General Information

The Clinical Laboratory Sciences program started in 1996 and belongs to the School of Health Professions of the Medical Sciences Campus, UPR. This program is designed to fit the needs of the working Medical Technologist professional. It offers an innovative educational experience in areas related to molecular diagnosis, administration of laboratory facilities, and clinical sciences, which allows our graduates to manage clinical laboratories, engage in research, conduct in-service training, and address problems of instrumentation and analytical procedures, among others. In addition, the program emphasizes the research component by requiring a research project with publishable results.

The aim of the program is to train students with expertise in current tools of administration, leadership, and quality assurance in the laboratory setting.

Duration of the Program/Meeting Hours

Students are admitted to the program only once a year and can begin graduate studies in August of the current academic year. The duration of the program is three years and courses are offered one evening during the week  from 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm and alternate Saturdays from 8:00 am – 12:00 pm. All regular students are expected to register in 6 semester credits.

Language

The language of instruction is Spanish, although textbooks are mostly in English. Applicants are encouraged to contact the program for detailed information.

Admission Requirements

  • Qualified applicants must have earned a Baccalaurate degree or Post-Baccalaurate Certificate in Medical Technology from an accredited institution of higher learning and be certified by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or an equivalent professional accrediting agency.
  • Minimum general and specific grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.75
  • Applicants must submit the results of graduate entrance examination tests: EXADEP (Examen de Admisión a Estudios de Posgrado).  The test should be taken no later than February of the year you expect to be admitted. This is a standardized test that measures verbal reasoning, quantitative, and analytical abilities in Spanish and in English as a second language). The EXADEP must be taken within five calendar years of the application date.
  • Two letters of recommendation from a former professor and/or from an employer.
  • Two Official Transcripts from all the institutions that were attended.
  • A personal interview with the faculty.

Important Dates to Remember

  • Admission to the program is open until March 15 of each academic year.
  • The EXADEP Test should be taken no later than February of the year you expect to be admitted.

Registration Costs

Registration fee for the entire program (three years) is: $5,500.00 (this does not include:  facilities fess, graduation fees, ID card and health insurance among others). This amount can be paid as follows: First Year $2,300.00; Second Year $1,700.00 and Third Year $1,500.00. The student can apply for a payment extension.

Graduation Requirements

In order to graduate, students must:

  • Complete de 36 credit-hour program.
  • Obtain a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.00.
  • Complete the research project approved by the faculty.
  • Complete graduation requirements within a five-year period.

Course Descriptions

(Please click here to access the Medical Sciences Campus Catalog and look for the Course Descriptions for this Program)

Informative Sheet

(Please click here to download the Informative Sheet of the Program)

Program Faculty

Dr. Bárbara Segarra Vázquez, Dean of the School of Health Professions and Director
Prof. María T. San Martín, Associate Director
Dr. Margarita Irizarry Ramírez, Faculty Member

The program has an excellent pool of outstanding faculty members from different disciplines that have been with the program for more than five years. This faculty has high qualifications and is strongly committed to the goal of providing a balanced program of study designed to produce clinical laboratory scientists.

In addition to the teaching faculty, we have a cadre of distinguished mentors who have demonstrated commitment and scholarly productivity supporting the program’s goals and objectives and mentoring clinical research.

Physical Address

UPR-Medical Sciences Campus, School of Health Professions Building, Office 631, Rio Piedras, PR

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT

Ms. Veronica Morales, Administrative Assistant I
(787) 758-2525 ext. 2110

Prof. María T. San Martín, Associate Director
(787) 758-2525 exts. 2712, 1689, 2600
maria.sanmartin@upr.edu