The Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) provides a comprehensive foundation in the principles and practices of laboratory-based diagnostic testing that support the detection, evaluation, and management of disease. Medical laboratory scientists perform diagnostic tests that provide important information to determine the presence, extent, or absence of disease as well as data to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment. They work with all types of body tissues and fluids, from blood and urine to cell samples. Major areas of specialization within the laboratory include hematology, clinical chemistry, clinical microbiology, serology, urinalysis, immunohematology (blood bank) and molecular diagnostics.

Years 1-3 of the program constitute the preprofessional phase comprising of program and university prerequisite courses. Year 4 of the program constitutes the professional component and consists of advanced MLS-specific courses and labs, and the clinical internship. Students must apply to Year 4 during the winter semester of Year 3. Year 4 is a full-time program for admitted students.  

Students must be admitted to the Medical Laboratory Science professional year (Year 4) and have Medical Laboratory Science listed as their major to be able to register for Year 4 and the clinical internship courses. 

Requirements for the major in Medical Laboratory Science, B.S. program

Students completing a B.S. degree in Medical Laboratory Science must complete a minimum of 120 credits and the following:

General Education Requirements

In order to graduate on-schedule without taking additional courses, it is highly recommended that students meet with an Undergraduate Academic Adviser concerning the selection of all of their general education courses.

Each candidate for an Oakland University baccalaureate will need to satisfactorily complete approved courses in each of the following areas: Foundations, Explorations, and Integration. For details, refer to the General Education Requirements section of the catalog.

Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences Core Courses

All courses below must be completed prior to formal admission to Year 4 of the Medical Laboratory Science program.

• course Biology I (4) *

• course Human Anatomy (4)

• course Human Anatomy Laboratory (1)

• course Human Physiology (4)

• course Careers in Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences (1)

• course Health Care Systems Around the World (3) *

• course Medical Terminology (1)

• course Clinical Laboratory Theory and Techniques (2)

• course Introduction to Statistical Concepts and Reasoning (4)*

  or course Statistical Methods for Biology (4)*

  or course Applied Probability and Statistics (4)*

*Courses that also satisfy the university general education requirement

Medical Laboratory Science Pre-Professional Courses

All courses below must be completed prior to formal admission to Year 4 of the Medical Laboratory Science program, except CHM 2340, PHY 1010 and PHY 1020 (however it is recommended that these courses also be completed before admission). 

• course General Chemistry I (4) *

• course General Chemistry II (4)

• course General Chemistry Laboratory I (1) *

• course General Chemistry Laboratory II (1)

• course Organic Chemistry I (4)

• course General Physics I (4) *

• course General Physics II (4) *

• course Clinical Hematology (3)

• course Clinical Hematology Laboratory (1)

• course Medical Immunology (3)

• course Medical Biochemistry (4)

• course Clinical Microbiology (4)

• course Clinical Microbiology Laboratory (1)

*Courses that also satisfy the university general education requirement

Medical Laboratory Science Professional Courses

Enrollment in the following courses requires admission to Year 4 of the Medical Laboratory Science program through the formal application process (see “Admission” below for more details).

• course Advanced Concepts in Hematology (2)

• course Clinical Hemostasis (2)

• course Immunohematology (3)

• course Immunohematology Laboratory (1)

• course Clinical Chemistry (4)

• course Clinical Chemistry Laboratory (1)

• course Urinalysis and Body Fluids (1)

• course Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory (1)

• course Molecular Diagnostics (2)

• course Clinical Parasitology, Mycology, Virology (3)

• course Clinical Parasitology, Mycology, Virology Lab (1)

• course Clinical Correlations (3) *

• course Laboratory Management (3)

• course Immunohematology Practicum (3)

• course Clinical Chemistry Practicum (3)

• course Clinical Microbiology Practicum (3)

• course Hematology/Coagulation Practicum (3)

*Courses that also satisfy the university general education requirement

Admission to Medical Laboratory Science Professional Program and Internship:

To be accepted into Year 4 of the program and the internship, students must submit a formal application to the program. Application is processed in the winter semester of Year 3 prior to the Fall start date of each year. Acceptance into the program is competitive and based on the prerequisite courses’ grade point average, personal interview, entrance exam score, and letters of recommendation.

Graduation Requirements and Grade Point Policy

Students in the professional medical laboratory science program whose cumulative grade point average falls below a 2.80 are not able to graduate with the B.S in MLS.

In order to remove program probationary status, students must raise their cumulative major grade point average to 2.80 or higher.

Academic Advising

All students are required to meet with their professional academic advisor in the School of Health Sciences at least once a year to review progress toward their degree.

Applicable Minors

All Minors are applicable to this major with the exception of the following Minor(s): Child Welfare, International Orientation for EGR/CS, and Sustainability Engineering.