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Medical Laboratory Science

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 Medical Laboratory Science 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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Accreditation

The Medical Laboratory Science program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). For more information, contact NAACLS at:

National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
5600 N. River Road, Suite 720
Rosemont, IL 60018
(773) 714-8880. Fax: (773) 714-8886

How to Find Us

Medical Laboratory Science is one of the many programs offered at UMMC's School of Health Related Professions. It offers a bachelor's degree program that crosses five semesters.

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