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, Reid Hospital, Miami Valley Hospital, McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital, Kettering Health Network, Springfield Regional Hospital, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, the Community Blood Center, and Ohio State University Wexner Medical 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, it is a nationally recognized credential most employers in the field desire for their employees.
Admission Requirements
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 minimum 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
Program Admission Requirements
- Please refer to the degree requirements on MLS program page
- A minimum overall GPA of 2.7, a minimum GPA of 2.7 in all courses with a BIO prefix, and 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.
Program Learning Objectives
Students enrolled in the Medical Laboratory Science program will learn to:
- 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
Program Learning Outcomes
as a result of their learning experience, graduates of the Medical Laboratory Science program can:
- 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
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