Nov 23, 2024  
2017-2018 
    
2017-2018 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Medical Laboratory Science, B.S.


Program Goals and Outcomes

Goals

  1. The program will provide quality education to a diverse group of students, enabling them to successfully pass a national certification examination (the ASCP Board of Certification) and obtain entry-level employment as a certified medical laboratory scientist.
  2. The undergraduate curriculum plan supports matriculation through the clinical laboratory science program year.
  3. Clinical decision making, accurate analysis skills, professionalism and independent learning will be integrated into the curriculum according to NAACLS standards.

Expected Outcomes

  1. Upon completion of the program: At least 90 percent of graduates for the year will pass a national certification examination on the first attempt, as verified by reports from the Board of Certification. At least 90 percent of eligible graduates will be employed in entry-level health care settings six months after graduation.
  2. Successful completion of the program curriculum includes the following: Evaluations of the learning outcomes in the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains will be at the level of 70 percent or above. Graduation rates validate that, of the students admitted to the program, 75 percent will complete the requirements within 150 percent of the time requirements.
  3. Results from alumni and employer surveys six months following graduation will meet or exceed the college quality benchmark regarding graduates’ abilities to utilize instrumentation and perform laboratory procedures with self-confidence and accuracy after appropriate training, demonstrate professional conduct and interpersonal skills with co-workers and other health care personnel, and perform entry-level expectations in the role of a medical laboratory scientist within the discipline of medical technology after six months of employment.
What jobs are available for Medical laboratory science graduates?
  • Lab technologist in hospitals, public health labs, medical clinics and blood banks
  • Analyzer vendor or technical support specialist
  • Lab administrator
  • Lab supply marketing researcher and developer
  • Consultant/educator

The Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) degree is intended for students pursuing careers in medical laboratory technology. This degree option is one of three options available in clinical laboratory science. Please refer to the program description following these requirements for more MLS options and requirements.

General University Course Requirements: 36-39 credits


Click here to view General University Course Requirements .

Note:


(11 credits may be applied to both the GUCRs and the major)

Minimum of 129-130 credits required, including 48 upper-division credits.


About the Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) Program


Medical lab scientists are highly skilled members of the medical team. They perform and supervise combination of complex and automated analyses on a variety of specimens to aid physicians in the detection, diagnosis and treatment of disease. They traditionally work in hospitals and clinics; however, the variety of lab skills that MLS graduates possess allows them to work in many other related fields. The clinical year is offered in partnership with medical laboratories in Yakima and the Tri-Cities. These labs are JC and CAP accredited. They have highly educated and skilled lab staff and state-of-the-art technology. The program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), 5600 N River Rd, Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018-5119, (847) 939- 3597, www.naacls.org.

Admission is competitive and the application deadline is March 1 for the August start of the clinical year. Application forms can be obtained from the program advisor on the Heritage campus, via the MLS web page links, or you may e-mail the program directly at medicallab@heriage.edu.

To qualify for acceptance into the MLS Program, students must have taken a minimum of 16 semester hours of chemistry. This must include a year of general chemistry and a course in organic chemistry and biochemistry. They must have completed a minimum of 16 semester hours of biological science. The biology courses must include general biology and a course in bacteriology (microbiology). Immunology is required either as a separate course or as part of another course. A minimum of one course in university-level mathematics is required. The minimum overall GPA for acceptance is 2.5 (a science GPA of 2.7 or higher is highly recommended).

The clinical year begins in the fall semester and continues through spring and summer semesters, with 33 credits earned. To remain in good standing, students must maintain a minimum grade of 70 percent in each section. Upon completion of the Heritage program, graduates are eligible to take national certification exams and can choose from many job opportunities.

Three options are offered for students interested in a career in medical laboratory science (MLS) also known as medical technology:

  1. 4 + 1 = Four years of undergraduate studies and one additional year of study in clinical laboratory sciences. This option is for students who may not have chosen this major until later in their university career or for students who want to be well grounded in the sciences.
  2. 3 + 1 = Three years of undergraduate studies and one year of study in the medical lab. This option is for students who know early in their career that they want to be a medical lab scientist and direct their course of studies to the basic requirements.
  3. Professional Certificate Program. This option is for students who enter the clinical year with a bachelor’s degree, have all the prerequisite courses and desire a certificate of completion.

The sample schedule below is a general guideline for completing the necessary course work.