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MLS student, Hianula Monteiro '24, in the lab

Medical Laboratory Science
BS

Major in medical laboratory science

Medical laboratory scientists are the medical detectives who strive to answer medical questions and solve medical mysteries. When you major in medical laboratory science, you'll learn to analyze blood, body fluids, cells, tissues, and other specimens to determine both the causes of diseases and their appropriate treatments.

The science behind the medicine

Medical laboratory scientists are essential members of the healthcare team who play a central role in the detection, diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of disease with minimal direct patient interaction. Medical laboratory scientists perform and interpret laboratory testing. More than 70% of all medical decisions are based on data that medical laboratory scientists provide to the healthcare team.

Do you like biology or chemistry? Do you like problem solving? Have you thought of yourself as someone who wants to help others? If you said "yes" to any of these, then a career in medical laboratory science may be a great fit for you. If you are interested in a degree in biology, chemistry, health sciences, pre-med, or pre-dental, you can major in medical laboratory science and apply the knowledge and skills you learn to a range of careers in health care and medicine.

Our curriculum focuses on the standard medical laboratory disciplines of clinical chemistry, hematology, urinalysis, microbiology, immunology, and blood banking.

Our comprehensive program, one of the largest in the nation, is a university-based integrated clinical medical laboratory science program. Our program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences, which makes our students eligible for national certification from the American Society for Clinical Pathology. 

What can I do with a medical laboratory science degree?

Medical laboratory science alumni are qualified for professional and graduate studies in specialty areas of microbiology, hematology, immunohematology, and clinical chemistry. Our program also helps to prepare graduates for physician assistant, medical, and dental professional schools. 

While the MLS program provides excellent preparation for medical school, there are many other fulfilling career options available to our graduates. Some of these include:

  • Clinical laboratory science
  • Forensic laboratory science
  • Research and product development
  • Public health
  • Research technology
  • Molecular biology
  • Immunology
  • Veterinary lab technology
  • Laboratory management
  • Education

 

Student success

Medical laboratory science major median average annual full-time salary

NACE Data Collection of Class of 2025 Undergraduate Alumni
MLS student Colin Soares '24

Student spotlight

Colin Soares '24

Medical laboratory science major Colin Soares '24 served as president of the MLS Club and a leader for STEP Up, a one-year bridge program for incoming College of Nursing & Health Sciences (CNHS) students. During his senior year, he interned at Boston Children’s Hospital where he received a job offer in their infectious disease lab.

Career placements

  • Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
  • Boston Children's Hospital
  • Boston Heart Diagnostics
  • Boston Medical Center
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital
  • Claritas Genomics
  • Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
  • Imugen
  • John Hopkins Hospital
  • Johnson & Johnson
  • MIT Medical
  • South Shore Hospital
  • Southcoast Hospitals Group
  • Tufts Medical Center

Graduate Schools

  • Long Island University Physician Assistant Program
  • New York Chiropractic College
  • New York College of Podiatric Medicine
  • Quinnipiac University
  • UMass Boston
  • University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine
  • University of Rhode Island 

Affiliates

  • Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston
  • Boston Children's Hospital
  • Boston Healthcare VA System, W. Roxbury
  • Boston Medical Center
  • Cape Cod Healthcare System, Hyannis
  • Care New England - Women & Infants Hospital, Providence
  • New England Baptist Hospital, Boston
  • Providence VA Medical Center, Providence
  • Southcoast Hospital Group (St. Luke's Hospital, New Bedford and Chalrton Memorial Hospital, Fall River
  • St. Anne's Hospital, Fall River
  • Tufts Medical Center, Boston

View the complete list of affiliates for the MLS Program

Medical laboratory science curriculum

Year one

Term Course Credits
Fall MLS 115 Fundamentals of Medical Laboratory Science 1
Fall MLS 116 Fundamentals of Medical Laboratory Science Techniques 1
Fall

CHM 151 Principles of Modern Chemistry I*

3
Fall CHM 161 Introduction to Applied Chemistry I 1
Fall ENL 101 Critical Writing and Reading I 3
Fall University Studies 6
Fall Total 15
Spring MLS 121 Human Genetics 3
Spring MLS 122 Human Genetics Laboratory 1
Spring CHM 152 Principles of Modern Chemistry II 3
Spring CHM 162 Introduction to Applied Chemistry II 1
Spring MTH 147 Fundamentals of Statistics 3
Spring ENL 102 Critical Reading and Writing II 3
Spring University Studies 3
Spring Total 17

*The chemistry department requires MTH 148 as a co-requisite for CHM 151

Year two

Term Course Credits
Fall MLS 211 Fundamentals of Human Physiology 4
Fall CHM 251 Organic Chemistry I 3
Fall CHM 263 Bio-organic Chemistry Laboratory I 1
Fall ENL 264 Communicating in the Sciences 3
Fall University Studies 3
Fall Total 14
Spring MLS 221 Pathophysiology 3
Spring MLS 222 Pathophysiology Laboratory 1
Spring MLS 241 Instrumentation Analysis 3
Spring PHL 215 Introduction to Ethics 1
Spring MLS 242 Clinical Chemistry Applied Diagnostic Techniques Laboratory 3
Spring University Studies 3
Spring Total 14

Year three

Term Course Credits
Fall MLS 301 Principles of Microbiology 4
Fall MLS 303 Principles of Microbiology Laboratory 1
Fall MLS 325 Clinical Immunobiology 3
Fall MLS 326 Clinical Immunobiology Laboratory 1
Fall Free Electives 3
Fall Total 12
Spring MLS 313 Medical Microbiology 3
Spring MLS 314 Medical Microbiology Laboratory 1
Spring MLS 331 Fundamentals of Clinical Hematology 3
Spring MLS 332 Fundamentals of Clinical Hematology Laboratory 1
Spring MLS 341 Clinical Chemistry in Diagnostic Techniques 3
Spring MLS 342 Clinical Instrumental Analysis Laboratory 1
Spring Free Elective 3
Spring Total 15

Year four

Term Course Credits
Fall MLS 401 Clinical Microbiology I 5
Fall MLS 421 Immunohematology I 3
Fall MLS 443 Clinical Biochemistry I 5
Fall MLS 431 Hematology I 3
Fall Total 16
Spring MLS 411 Clinical Microbiology II 3
Spring MLS 422 Immunohematology II 3
Spring MLS 426 Phlebotomy & Urinalysis 2
Spring MLS 432 Hematology II 3
Spring MLS 444 Clinical Biochemistry II 3
Spring MLS 450 Senior Seminar 3
Spring Total 17

Course descriptions, schedules and requirements

  • Career preparation: Become eligible for National American Society for Clinical Pathology certification and prepare to enter specialized healthcare and dental fields
  • Practicum: Fulfill one semester of a senior-year practicum in one of our affiliated hospitals
  • Technology: Learn to use state-of-the-art equipment including spectrophotometers, computer controlled semi-automated chemistry analyzers, urinalysis instruments, hematology cell counters, and rapid microorganism identification instruments
  • Community: Participate in the Student Association for Medical Laboratory Science and the Pre-Health Club

Already have an MLT degree? Complete your bachelors degree with us! 

The online BS in Medical Laboratory (MLS) Science program is for students who hold an associate's degree in Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) from an NAACLS accredited institution.
NAACLS logo for the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences

The Medical Laboratory Science program at UMass Dartmouth is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences.