Medical Laboratory Science, BS

Chairperson: Erik Munson, Ph.D., D (ABMM)
Department of Medical Laboratory Science website

The mission of the Department of Medical Laboratory Science (MLSC) is to educate persons who will be highly skilled in laboratory medicine and who will possess those professional qualities necessary for the practice of medical laboratory science. The degree awarded in this department qualifies one to work as a medical laboratory scientist or technologist (aka, clinical laboratory scientist or technologist) in hospital laboratories, clinics, physicians’ offices, research and teaching laboratories, as well as in biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, and public health laboratories. The course work provides the foundations necessary for individuals to qualify for medical school, graduate school and other professional programs.

The Medical Laboratory Science major is an integrated four-year curriculum leading to a bachelor of science degree. The first three years are spent in classrooms and laboratories on campus. The teaching laboratories on the university campus are structured to simulate a clinical setting. The clinical practicum required for this degree occurs during the fourth year and involves clinical rotations in laboratories in the Metro Milwaukee area.

Accreditation

The Medical Laboratory Science Program is accredited by the

National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
5600 N. River Road, Suite 720
Rosemont, IL 60018
(773) 714-8880

Upon successful completion of the course work and practicum, students are eligible for the appropriate certification and/or licensure examinations. The university assumes no responsibility for the success of its students in obtaining professional certification or other types of professional licensure.

Admission Requirements

Applicants to the Medical Laboratory Science major are expected to fulfill the university admission requirements. Entering freshmen are accepted to the fall term. In addition to the university admission requirements, applicants must have completed two laboratory sciences, one of which must be chemistry. Three years of advanced high school mathematics and high school physics are also recommended. For students applying for admission with advanced standing from another institution or as transfers from within the university, the general university regulations apply. The number of students admitted with advanced standing or as transfers with any classification depends upon available openings in the class for which the applicant qualifies. Advanced standing or transfer students are never accepted for admission to the senior year only.

Essential Functions 

Non-academic requirements of the program include essential functions that the students must possess to successfully complete the program and become employable. These include the ability to distinguish colors, the ability to learn to perform and interpret highly complex testing methods and the ability to disseminate information in an accurate and confidential manner. Students must have good tactile skills, possess adequate physical and emotional health to work under stress and time constraints, and demonstrate respect and care for others. Students must also be able to work efficiently and accurately in a laboratory environment that often includes:

  • Loud noises
  • Strong odors
  • Biohazardous materials
  • Repetitive motions
  • Standing for long periods of time

Due to the nature of the content of the following courses, students who have already completed these courses must repeat them if five or more years have lapsed between the time the course was completed and the date of enrollment in the senior year.

BISC 2070Biochemistry for the Health Professions3
BISC 3213Biochemistry4
MLSC 4124Medical Microbiology 14
MLSC 4127Medical Microbiology 24

Ordinarily, the following courses are not accepted from other institutions, except with approval of the department chair. These courses must be taken during the year immediately preceding the senior year:

MLSC 4124Medical Microbiology 14
MLSC 4127Medical Microbiology 24
MLSC 4163Clinical Chemistry and Concepts 14
MLSC 4173Clinical Chemistry and Concepts 24
MLSC 4174Clinical Hematology 14

Professional Standards

In addition to being evaluated through the use of written examinations and assignments, class participation and practical examinations, medical laboratory science students are also evaluated with respect to their professional qualities. Most medical laboratory science courses include an instructor-written evaluation of each student. Students who fail to comply with the rules and regulations of the department with respect to immunizations, health insurance, safety, honesty or whose conduct or health is unsatisfactory may be dismissed from the MLSC major.

During the senior year, students are subject to academic and professional policies of the department as well as the rules and regulations of the affiliating clinical facility to which they are assigned. Students in the senior year who are in violation of the rules and regulations of the clinical facility are subject to dismissal from that facility. This action is under the jurisdiction of the authorities of that institution in consultation with the university department chair.

In medical laboratory science courses, students who in any way acts dishonestly in class assignments or examinations are in violation of the University Academic Misconduct Policy and are subject to the procedures outlined within the policy, and may be subject to dismissal from the program.

For the safety of patients, peers and themselves, students are required to dress appropriately while attending medical laboratory science sessions for all courses.

Academic Progression

Successful program progression requires students to complete each term in a lock-step sequence with a grade of C or higher in all major courses. Each course is only offered once each academic year and should students fall out of sequence, they are delayed one year to continue. Students who fail to maintain progress necessary to meet the minimum requirements because of grade point average or excessive failure grades (F or U) are subject to review by the MLSC Progress and Promotions Committee, and they may be dismissed from the MLSC major.

During the senior year, the academic actions are varied in severity dependent upon the scholastic and/or professional deficiency. These actions are the following: written academic warning, clinical academic warning, clinical censure and required to withdraw. The method of making up unacceptable grades during the senior year, which have resulted in the issuing of an action of clinical academic warning or clinical censure, are determined by mutual agreement between the university department chair and the affiliation clinical program director. The MLSC Progress and Promotions Committee prescribes, in writing, conditions under which these students are allowed to continue. Students who do not meet the conditions thus stipulated are dismissed from the MLSC major.

Junior students must have a criminal background check prior to beginning their clinical assignments. Some clinical sites may have requirements beyond those of the university (e.g. physical examination, drug testing, etc.). Seniors are expected to participate in the profession's state conference.