioneer students took their First Degree and Professional examination in 2005/2006 session when the Department received Provisional Approval from the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) in the year 2005. Under the Acting Head of Department, Chief Sir I. I. Iroagba who handed over to Associate Professor I. N. Nnatuanya the current HOD, the Department has continued to witness tremendous yearly increase in student enrolments and in the yearly student turnover. Efforts are on going to bring about increase in facilities: structure and equipment and in quality of both academic and administrative staff.

The Philosophy of the Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Sciences, Madonna University takes its cue from the broad Philosophy of the College of Health Sciences in the country and that of the University. First the department is one with the College of Health Sciences and that of the University in the belief that optimal Medical Laboratory Science education can be achieved in an institution of higher learning that provides a foundation for general education in the various sciences.

To this end the department aims to provide sound scientific and professional basis for the production of Medical Laboratory Science personnel capable of working in any of the three levels of primary health services. The department would provide such training as would equip Medical Laboratory Scientists render Medical Laboratory services. It will, too, produce Scientists who would satisfy internationally recognizable standard and who would undertake further training towards specialization. Finally the department aims to produce Medical Laboratory Science personnel with sufficient management ability to play leadership role in health care delivery.

The objective of the department, therefore, is to prepare students for a career in Medical Laboratory Science. To this end the programme aims at providing the students with a broad sound and professional foundation for the practice of Medical Laboratory Science in any part of Nigeria or indeed the world. The Medical Laboratory Scientist is expected to:

• Perform effectively in clinical diagnostic services, research, and academic institutions and in quality assurance establishments.

• Function independently or in collaboration with other members of the health team in the care of individuals and groups at all levels of health care.

• Produce biological and diagnostic reagents/test kits as well as fabricate and maintain laboratory equipment.

• Develop and produce Medical Laboratory Scientists that will be able to address a range of transferable skills of value in medical and non-medical employment.

• Possess sufficient management ability to be able to play a leadership role in the training and practice of medical laboratory sciences.

The scope and the content of the programme is such that the Medical Laboratory graduates of this department should be competent to practise in private or public institutions or undertake post-graduate training in any local or foreign institutions. The training prepares them also to be on their own and thus become employers of labour.  

Scope

The Department of Medical laboratory science offers a four year degree and professional programme for candidates admitted by direct entry and a five year programme for candidates admitted by entrance. Successful completion of the programme will lead to the award of Bachelor of Medical laboratory Science degree and registration with the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria. Courses in Medical Laboratory Science are offered under five disciplines: MLS Clinical Chemistry, MLS Haematology, MLS Histopathology, MLS Medical Microbiology, MLS Medical Parasitology/ Entomology and MLS Immunology/Immunochemistry. The programme is designed too to teach the students the central role laboratory investigation of components of biological fluids, blood, urine, cerebro-spinal fluid, secretions excretions, tissues or organs etc play in the diagnosis, management and prognosis of disease states. They are taught also to understand the workings of laboratory instruments and how to modify them where possible and preparation of reagents and test kits.

Admission Requirements

Candidates are admitted into the department of Medical Laboratory Science for Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science degree and for the Professional examination either through the entrance mode for five year programme or by direct entry mode for four (4) year programme.

Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) 

In addition to the University minimum entry requirements, the entrance candidates are required to have credit level passes in English Language, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics in the West African School Certificate Examination or in the Senior Secondary School final examination or in the General certificate of education ordinary level examination. Credit level passes in the five papers in the National Certificate of Examination (NECO) are also acceptable. Credit level passes in any of the examinations shall not be in more than two sittings.

Direct Entry 

In addition to satisfying the above requirements candidates for direct entry admission must hold the General certificate in Education Advanced level certificate or the Principal level passes Certificate in the Higher School Certificate Examination in Chemistry, Physics or Biology or Zoology. Holders of University degree from recognized universities or the Higher National Diploma Certificate in Biochemistry, Microbiology or in any other related courses can also apply for direct entry admission. Holders of Medical Laboratory Technician Certificate with relevant O level papers or the National diploma in Science Laboratory with relevant ‘O’ level papers may also be accepted for direct admission.

Job Opportunities  

Successful students in the Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science degree examination are equipped to take up careers as Medical Laboratory Scientists, in teaching and specialist hospitals, government hospitals, primary health care centres, research centres, private establishments water works or water treatment plants and in quality control units of industries etc. They can become employers of labour, by establishing their own diagnostic/research laboratories or instrument maintenance/fabrication centres. The training equips them for postgraduate studies in any university in Nigeria or in the World.

Regulations Governing the Degree and Professional Examinations  

In addition to the Regulations Governing the Professional Examinations, we ensure that only students with the ability and inclination for the programme are presented for the Main Examination.

1. There is always in the department a prequalification or practice examination for students wishing to present themselves for the Main professional examination.

2. The prequalification or practice examination comprises courses taken in the relevant Main professional examination.

3. Only students who have achieved the same professional body’s passing grades or scores in the courses in the prequalification or practice examination shall present themselves for the Main professional examination for the year.

4. Students who are unable to pass the prequalification or practice examination, after a first attempt, shall join those who failed the professional exam to resit it.

5. The first professional Examination takes place in the fourth year (400 level) and shall include all courses offered in the fourth year as provided in the departmental curriculum. The Medical Laboratory Science council of Nigeria (MLSCN) is involved in this examination as well as external examiners.

6. The candidate must also score 75% attendance at both lectures and practical classes in 4th year of study to qualify to sit for the examination. Failure to pass the examination, the student has a chance to resit. Failure to pass the resit examination will amount to repeating the whole year.

7. The final Professional/Degree Examination is taken in the 5th year of study (500 levels) and the courses taken are as in the academic curriculum. Both the Professional Regulatory Body (MLSCN) and External Examiners shall be involved in this examination.

8. On admission, each student is expected to register as a student member with the professional regulatory body. Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN), as required by law (indexing).

9. On successful completion of the degree programme, the candidate becomes fully registered by the professional body only after induction by MLSCN and satisfactory completion of one–year mandatory internship in a recognized and accredited hospital/medical research laboratory centre.

10. After registration with the MLSCN the candidate is licensed to practice as a Medical Laboratory Scientist.

Course Coding System 

Course code contains an abbreviation letter code of three letters representing the department offering the course and three digits. The first digit represents the year or level of study. The second digit indicates the subject or the stress area. The third digit denotes the semester. (Odd numbers represent first semester; even numbers represent second semester).

Departmental Code  

Chemical Pathology CPY

Haematology / BTS HAE

Histopathology PTH

Medical Microbiology MMB

Immunology IMM

Medical Lab. Science MLS

Microbiology MCB

Biochemistry BCH

Physiology PIO

Pharmacology PCO

Mathematics MTH

Physics PHY

Chemistry CHM

General Studies GST

Computer Science CSC

Anatomy ANT

Parasitology/Medical Entomology PME

Medical Virology MVL

STRESS AREAS 

General Courses for Medical Laboratory – 0

Chemical Pathology – – – 1

Medical Microbiology/Mycology – 2

Haematology/Blood Transfusion Science – 3

Histopathology/Cytology – 4

Parasitology/Entomology – – – 5

Immunology/Molecular Biology – 6

Virology – – – 7

Seminar – – – 8

Project – – 9

INSTRUCTION TO DIRECT ENTRY STUDENTS 

Students who gained admission by direct entry into the 200 level will ensure that they register and pass the following General Studies Courses in addition to all the courses in the Faculty/Departmental curriculum, as applicable.

FIRST SEMESTER (FOR DIRECT ENTRY STUDENTS)

Course Code Course Title Unit

GST 111 Communication in English I 2

GST 113 Nigerian Peoples and Culture 2

GST 121 Use of Library, Study Skills and Information Technology 2

GST 123 Communication in French 2

GST 125 Introduction to Entrepreneurship Studies I 2

SECOND SEMESTER (FOR DIRECT ENTRY STUDENTS)

Course Code Course Title Unit

GST 104 Fundamental Philosophy 1

GST 112 Logic, Philosophy and Human Existence 2

GST 122 Communication in English II 2

GST 142 Communication in German 2

GST 162 Introduction to Social Science 2

Requirement for Graduation

Before graduation, every student is expected to pass all compulsory courses, required courses and selected electives at a minimum level of E grade. The minimum credit requirement for graduation is 167. The degree to be awarded shall be Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) in Computer Science. Candidate with good honours degree in Computer Science may be accepted for Masters or PhD programmes in the relevant area of study and research.

1.9 ACHIEVEMENT

The Department of Computer Science gained it first full accreditation status from the National University Commission (NUC) in November 2008 and the second full accreditation status June 2015. The Department also produced the overall best student in the University in 2013/2014 graduation list and also in 2014/2015 graduation list

JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE GRADUATES

The use of computer technologies is commonplace in all types of organizations, in academia, research, industry, government, private and business organizations. The career opportunities for computer science graduates can be classified into seven categories: programming and software development, information systems operation and management, telecommunications and networking, computer science research, web and Internet, graphics and multimedia, training and support, and computer industry specialists.

STRESS AREAS CODE

General Courses 0

Programming 1

Software Development Fundamentals 2

Systems Fundamentals 3

Intelligent Systems 4

Computability 5

Information Systems 6

Research work 9

 

INSTRUCTION TO DIRECT ENTRY STUDENTS

Students who gained admission by direct entry into the 200 level will ensure that they register and pass the following General Studies Courses in addition to all the courses in the Faculty/Departmental curriculum, as applicable.

FIRST SEMESTER (FOR DIRECT ENTRY STUDENTS)

Course Code Course Title Unit

GST 111 Communication in English I 2

GST 113 Nigerian Peoples and Culture 2

GST 121 Use of Library, Study Skills and Information Technology 2

GST 123 Communication in French 2

GST 125 Introduction to Entrepreneurship Studies I 2

SECOND SEMESTER (FOR DIRECT ENTRY STUDENTS)

Course Code Course Title Unit

GST 104 Fundamental Philosophy 1

GST 112 Logic, Philosophy and Human Existence 2

GST 122 Communication in English 2

GST 142 Communication in German 2

GST 162 Introduction to Social Science 2