Medical Laboratory Science B.S.
All students must meet the Degree and University Requirements.
All students must meet the Catamount Core Curriculum Requirements.
All students must meet the College Requirements.
Medical Laboratory Scientists (MLS) are health professionals involved in the development, performance, and evaluation of laboratory tests that lead to assessment of health status, diagnosis of disease, and monitoring of therapeutic treatment. Students in this major work closely with faculty members and engage in hands-on learning in the classroom, laboratory and clinical environment to develop critical thinking and technical skills.
Students select a concentration in clinical laboratory science or public health laboratory science at the end of their second year. The curriculum provides balance between general and professional education, with coursework in the sciences and liberal arts serving as a foundation for the medical laboratory science courses. In the fourth year, the final semester consists of a full time clinical or public health laboratory practicum at an off-campus affiliate site, which may require additional room, meal, and/or transportation expenses. Site selection for the final semester is determined by a lottery system.
Students in Biomedical and Health Sciences (BHSC) programs must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.3 or higher. Students with a cumulative grade point average below 2.3 will be placed on academic trial. First-year students must achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.3 or higher by the end of two subsequent semesters to be removed from trial. Students who fail to raise their cumulative GPA to 2.3 after the trial semesters may be discontinued from the program. Students beyond the first year must achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.3 or higher by the end of the subsequent semester to be removed from trial. Students who fail to raise their cumulative GPA to 2.3 after the trial semester may be discontinued from the program. Students who earn one grade below a C in any non-practicum, non-internship, professional/core course will be placed on “academic warning” and will receive a letter informing them of such. Professional or core courses are identified on each major curriculum sheet. In order to remain in good standing within the BHSC programs, students must also be consistently progressing in the program curriculum. Failure to follow the required sequence of courses outlined in the BHSC program of study for more than one semester is grounds for discontinuation from the major.
Graduates in medical laboratory science are qualified for a national certification exam administered by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP). Students in medical laboratory science with a concentration in public health laboratory science may elect to complete a clinical rotation in microbiology to qualify to take the ASCP microbiology-only certification exam. Taking and passing the ASCP Certification Exam is not a requirement for graduation. ASCP certification is required by most clinical diagnostic and public health laboratories. This four-year curriculum leading to the baccalaureate degree is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences.
CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE CONCENTRATION
Clinical laboratory science students complete course work which prepares them for practica in medical laboratories where they will apply their biomedical knowledge and technical skills and further learn about the health and disease status of patients.
Practicum sites* have included:
- Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA
- Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital, Plattsburgh, NY
- Central Vermont Medical Center, Berlin, VT
- Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH
- Elliot Hospital, Manchester, NH
- Glens Falls Hospital, Glens Falls, NY
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- NorDx, Portland and Scarborough, ME
- Rutland Regional Medical Center, Rutland, VT
- St. Peter’s Hospital, Albany, NY
- University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, VT
- Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT
* Note: Clinical affiliations subject to change.
PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORY SCIENCE CONCENTRATION
Public health laboratory scientists work in public health laboratories at the state, federal, and international levels. The curriculum focuses on the use of microbiology and molecular biology in the field of public health, in support of epidemiology, and to monitor health status and disease prevention strategies.
Practicum sites* have included:
- District of Columbia Health Department, Washington DC
- New Hampshire Department of Health Laboratory, Concord, NH
- Vermont Department of Health Laboratory, Burlington, VT
- Wadsworth Center, New York Department of Health, Albany, NY
* Note: Public health laboratory affiliations subject to change.
The Medical Laboratory Science major offers two concentrations:
Clinical Laboratory Science Concentration
Public Health Laboratory Science Concentration
Clinical Laboratory Science Concentration
| First Year | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Spring | |
| NH 1500 App to Hlth: From Pers to Syst | 1 | |
| HSCI 1100 Introduction to Public Health (S1) | 3 | |
| ENGL 1001 Written Expression (WIL2) | 3 | |
| CHEM 1400 General Chemistry 1 (N2) | 4 | |
| MATH 1212 Fundamentals of Calculus I (MA) | 3 | |
| BHSC 1980 Intro to Scientific Writing (WIL2) | 3 | |
| BHSC 1340 Human Cell Biology (N2) | 4 | |
| CHEM 1450 General Chemistry 2 (N2) | 4 | |
| Catamount Core – AH1, AH2 with D1, D2 or SU | 6 | |
| Year Total: | 14 | 17 |
| Sophomore | Credits | |
| Fall | Spring | |
| ANPS 1190 Ugr Hum Anatomy & Physiology 1 | 4 | |
| STAT 1110 Elements of Statistics or STAT 1410 Basic Statistical Methods 1 | 3 | |
| MMG 2010 Microbiol & Infectious Disease | 4 | |
| NH 2200 Health Care Ethics | 3 | |
| Catamount Core – D1, D2 or SU | 3 | 3 |
| ANPS 1200 Ugr Hum Anatomy & Physiology 2 | 4 | |
| CHEM 1580 Intro Organic Chemistry w/lab | 4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Year Total: | 17 | 14 |
| Junior | Credits | |
| Fall | Spring | |
| BHSC 2970 Leadership & Mgt in Hlth Care1 | 3 | |
| BIOC 3001 Fundamentals of Biochemistry | 3 | |
| PATH 2010 Intro to Human Disease | 3 | |
| MLS 3100 Clinical Chemistry I1 | 4 | |
| Elective | 2 | 3 |
| MMG 3220 Adv Medical Microbiology w/lab1 | 4 | |
| Choose one of the following courses: | 3 | |
BHSC 3420 Immunology1 | ||
MMG 3230 Immunology1 | ||
| BHSC 3440 Immunology Lab1 | 1 | |
| MLS 3110 Clinical Chemistry II1 | 3 | |
| Year Total: | 15 | 14 |
| Senior | Credits | |
| Fall | Spring | |
| BHSC 3810 Applied Molecular Biology1 | 3 | |
| BHSC 3820 Applied Molecular Biology Lab1 | 1 | |
| MLS 3200 Hematology1 | 4 | |
| MLS 3300 Clinical Microbiology II1 | 3 | |
| MLS 3400 Immunohematology1 | 4 | |
| MLS 3900 Topics in Medical Lab Science1 | 3 | |
| MLS 3192 Clinical Practicum: Chemistry1 | 3 | |
| MLS 3292 Clinical Practicum:Hematology1 | 3 | |
| MLS 3392 Clin Practicum:Microbiology1 | 3 | |
| MLS 3492 Clin Practicum:Immunohematolog1 | 3 | |
| Year Total: | 15 | 15 |
| Total Credits in Sequence: | 121 | |
- 1
Professional course
This plan of study is designed to meet the requirements for the Medical Laboratory Science major’s clinical laboratory science concentration. Changes should be reviewed with a student’s academic advisor. A minimum of 121 semester credit hours, minimum GPA per program requirement, and fulfillment of the University Catamount Core are required for graduation.
Public Health Laboratory Science Concentration
| First Year | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Spring | |
| NH 1500 App to Hlth: From Pers to Syst | 1 | |
| HSCI 1100 Introduction to Public Health (S1) | 3 | |
| ENGL 1001 Written Expression (WIL2) | 3 | |
| CHEM 1400 General Chemistry 1 (N2) | 4 | |
| MATH 1212 Fundamentals of Calculus I (MA) | 3 | |
| BHSC 1980 Intro to Scientific Writing (WIL2) | 3 | |
| BHSC 1340 Human Cell Biology (N2) | 4 | |
| CHEM 1450 General Chemistry 2 (N2) | 4 | |
| Catamount Core – AH1, AH2 with D1, D2 or SU | 6 | |
| Year Total: | 14 | 17 |
| Sophomore | Credits | |
| Fall | Spring | |
| ANPS 1190 Ugr Hum Anatomy & Physiology 1 | 4 | |
| STAT 1110 Elements of Statistics or STAT 1410 Basic Statistical Methods 1 | 3 | |
| MMG 2010 Microbiol & Infectious Disease | 4 | |
| NH 2200 Health Care Ethics | 3 | |
| Catamount Core – D1, D2 or SU | 3 | 3 |
| ANPS 1200 Ugr Hum Anatomy & Physiology 2 | 4 | |
| CHEM 1580 Intro Organic Chemistry w/lab | 4 | |
| Elective3 | 3 | |
| Year Total: | 17 | 14 |
| Junior | Credits | |
| Fall | Spring | |
| BHSC 2970 Leadership & Mgt in Hlth Care1 | 3 | |
| BIOC 3001 Fundamentals of Biochemistry | 3 | |
| PATH 2010 Intro to Human Disease | 3 | |
| STAT 3000 Med Biostat&Epidemiology | 3 | |
| Elective3 | 3 | |
| MMG 3220 Adv Medical Microbiology w/lab1, 2 | 4 | |
| Choose one of the following courses: | 3 | |
BHSC 3420 Immunology1 | ||
MMG 3230 Immunology1 | ||
| BHSC 3440 Immunology Lab1 | 1 | |
| BCOR 2300 Genetics | 3 | |
| HSCI 2400 Hlthcare & Pub Hlth Syst US or HSCI 3100 Epi, Pub Hlth & Emerg Disease | 3 | |
| Year Total: | 15 | 14 |
| Senior | Credits | |
| Fall | Spring | |
| BHSC 3810 Applied Molecular Biology1 | 3 | |
| BHSC 3820 Applied Molecular Biology Lab1 | 1 | |
| NFS 3203 Food Microbiology | 3 | |
| NFS 3204 Food Microbiology Lab | 1 | |
| MLS 3300 Clinical Microbiology II1 | 3 | |
| Approved Elective3 | 4 | |
| MLS 3892 Public Health Lab Practicum | 12 | |
| MLS 3392 Clin Practicum:Microbiology (or Approved Elective)1,2,3 | 3 | |
| Year Total: | 15 | 15 |
| Total Credits in Sequence: | 121 | |
- 1
Professional course
- 2
MLS 3392 must be approved by the MLS program director.
- 3
For the public health science concentration, students must take 6 credits of department-approved electives in the area of Public Health. Students must obtain a list of approved elective courses for each respective academic year from their academic advisor.
This plan of study is designed to meet the requirements for the Medical Laboratory Science major’s public health laboratory science concentration. Changes should be reviewed with a student’s academic advisor. A minimum of 121 semester credit hours, minimum GPA per program requirement, and fulfillment of the University Catamount Core are required for graduation.