Medical Laboratory Science - Bachelor of Science

 

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

 

General College Admission Requirements

The following are Mercy College of Ohio admissions requirements.  Admission to the College does not guarantee admission to a program. Admission requirements are subject to change. Students should contact the Office of Admissions or consult mercycollege.edu for the most up-to-date information.

One of the following are required for admission to Mercy College of Ohio:

  • An earned diploma from an accredited high school or a home-schooled program in a college preparatory course of study with a cumulative high school grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher, OR
  • A general equivalence diploma (GED) recipient with a score of 500 (score of 53 prior to 2002).
  • Additional documentation may be required for College Credit Plus or Non-degree Seeking Students.

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
ENG 101English Composition I

3

ENG 102English Composition II

3

Math, Statistics, and Logic (GMSL) - 3 minimum
MTH 140Introduction to Statistics

3

Social and Behavioral Sciences (GSBS) - 6 minimum
PSY 101Introduction to Psychology

3

Arts, Humanities, Culture, and Diversity (must include 6 credit hours in Religious Studies) (GAHD/GAHR) - 9 minimum
REL 290Medical Ethics

3

SOC 211Cultural Diversity

3

Natural Sciences, Technology, and Innovation (GNST) - 6 minimum
BIO 200Science in the News

2

BIO 205General Biology I

5

BIO 206General Biology II

5

BIO 210Microbiology

4

BIO 220Anatomy and Physiology I

4

BIO 221Anatomy and Physiology II

4

BIO 336Genetics

4

BIO 410Cell Biology

4

BIO 420Histology

4

CHM 210General College Chemistry I

5

CHM 211General College Chemistry II

5

CHM 320Organic Chemistry I

5

CHM 321Organic Chemistry II

5

Additional hours from one or more of the above categories 6 minimum
BIO 450Immunology

3

CHM 410Biochemistry

5

Total Credit Hours:88

Required Medical Laboratory Science Major Course Requirements

Complete all of the following major courses:

HSC 100Introduction to Health Careers

3

MLS 410Phlebotomy

1

MLS 411Urinalysis

2

MLS 413Hematology and Hemostasis

7

MLS 415Medical Microbiology

7

MLS 417Parasitology

1

MLS 418Mycology

1

MLS 419Immunohematology

5

MLS 420Analytical Clinical Chemistry

7

MLS 423Serology

2

MLS 425Molecular and Cytogenetics

1

MLS 426Topics in Lab Management

1

MLS 427Educational Methodologies

1

Total Credit Hours:39
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 205General Biology I

5

CHM 210General College Chemistry I

5

ENG 101English Composition I

3

HSC 100Introduction to Health Careers

3

Total Credit Hours:16

Semester II

BIO 206General Biology II

5

CHM 211General College Chemistry II

5

ENG 102English Composition II

3

PSY 101Introduction to Psychology

3

Total Credit Hours:16

Semester III

BIO 220Anatomy and Physiology I

4

CHM 320Organic Chemistry I

5

SOC 211Cultural Diversity

3

General Education course in Arts, Humanities, Culture and Diversity – Religious Studies (GAHR)

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Semester IV

BIO 221Anatomy and Physiology II

4

CHM 321Organic Chemistry II

5

MTH 140Introduction to Statistics

3

REL 290Medical Ethics

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Semester V

BIO 210Microbiology

4

BIO 450Immunology

3

CHM 410Biochemistry

5

General Education Social and Behavioral Sciences Course (GSBS)

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Semester VI

BIO 200Science in the News

2

BIO 336Genetics

4

BIO 410Cell Biology

4

BIO 420Histology

4

Total Credit Hours:14

Semester VII

MLS 410Phlebotomy

1

MLS 411Urinalysis

2

MLS 413Hematology and Hemostasis

7

MLS 427Educational Methodologies

1

Total Credit Hours:11

Semester VIII

MLS 415Medical Microbiology

7

MLS 417Parasitology

1

MLS 418Mycology

1

MLS 423Serology

2

MLS 426Topics in Lab Management

1

Total Credit Hours:12

Semester IX

MLS 419Immunohematology

5

MLS 420Analytical Clinical Chemistry

7

MLS 425Molecular and Cytogenetics

1

Total Credit Hours:13