Overview
The Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) degree is a biology-based program that prepares students for exciting, challenging, and dynamic careers. Many critical medical decisions that can be life-changing are based on laboratory results generated by medical laboratory scientists. They are healthcare detectives working behind the scenes. Using state-of-the-art instrumentation and scientific methods, these laboratory scientists provide laboratory results to clinicians and patients every day.
To provide high-quality, reliable analyses, laboratory professionals must have extensive knowledge of normal and abnormal physiology, correlation of laboratory data to specific diseases, and extensive knowledge of instrumentation and test principles and methodologies. The Medical Laboratory Science degree consists of three years of courses within the Bachelor of Science in Biology program at Mercy College of Ohio and the fourth year of Medical Laboratory courses taught at St. Vincent’s integrated laboratory. In the Fall semester of their preclinical year, students apply for admission into the medical laboratory portion of the program. Criteria used to determine admission include the academic record, letters of recommendation, and a personal interview. The number of positions in each class for the clinical year is limited.
The courses taught at St. Vincent’s integrated laboratory are approved by NAACLS (National Accreditation Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science). The Medical Laboratory Science Program is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and the Ohio Department of Education. Upon successful completion of the program, students receive a Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science. They also become eligible to take the national certification examination for medical laboratory scientists given by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP).
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science, graduates will be able to:
- Demonstrate understanding and application of scientific principles.
- Integrate critical thinking skills to examine and interpret scientific questions.
- Skillfully collect and analyze scientific data.
- Be prepared laboratory scientists, who can adjust to changing roles and perform in various types of laboratories.
Admission Requirements
Mercy College students in good standing can declare a medical laboratory science major. High school science courses (Biology and Chemistry with a lab) or their college equivalents must be taken within the past seven years with a “C” or better prior to the first semester. For students to progress to the third semester of the program, the mathematics prerequisites must be met. Mathematics prerequisites are as follows: high school courses or their college equivalents within the past seven years with a “C” or better including Algebra I; Algebra II and Trigonometry or Pre-Calculus or an integrated sequence of advanced math courses (Statistics, Business Math, and/or computer courses will not fulfill this requirement). All program courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or better.
Degree Requirements
To earn the Bachelor of Science Degree with a major in Medical Laboratory Science a student must complete all college requirements for a Bachelor of Science Degree including the following:
General Education Requirements
Complete All of the Following Courses:
Oral and Written Communication (GCOM) - 6 Minimum
Math, Statistics, and Logic (GMSL) - 3 minimum
Social and Behavioral Sciences (GSBS) - 6 minimum
Arts, Humanities, Culture, and Diversity (must include 6 credit hours in Religious Studies) (GAHD/GAHR) - 9 minimum
Natural Sciences, Technology, and Innovation (GNST) - 6 minimum
Additional hours from one or more of the above categories 6 minimum
Required Medical Laboratory Science Major Course Requirements
Complete all of the following major courses:
| Credit Hour Requirements |
Credit Hours |
| Total Required Bachelor of Science General Education Credit Hours |
88 |
| Total Required Medical Laboratory Science Program/Major Credit Hours |
39 |
| General Elective Credit |
0 |
| Total Credit Hours for Graduation |
127 |
Students may be required to take additional free elective credits to reach the 120 semester credit hours required for graduation. Free elective credit may be satisfied through prior coursework and transfer credit. See academic advisor for more details.
To complete college requirements students will be required to complete a minimum of 36 credit hours of 300/400 level coursework.
Sample Program of Study
Semester I
| BIO 205 | General Biology I | 5 |
| CHM 210 | General College Chemistry I | 5 |
| ENG 101 | English Composition I | 3 |
| HSC 100 | Introduction to Health Careers | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Semester II
| BIO 206 | General Biology II | 5 |
| CHM 211 | General College Chemistry II | 5 |
| ENG 102 | English Composition II | 3 |
| PSY 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Semester III
| BIO 220 | Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| CHM 320 | Organic Chemistry I | 5 |
| SOC 211 | Cultural Diversity | 3 |
| General Education course in Arts, Humanities, Culture and Diversity – Religious Studies (GAHR) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Semester IV
| BIO 221 | Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| CHM 321 | Organic Chemistry II | 5 |
| MTH 140 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| REL 290 | Medical Ethics | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Semester V
| BIO 210 | Microbiology | 4 |
| BIO 450 | Immunology | 3 |
| CHM 410 | Biochemistry | 5 |
| General Education Social and Behavioral Sciences Course (GSBS) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Semester VI
Semester VII
Semester VIII
Semester IX
| MLS 419 | Immunohematology | 5 |
| MLS 420 | Analytical Clinical Chemistry | 7 |
| MLS 425 | Molecular and Cytogenetics | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 13 |