Department of Allied Sciences
Undergraduate Programs of Study
- Medical Laboratory Science (major)
- Radiologic Sciences (major); subplans in radiography, echocardiography, or diagnostic medical sonography
- Respiratory Care (major)
Degrees Offered
- Bachelor of Science Degree (B.S.)
Department Description
The Department of Allied Sciences offers three undergraduate majors leading to a Bachelor of Science degree: medical laboratory science (MLS), radiologic sciences (RS), and respiratory care (RC). The department's mission is to prepare its graduates with the knowledge, skills, and professional traits necessary to become competent, compassionate, and contributing professionals in their allied sciences career choice. In support of this mission, the department and its affiliated hospital program educational partners offer a curriculum that promotes the development of a graduate who thinks critically, whose behavior is guided by ethical and professional values, and who is prepared for lifelong learning and leadership in their profession.
The Programs
A Bachelor of Science, MLS major, includes three years of academic courses on campus followed by an 11-12 month full-time professional-level internship within an affiliated hospital's MLS program. During the internship, students complete classes and clinical education specific to the practice of a medical laboratory scientist. All affiliated hospital programs are accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS). Graduates are eligible to take the national certifying exam administered by the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP BOC) to earn the MLS credential.
A Bachelor of Science, RS major, includes two or more years of academic courses on campus followed by a two-year full-time professional internship within a hospital-based program affiliated with NDSU. Three unique and specialized internships are available to NDSU RS majors: radiography (x-ray), diagnostic medical sonography (general and vascular sonography), and echocardiography (cardiac sonography). Each internship focuses on applied classes and clinical education that prepares the graduate to work in their respective specialty area. Affiliated hospital-based programs in radiologic technology/radiography are accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT). RS radiography graduates are eligible to take the national certifying exam administered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists to earn the RT(R) credential. Echocardiography and diagnostic medical sonography internships are offered through an affiliation with Sanford Medical Center, Fargo, N.D. SMCF's sonography programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Sonography graduates are eligible to take national certifying exams appropriate to their specialization and administered by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS).
A Bachelor of Science, RC major, includes two to three years of academic courses on campus and a 15-month full-time professional-level internship at Sanford Medical Center, Fargo, ND. Internship class and clinical education is specifically applied to the practice of respiratory care. The NDSU/Sanford Respiratory Care program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). Graduates are eligible to complete a series of national certifying exams that lead to the registered respiratory therapist (RRT) credential.
Students interested in MLS, RC and/or RS should plan to meet with an allied sciences academic advisor while exploring career options and upon declaring an allied sciences major to create an individualized plan of study for successful completion of degree requirements.