Medical Laboratory Science (MLS)
220 ROBERT H. WICK SCIENCE BUILDING/(320) 308-3130
See School of Health and Human Services descriptions and requirements. Also see individual program description in this catalog for nuclear medicine technology and radiologic technology.
Programs at a Glance
Degree programs
- BS – Medical Laboratory Science
Program admission and performance requirements
Admission – Department
- completion of CHEM 210 and MATH 112
- 2.0 GPA or better in the above courses
- 2.8 GPA or higher overall
Admission – Clinical Program
- Admission to the major at SCSU does not guarantee admission to a required clinical program
Graduation – Department
- grade of “C” or better in each required or elective course in program
University minimum requirements for bachelor’s degrees
- 120 credits
- 40 credits in Liberal Education
- 45 credits in upper-division (300-400) courses
- 30 credits in residence at SCSU
- 2.00 GPA overall, in major, and in minor (departments may set higher standards)
(See this section, the section on the School of Health and Human Services, and the sections on the Department of Biology and the College of Science and Engineering for more information.)
Online Information: Please see http://www.stcloudstate.edu/healthsciences
for information about the program.
Contact Department of Biology / 262 Robert H. Wick Science Building/(320) 308-2039
Medical Laboratory Scientists (formerly known as Medical Technologists) are laboratory professionals in the health care industry. To be eligible for employment in a clinical laboratory to run diagnostic tests, you must complete a bachelor's level degree including a clinical internship program and pass a national certification exam administered by American Society for Clinical Pathology (http://www.ascp.org). Certified Medical Laboratory Scientists (MLS) are also in high demand in other areas of the biomedical industry.
Students are encouraged to meet with an advisor to design an appropriate program to meet the requirements of the clinical internship site chosen by the student as soon as possible. Students may apply for the major after completion of CHEM 210 and MATH 112 with grades of 2.0 (C) or above. Students may not register for 300-level MLS courses prior to admission to the major. Clinical experience at an affiliated clinical program is required. Admission to the major does not imply automatic acceptance into a clinical program. Students may not register for 400-level MLS courses prior to acceptance into a clinical program. Acceptance by the clinical affiliates is competitive and is based on the individual merits of each application. Applications are made approximately one year prior to the starting date of the clinical program. Students are encouraged to have most of the required courses for the clinical program completed before application. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure requirements of the clinical internship have been met and to be aware if a different clinical site is chosen additional courses may be required. Information and applications for clinical internships are available on-line (see links to programs below) or through the medical laboratory scientists director's office.
Bachelor of Sciences - Medical Laboratory Sciences (61)
Required courses (37):
BIOL 151
CHEM 211, 240, 241
MATH 112
MLS 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406 or 444, 407 as part of an affiliated clinical internship program
Elective courses (24):
Elective courses are chosen in conjunction with the MLS program director and are designed to optimize the student's application for a specific clinical internship program. See advisor for a list of appropriate courses and below for links to clinical programs.
Required SCSU Liberal Education courses:
The following courses must be included in the Liberal Education plan of each student:
STAT 193 to fulfill Goal Area 4; CHEM 210 and BIOL 103 to fulfill Goal Area 3
Accelerated Option (32):
Students with previously earned bachelor's degrees in biology or chemistry who have been accepted into a clinical internship program can earn the MLS major as a second major after successful completion of a clinical internshp program. MLS 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406 or 444, 407 as part of an accredited clinical internship program.
Clinical internship programs:
Affiliation agreements with clinical internship programs are subject to change.
Joint-administered program with North Hennepin Community College
Suggested elective courses that would support application to this program:
MLS 200, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 310, 312
Hennepin County Medical Center
http://www.hcmc.org/a_z/EducationPrograms/CLS.htm
Suggested elective courses that would support application to this program:
BIOL 262, 360, 362, 366, 462, 464, 478, 486; CLS 306
St. Luke's Hospital, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
http://www.stlukescr.org/our-services/all-other-services/laboratory/school-of-medical-laboratory-science/
Suggested elective courses that would support application to this program:
BIOL 262, 360, 362, 366, 460, 478, 486
University of Minnesota, Division of Medical Technology
http://www.med.umn.edu/medtech/home.html
Students may choose to complete the first two years of the program at SCSU and transfer to the University of Minnesota after completion of the following courses:
BIOL 151, 262, 360, 366, 478; CHEM 210, 211, 310 and 311 (instead of 240); ENGL 191; MATH 112; STAT 193; and 7 credits of additional liberal education courses.
Alternately, students may choose to apply for clinical training as SCSU students after completion of the above courses and BIOL 362, 486; CHEM 480 (instead of 241); and completion of the SCSU Liberal Education program.
