Program Description
Medical laboratory scientists work behind the scenes in laboratories to provide clinicians with test results needed to diagnose, treat, and manage their patients’ conditions. Blood, body fluids, and other patient specimens are analyzed using manual methods and state-of-the-art instrumentation to test for conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, infection, anemia, and leukemia.
We help students gain a solid understanding of the principles of professional practice, laboratory outcomes management, and laboratory administration. Students in our Medical Laboratory Science programs gain classroom, laboratory, and practical experience in five key areas:
- Clinical chemistry.
- Normal and abnormal hematology and serology.
- Immunohematology (also called blood banking or transfusion medicine).
- Clinical microbiology, including parasitology, virology, bacteriology.
- Research theory and quality control principles for clinical laboratory procedures.
Learning Goals/Outcomes
- Prepare and interpret laboratory tests from real patient specimens.
- Perform chemical tests to analyze blood and body fluid for specific markers of disease.
- Match blood for patient transfusion.
- Use a microscope to identify and count cells and look for cellular abnormalities.
- Detect and identify bacteria, parasites, and other microorganisms that cause infections.
- Operate sophisticated technology and develop analytic systems.
- Utilize information systems and design interfaces to relay test results to physicians.
- Work with other healthcare professionals to monitor quality and improve patient care.
Curriculum Paths
Curriculum: 2 years, 59 credits
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| LS 531 | Immunology | 3 |
| MLS 500 | Intro to Medical Lab Science | 1 |
| MLS 512 | Clinical Microbiology I | 4 |
| MLS 523 | Clinical Chemistry I | 3.5 |
| MLS 541 | Clinical Hematology I | 3 |
| MLS 551 | Immunohematology I | 3 |
| Credits | 17.5 | |
| Spring | ||
| MLS 513 | Clinical Microbiology II | 3.5 |
| MLS 524 | Clinical Chemistry II | 3 |
| MLS 543 | Clinical Hematology II | 3 |
| MLS 552 | Immunohematology II | 3 |
| MLS 576 | Urinalysis and Body Fluids | 3 |
| Credits | 15.5 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| LS 501 | Molecular Biology | 3 |
| LS 603 | Research Design | 2 |
| MLS 812 | Med Lab Sci Practicum I | 3 |
| MLS 813 | Med Lab Sci Practicum II | 3 |
| Credits | 11 | |
| Spring | ||
| LS 510 | Intro to Molecular Diagnostics | 2 |
| LS 610 | Reg & Fis Issues in Lab. Mgmt | 3 |
| LS 803 | Contemporary Topics Research | 2 |
| MLS 575 | Medical Laboratory Science Sem | 2 |
| MLS 814 | Med Lab Sci Practicum III | 3 |
| MLS 815 | Med Lab Sci Practicum IV | 3 |
| MLS 816 | Comprehensive Exam | 0 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 59 | |
Curriculum: 1 year, 57 credits
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| LS 501 | Molecular Biology | 3 |
| LS 531 | Immunology | 3 |
| LS 603 | Research Design | 2 |
| MLS 500 | Intro to Medical Lab Science | 1 |
| MLS 512 | Clinical Microbiology I | 4 |
| MLS 523 | Clinical Chemistry I | 3.5 |
| MLS 541 | Clinical Hematology I | 3 |
| MLS 551 | Immunohematology I | 3 |
| Credits | 22.5 | |
| Spring | ||
| LS 510 | Intro to Molecular Diagnostics | 2 |
| MLS 513 | Clinical Microbiology II | 3.5 |
| MLS 524 | Clinical Chemistry II | 3 |
| MLS 543 | Clinical Hematology II | 3 |
| MLS 552 | Immunohematology II | 3 |
| MLS 576 | Urinalysis and Body Fluids | 3 |
| Credits | 17.5 | |
| Summer | ||
| LS 610 | Reg & Fis Issues in Lab. Mgmt | 3 |
| LS 803 | Contemporary Topics Research | 2 |
| MLS 812 | Med Lab Sci Practicum I | 3 |
| MLS 813 | Med Lab Sci Practicum II | 3 |
| MLS 814 | Med Lab Sci Practicum III | 3 |
| MLS 815 | Med Lab Sci Practicum IV | 3 |
| MLS 816 | Comprehensive Exam | 0 |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Total Credits | 57 | |