Bachelors Degree

Overview

The B.S. in Medical Laboratory Science prepares students as medical laboratory scientists and for graduate level programs in medical laboratory science or related disciplines. Students develop a strong background in the broad areas of microbiology, molecular biology, chemistry, hematology, transfusion medicine, biotechnology, and their medical and/or clinical applications. Medical Laboratory Science students gain the ability to carry out standard microbiological, molecular, biological and clinical techniques in the laboratory and to participate in research development, planning, and implementation. The B.S. in Medical Laboratory Science prepares students to have a reasonable expectation of passing a national qualifying exam for the medical laboratory profession and prepares students to be qualified to work at the professional experience level in a variety of settings. Degree obtainment is not contingent upon passing an external certification or licensure exam. The pass rates for the ASCP exam were 86% in 2013, 80% in 2014, and 96% in 2015. In addition, in the last three years, 99% of students who began the final half of the MLS program graduated. And 100% of graduates in the last three years are employed in the field or in a closely related field and/or continued their education within one year of graduation. The General Education and Total University Credit Requirements must be met. See General Education Objectives for a B.S. degree. A minimum of 120 credits are required for graduation; 36 of these must be upper division credits.

Degree Requirements

• BS in Medical Laboratory Science (MLS)
• 2nd BS in MLS for students who have completed degree requirements in related disciplines from accredited institutions and take the 38 credit Professional Block of MLS courses
• Please refer to the ISU Academic Catalog for current program requirements.

Master's Degree

Overview

The Master of Science in Medical Laboratory Science degree is designed for either the practicing medical laboratory scientist (certified lab professional) or those students who wish to become certified and then go into leadership positions in administration, education or specialize in a certain area of pathology/laboratory medicine. Graduates are ideally suited for positions involving teaching, laboratory management, and research. Full-time and part-time options (with the approval of the program director) are available, and many courses are available online. A curriculum of course work and research project is designed and personalized for each student, depending on his/her area of interest and experience. The M.S. program in Clinical Laboratory Science requires an original research project that culminates in a thesis, a minimum of 32 credits earned in graduate courses (including research and thesis), and expertise in core conceptual areas of Medical Laboratory -Science scientific, administrative, or educational).

Admission Requirements

• Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA for upper division credits taken at the undergraduate level.
• GRE Scores:
• Submit scores for all three sections of the GRE (verbal, quantitative, and analytical)
• An average score above the 50th percentile on the verbal and quantitative portions of the GRE is required
• If either the GPA or the GRE requirement is not met, the department may choose to admit the candidate on conditional status

Degree Requirements

• Route 1: Professionals already certified as Medical Laboratory Scientist (BOC) and hold a B.S. or B.A. degree in a related science from an accredited university or college. Note: Certification as Medical Laboratory Scientist categorical does not wholly satisfy this requirement.
• Route 2: Professional entry-level M.S. completing certification requirements while pursuing the M.S. degree. Completion of a B.S. or B.A. degree from an accredited institution and completion of the following requirements during the M.S. program of study:
  • At least 16 semester hours of chemistry to include inorganic chemistry and some combination or organic, biochemistry and analytical chemistry;
  • At least 16 semester hours of biology, to include at least one semester in microbiology, cell biology, genetics, immunology, anatomy and physiology and human pathophysiology.
  • Successful completion of the ISU Medical Laboratory Science professional program, accredited by NAACLS (National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science). Successful completion qualifies the applicant to take the national credentialing examinations offered by Board of Certification (BOC) and this should be attempted within one year of finishing the MLS professional block and prior to completion of the MLS research thesis
• Please refer to the ISU Academic Catalog for current program requirements.