More Frequently Asked Questions
In order to become an online student in the Idaho State University Medical Laboratory Science program, a student must:
- Have clinical sponsorship.
- Apply directly to the ISU MLS Program.
- Apply to Idaho State University
Applications instructions for the undergraduate (first and second BS students) students:
- MLS application instructions:https://www.isu.edu/mls/admissions/apply/
- ISU application: https://isu.edu/apply/
Applications for graduate students:
- MLS application instructions:https://cms.isu.edu/terminalfour/preview/1/en/18568
- ISU application: https://isu.edu/apply/
They are not.
As long as the applicant has the necessary sponsorship, affiliation agreement, program prerequisites, and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5, you will be guaranteed to have a spot in the next ISU MLS cohort.
The MLS BS program is one-year (3 semesters) in length, with each cohort running from August to August.
The curriculum is as follows:
Fall semester- 16 credits
MLS 4410 Phlebotomy Practicum 1 cr
MLS 4412/5512 Urinalysis and Body Fluids 1 cr
MLS 4414/5514 Hematology and Hemostasis 3 cr
MLS 4416/5516 Medical Microbiology I 3 cr
MLS 4418/5518 Medical Chemistry and Instrumentation 3 cr
MLS 4420/5520 Medical Immunology 2 cr
MLS 4422/5522 Basic Concepts Transfusion Medicine 2 cr
MLS 4424/5524 Medical Laboratory Fundamentals 1 cr
Spring semester- 16 credits
MLS 4431/5531 Medical Microbiology II 3 cr
MLS 4433/5533 MLS Management and Education 2 cr
MLS 4435/5535 Molecular Diagnostics 3 cr
MLS 4437/5537 Critical Analysis of Lab Information 3 cr
MLS 4439/5539 Advanced Concepts in Transfusion Medicine 2 cr
MLS 4441/5541 MLS Research 1 cr
MLS 4455/5555 MLS Student Laboratory Practices 2 cr
Summer semester-6 credits
(These are clinical rotations, for a total of 12 weeks)
MLS 4491 Microbiology Practicum 2 cr
MLS 4492 Hematology and Urinalysis Practicum 2 cr
MLS 4493 Transfusion (Blood Bank) Practicum 1 cr
MLS 4494 Chemistry and Automation Practicum 1 cr
Upon successful completion of the above courses, students will gain eligibility for the ASCP Board of Certification MLS exam.
The MLS MS program takes the average student 5-6 semesters to complete. This cohort starts in August of each year.
Graduate students will have an additional 16 credits and project work before their graduate degree is completed, but they are eligible for the ASCP BOC exam at the conclusion of the first year, as listed above.
Please go to the Course Planning section for further information.
- Completion of the University general education requirements (see Academic Information and Graduation Requirements). The following objective courses also satisfy specific program requirements:
- Objective 3: MATH 1153 – Introduction to Statistics
- Objective 5: BIOL 1101,1101L – Biology I, and Lab, CHEM 1111, 1111L, and CHEM 1112, 1112L plus additional chemistry courses to total a minimum of 16 credits and may include inorganic/organic/ biochemistry/analytical chemistry
- Completion of the following required courses:
- MATH 1143 College Algebra 3 cr
- BIOL 2206,2207 Cell Biology, and Lab 4 cr
- BIOL 2235,2235L General Microbiology, and Lab 4 cr
- BIOL 3301,3301L, 3302 3302L Anatomy and Physiology, and Labs 8 cr
- BIOL 3358 Genetics 3 cr
- BIOL 4451 Immunology 3 cr
- BIOL 4463 Pathophysiology 4 cr OR BIOL 3305 Introduction to Pathobiology 3 cr
For transfer equivalences from other universities, please see visit ISU's transfer equivalent site
If you have questions about course equivalences or prerequisites, please email a copy of your unofficial transcripts to Dr. Rachel Hulse at hulsrach@isu.edu
Tuition and fees are dependent on several factors including residency. Typically online students will pay in-state student fees.
Tuition and fee information can be found here:
Our program qualifies for discounted tuition through the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE), and Western Graduate Regional (WGRP) for students located in the following states/regions:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Hawai'i
- Idaho
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- North Dakota
- Oregon
- South Dakota
- U.S. Pacific Territories and Freely Associated States
- Utah
- Washington
- Wyoming
Furthermore, fully online, out-of-state students may qualify for further tuition discounts. Contact the Financial Aid Department for more details:
Website: https://www.isu.edu/financialaid/
Email: finaidem@isu.edu
Phone: (208) 282-2756
Fax: (208) 282-4755
For further questions, please contact us:
Dr. Rachel Hulse (hulsrach@isu.edu).
