The medical laboratory scientist (MLS) is a highly skilled scientist who functions in multiple roles. Some of these roles include performing and evaluating diagnostic laboratory procedures on body fluids, developing new diagnostic procedures, supervising biomedical research projects, providing technical expertise, consulting, managing clinical and research laboratory departments, and analyzing and implementing laboratory information systems.
The major areas of interest in laboratory science are hematology, immunohematology (transfusion medicine), clinical microbiology, clinical chemistry, clinical immunology, body fluid analysis and molecular diagnostics.
The Department of Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences offers two types of Medical Laboratory Science bachelor degree programs to assist students with their career goals.
- The traditional bachelor degree program is a full-time, two-year degree program offering an upper division curriculum that includes lecture and laboratory study on campus followed by clinical rotations in one of our affiliated hospitals located throughout the state.
- The MLT-MLS advanced standing bachelor degree program is a part-time, two-year degree program offering an upper division curriculum completely online to those who are certified as medical laboratory technicians/clinical laboratory technicians. This program has no clinical component.
The Medical Laboratory Science programs are accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). Graduates are eligible to take national examinations for certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist, such as those offered by the Board of Certification of the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP).
About our programs
MLS Traditional
This program is full-time and offered on-campus across five semesters. There is a strong clinical component to the curriculum in this program.
MLT-MLS Advanced Standing
This program is part-time and offered online across five semesters. All coursework is done online, and there is no clinical requirement within the curriculum.
Important dates
- MLS Traditional
- April 1 - Application deadline for fall admission.
- MLT-MLS Advanced Standing
- July 1 - Application deadline for fall admission.
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