Master of Science Course Requirements - Route 1

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 Medical 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).

Core Curriculum Areas

The three core areas for Medical Laboratory Science that all students could include in their programs of study are:

1. Scientific subject core area including pathology, hematology, transfusion medicine (immunohematology), clinical chemistry, genetics, microbiology or molecular biology.
2. Management core area including information management, statistics, Quality Assurance Programs (i.e. Westgard, 6 Sigma Lean) predictive value theory, personnel, financial, organizational or regulatory concepts.
3. Educational core area including educational design and adult learning for professionals within and outside the medical laboratory setting.

Students are expected to have significant exposure to these core areas by the time they complete their degree requirements. Students coming in with MLS credentials have already demonstrated mastery of the core scientific subject area and those who do not have these credentials will be expected to demonstrate mastery by an examination administered by the program before they finish their M.S. studies.

Students may opt to gain expertise through a variety of mechanisms including independent readings, formal course work, seminars or special projects. For those students who are not already credentialed, the 6 credits of the MLS Practicum are at the undergraduate level. This does not count toward the 32 graduate credit requirements.

Required Courses for the M.S. in MLS used to satisfy the core areas described below:

• MLS 4490, MLS 4491, MLS 4492, MLS 4493, and MLS 4494 Practicum experiences 6 cr (does not count for graduate credit)
  -OR-
• BOC MLS certification (does not count for graduate credit),
  MLS 6648 Graduate Problems (research) 4 cr, and
  MLS 6650 Thesis 6 cr

-AND-

• at least 3 cr of MLS graduate course work (MLS 6640, MLS 6641, MLS 6642, MLS 6643 and/or MLS 6644) 3 cr

The remaining credits are to be taken from graduate-level courses (a minimum of 16 at the 6600 level) in one or more of the core areas with the approval of the applicant’s committee and MLS Program Director.

Three graduate level courses (6 to 9 credits) approved by the graduate student’s committee may be taken from outside the department (to be taken at Boise State University, Idaho State University, or another approved university) and may include adult education, management, and/or medical informatics.

The thesis project may be in a core scientific subject, management or education or a combination thereof.