Medical Laboratory Science, BS

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Program Description:

Medical laboratory professionals are an essential member of the health care team providing physicians and practitioners with accurate lab results vital to patient diagnosis and appropriate treatment.  Our program has a history of producing well-rounded medical laboratorians who are prepared to enter the workforce upon graduation.  Students who are successful in this program and profession are academically strong, especially in rigorous science courses, are detail-oriented, ethical, organized, and have good manual dexterity and fine motor skills.

The Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) degree program is a 3+1 medical laboratory curriculum which includes 3 years of requisite coursework and a one-year Medical Laboratory Science program which is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences, (NAACLS), 5600 N. River Road, Suite 720, Rosemont, IL. 60018. The MLS program's clinical year curriculum begins in May and includes intensive didactic lecture/laboratory courses on campus, followed by two semesters of supervised clinical rotations at an affiliated clinical facility.  Our clinical affiliates include:  Cincinnati Children's Medical Center, Dayton Children's Hospital, CompuNet Clinical Laboratory, Mercer Health, Premier Health Labs, Reid Hospital, Miami Valley Hospital, McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital, Kettering Health Network, Springfield Regional Hospital, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and the Community Blood Center.

Upon successfully completing the twelve-month MLS program, students are eligible to receive the Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science degree, and certificate of completion of the accredited MLS program. The MLS program's courses are oriented toward job performance, theory and clinical correlation. Students are placed in varied practice environments. They are also oriented to the need for continuing education and leadership in the planning and management of laboratory services. The program plan is specifically designed to facilitate student progress and promote career development in any geographic location.  Graduates of the program will have met educational requirements to take the certification exam for Medical Laboratory Scientists maintained by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification (BOC). While passing the ASCP-BOC exam is not required to pass the MLS program or for employment, it is a nationally recognized credential most employers in the field desire for their employees.

Program Learning Outcomes

The learning objectives for students completing the MLS program.

• Demonstrate success in foundational courses including biology, chemistry, math and other Core courses to prepare for work in Medical Lab Science.
• Describe how medical laboratories operate including: safety practices, regulatory agencies and compliance, efficient lab management, application of statistical concepts, utilization of Quality Assurance programs and continuing education.
• Demonstrate competence in performance of lab procedures including pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical components in major medical lab areas including: Clinical Chemistry, Hematology/hemostasis, Immunology, Transfusion Services, Microbiology, Urinalysis & Body fluids.
• Display communication skills necessary for interdisciplinary professionalism, as well as ethics regarding performing lab procedures and protecting patient information
• Apply knowledge of lab values and critical thinking skills to accurately interpret patient lab data   

Departmental Entrance Requirements

For admission into the Department of Biological Sciences, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• completion of a least 15 semester hours with a miniumum GPA of 2.00 overall
• completion of at least one semester course in general biology (BIO1120 or 1150) with a grade of “C” or higher

Prerequisites, Application, and Admission

• Please refer to the degree requirements on MLS program page
• A minimum overall GPA of 2.7 with a grade of 'C' or better in all courses in biological sciences, chemistry and math
• Applications and 3 letters of recommendation (2 science professors and 1 employer or advisor) are due November 1 of the year prior to the program start
• 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 and determined each year by the Program's Advisory Committee
• Requirements for admission to the clinical year program are set by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), and the WSU Medical Laboratory Sciences Program with input from its Advisory Committee.

Admission to Wright State University or the Department of Biological Sciences does not automatically guarantee admission into the Medical Laboratory Science program.

Student Performance:

Students must complete all CoSM courses, including courses required for the program, with a grade of “C” or better. 

 For additional information:

• Medical Laboratory Science, BS
• Department of Biological Sciences
• College of Science and Mathematics

Program Requirements:

I. Wright State Core: 43 Hours

ELEMENT 1 - COMMUNICATION: 6 HOURS

• ENG 1100 - Academic Writing and Reading Credit Hour(s): 3
• ENG 2100 - Research Writing and Argumentation Credit Hour(s): 3

ELEMENT 2 - MATHEMATICS: 4 HOURS

Required:

• STT 2640 - Elementary Statistics Credit Hour(s): 4

• or

• STT 1600 - Statistical Concepts Credit Hour(s): 4

ELEMENT 3 - GLOBAL TRADITIONS: 6 HOURS

ELEMENT 4 - ARTS AND HUMANITIES: 3 HOURS

ELEMENT 5 - SOCIAL SCIENCES: 6 HOURS

ELEMENT 6 - NATURAL SCIENCES: 8 HOURS

Required:

• BIO 1120 - Cells and Genes Credit Hour(s): 4
• BIO 1150 - Organisms and Ecosystems Credit Hour(s): 4

ADDITIONAL CORE COURSES: 10 HOURS

Required:

• CHM 1210 - General Chemistry I Credit Hour(s): 3
• CHM 1210L - General Chemistry Lab I Credit Hour(s): 2
• CHM 1220 - General Chemistry II Credit Hour(s): 3
• CHM 1220L - General Chemistry Lab II Credit Hour(s): 2

II. Departmental Core Requirements: 8.5-9.5 Hours

Choose BIO2140/2140R or BIO3140/3140R

• BIO 2110 - Principles of Molecular and Classical Genetics Credit Hour(s): 3
• BIO 2120 - Cell Biology Credit Hour(s): 3
• BIO 3140 - Molecular Biology Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 3.5
• BIO 2140 - Introduction to Cell Biology Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 2.5
• BIO 2140R - Introduction to Cell Biology Recitation Credit Hour(s): 0
• BIO 3140R - Molecular Biology Laboratory Recitation Credit Hour(s): 0

III. Departmental Requirements and Electives: 54-57 Hours

• BIO 3100 - Clinical Microbiology Credit Hour(s): 3
• BIO 3110 - Clinical Microbiology Lab Credit Hour(s): 2
• MLB 4110 - Orientation to Medical Laboratory Science Credit Hour(s): 1
• MLB 4111 - Orientation to Medical Laboratory Science Lab Credit Hour(s): .5
• MLB 4210 - Urine and Body Fluid Analysis Credit Hour(s): 1
• MLB 4211 - Urine and Body Fluid Analysis Credit Hour(s): .5
• MLB 4310 - Basic Hematology Credit Hour(s): 2
• MLB 4311 - Basic Hematology Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 1
• MLB 4320 - Advanced Hematology Credit Hour(s): 2
• MLB 4330 - Hematology Practicum Credit Hour(s): 3
• MLB 4410 - Hemostasis Credit Hour(s): 1
• MLB 4411 - Hemostasis Lab Credit Hour(s): .5
• MLB 4510 - Basic Clinical Chemistry Credit Hour(s): 2
• MLB 4511 - Basic Clinical Chemistry Lab Credit Hour(s): 1
• MLB 4520 - Advanced Clinical Chemistry Credit Hour(s): 2
• MLB 4530 - Clinical Chemistry Practicum Credit Hour(s): 3
• MLB 4610 - Serology Credit Hour(s): 1
• MLB 4611 - Serology Lab Credit Hour(s): .5
• MLB 4710 - Basic Diagnostic Microbiology Credit Hour(s): 3.5
• MLB 4711 - Basic Diagnostic Microbiology Lab Credit Hour(s): 1.5
• MLB 4720 - Advanced Diagnostic Microbiology Credit Hour(s): 2
• MLB 4730 - Diagnostic Microbiology Practicum Credit Hour(s): 3
• MLB 4810 - Basic Immunohematology Credit Hour(s): 2
• MLB 4811 - Basic Immunohematology Lab Credit Hour(s): 1
• MLB 4820 - Advanced Immunohematology Credit Hour(s): 2
• MLB 4830 - Immunohematology Practicum Credit Hour(s): 3
• MLB 4990 - Medical Laboratory Operations and Education Credit Hour(s): 2

UPPER LEVEL ELECTIVES: 7-10 HOURS

Choose from the following:

• BIO 3700 - Bioethics Credit Hour(s): 3
• BIO 4080 - Writing in the Biological Sciences Credit Hour(s): 3
• BIO 4240 - Disease Ecology and Evolution Credit Hour(s): 3
• BIO 4430 - Vertebrate Histology Credit Hour(s): 5
• BIO 4430L - Vertebrate Histology Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
• BIO 4460 - Advanced Cell Biology Credit Hour(s): 3
• BIO 4760 - Human Parasitology and Mycology Credit Hour(s): 3
• BMB 4001 - Fundamentals of Biochemistry Credit Hour(s): 3
• CHM 3120 - Quantitative Analysis Credit Hour(s): 2
• CHM 3120L - Quantitative Analysis Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 3
• MI 4260 - Immunology Credit Hour(s): 3
• MI 4310 - Virology Credit Hour(s): 3
• ANT 3100 - Human Structure and Function I Credit Hour(s): 4

IV. Related Requirements: 12-14 Hours

Choose CHM2120/2120L or BMB4001

• CHM 2110 - Organic Chemistry I Credit Hour(s): 3
• CHM 2110L - Organic Chemistry Laboratory I Credit Hour(s): 2
• CHM 2120 - Organic Chemistry II Credit Hour(s): 3
• CHM 2120L - Organic Chemistry II Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 2
• ANT 3120 - Human Structure and Function II Credit Hour(s): 4
• BMB 4001 - Fundamentals of Biochemistry Credit Hour(s): 3

Total: 120 Hours

Graduation Planning Strategy

The Graduation Planning Strategy (GPS) has been created to illustrate one option to complete degree requirements within a particular time frame. Students are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor to adjust this plan based on credit already earned, individual needs or curricular changes that may not be reflected in this year’s catalog.

• Medical Laboratory Science (3 yr) (GPS)

•  Medical Laboratory Sciences, BS (GPS)