Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science
The B.S. in Medical Laboratory Science may be earned by following a "combined program," which includes a one-year medical laboratory internship at a Miami University-affiliated hospital, following either three or four years of pre-internship study at Miami. The Medical Laboratory Science major consists of 43-51 pre-internship hours and an additional 32 internship hours completed during the final internship year at one of the teaching hospitals affiliated with the program. (See most recent catalog.)
These internships are awarded at the sole discretion of the hospital's Admissions Committee. Admission is based on curriculum, performance, and personal interview. Miami University establishes the requirements of the three academic years for students who wish to compete for these internships and will award the degree upon successful completion of the fourth year.
Students may also elect to earn an A.B. in Microbiology first, then apply for admission to any ASCP accredited teaching hospital to fulfill the internship requirement of the National Registry program.
Please send questions and comments to:
Marcia R. Lee, DVM [leemr@MiamiOH.edu]
Medical Laboratory Science Program Director, ext 9-5425
58 Pearson Hall
Internship Details
What is the MLS Internship?
A multidisciplinary blend of classes in chemistry, microbiology, and biology is required for the B.S. in MLS. The required coursework includes a twelve-month, 32-credit (off-campus) internship. This internship includes both lecture and laboratory rotations in toxicology, hematology, immunohematology, coagulation, parasitology, pathogenic bacteriology, virology, and clinical chemistry.
Miami University is affiliated with 10 hospitals throughout Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Florida, providing diverse laboratory experiences for MLS interns.
The pre-internship coursework is completed in either 3 or 4 years at Miami University. Thus, a student may be enrolled in the internship either during their senior year (i.e. following three years of pre-internship coursework at Miami, earning a B.S. degree), OR as a fifth year (i.e. following four years of pre-internship coursework at Miami), with the possibility of earning a double major. Upon completion of the internship program, the student takes a national board examination to become a Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS).
Note: The MLS internship (courses MBI 487, 488, and 489) fulfills the Miami Plan Capstone requirement.
When Does the Internship Take Place?
You can choose from one of these options:
- 3 years (96 semester credits) PLUS 1 year MLS internship = B.S. in MLS
- 4 years (128 semester credits) PLUS 1 year MLS internship = Double Major
(B.A. in Zoology, Chemistry, or Microbiology and a B.S. in MLS) - Either 3 OR 4 years PLUS 2 year MLS internship = Combined B.S. in MLS and M.S.
(upon completion of 2nd year)
Affiliated Laboratory Science Institutions
For students entering their clinical year, Miami University has affiliation agreements with the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS)-accredited institutions listed below:
- Cleveland Clinic School of Medical Laboratory Science
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s Medical Laboratory Science Program
- Akron Children’s Hospital
- Mercy Health Integrated Clinical Laboratory Science Program
- University of Cincinnati Medical Laboratory Science Program
- Wright State University
- Indiana University Methodist Hospital
- Franciscan St. Francis Health
- Parkview Regional Medical Center
- Rhode Island Hospital
- New York Methodist Hospital
- St. Elizabeth Medical Center
- Sentara Rockingham Medical Center School of Medical Laboratory Science
Or search for an internship with the NAACLS database.
Student Learning Outcomes
Our Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) curriculum is one of Miami University’s “combined programs”; it integrates an on-campus interdisciplinary blend of courses with a one-year medical laboratory internship. The internship is hosted by an institution that is both formally affiliated with Miami University and offers an intensive laboratory curriculum accredited by the American Medical Association Council on Medical Education through the National Accrediting Agency of Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS).
The MLS curriculum is designed to educate our majors in key MLS disciplines, including bacteriology, mycology, parasitology, virology, chemistry, toxicology, hematology, and immunohematology. Our expectations are that our majors will use the skills and competencies they develop to contribute to the improvement of local, national, and global health.
Specialized Knowledge
Students graduating with a B.S. in Medical Laboratory Science will be able to:
- Define/explain the fundamental concepts, processes, core theories, and practices within multiple MLS disciplines;
- Describe/explain the theoretical basis of the tools, technologies, and methods within multiple MLS disciplines.
Intellectual Skills – Communication Fluency
- Effectively communicate laboratory findings, methodologies, and strategies to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.
Applied Learning
- Demonstrate and employ practical skills with both classical and modern laboratory techniques in clinical chemistry, microbiology, hematology, and immunohematology, including troubleshooting and problem-solving.
Sample Plan of Study
This schedule integrates requirements for the major, the College of Arts and Science (CAS), and the Miami Plan, and provides a structure for completing them within the 3+1 or 4+1 year options. The required and recommended courses in the major are specifically noted because many of them must be taken in sequence, and some of them may be offered only once a year. To fulfill the Miami Plan and CAS requirements, you will take a certain number of credit hours from several categories of courses. Progress towards the fulfillment of the requirements for the B.S. in Medical Laboratory Science is provided online for each student (and their advisor) through their Degree Audit Report (DAR).
All students in the College of Arts and Science must pass the CAS A requirement for a foreign language, which is to complete a course at the 202 level or higher. Although we have built in a two-year sequence beginning with 101 in our suggested schedule, you may be able to leverage your previous foreign language study in high school and bypass some of the introductory foreign language coursework. Alternatively, the schedule will accommodate the study of a new language.
Ask your advisor how certain elective courses may contribute to your particular professional goals. Some students will devote their elective course hours to obtain a second major or co-major, such as Chemistry, Spanish, or Premedical Studies; other students may use these hours for additional preparation for professional school standardized tests.
Fall Semester | Spring Semester |
---|---|
Biological Concepts I: MBI 115 (4) | Biological Concepts II: MBI 116 (4) |
General Chemistry: CHM 141, 144 (3,2) | General Chemistry: CHM 142, 145 (3,2) |
Composition and Literature: ENG 111 (3) | Miami Plan/ |
Foreign Language: 101 (4) | Foreign Language: 102 (4) |
Introductory Seminar: MBI 147 (1) | -- |
Fall Semester | Spring Semester |
---|---|
General Microbiology: MBI 201 (4) | Molecular and Cell Biology: MBI 365 (3) |
Organic Chemistry: CHM 231 (4) or CHM 241/244 (5) |
Biochemistry: CHM 332 (3) or CHM 242/245(5) |
Calculus: MTH 151 (5) or Statistics: STA 261 (4) |
Miami Plan/Electives (4-6) |
Foreign Language: 201 (3) | Foreign Language: 202 (3) |
Third-Year
Fall and Spring Semesters
- Select at least one elective course from Group A and one course from Group B (7)
- Complete Biochemistry and Molecular Biology requirements if necessary (0-7)
- Miami Plan/ Electives (16-25)
Fourth and Fifth-Year Options
3+1 MLS option - Fourth-Year
- Summer Semester: Medical Laboratory Science Practicum: MBI 487 (8)
- Fall Semester: Medical Laboratory Science Practicum: MBI 488 (12)
- Spring Semester: Medical Laboratory Science Practicum: MBI 489 (12)
4+1 MLS option - Fourth-Year
Fall and Spring Semesters
Complete B.A. degree requirements in chemistry, microbiology or zoology
4+1 MLS option - Fifth-Year
- Summer Semester: Medical Laboratory Science Practicum: MBI 487 (8)
- Fall Semester: Medical Laboratory Science Practicum: MBI 488 (12)
- Spring Semester: Medical Laboratory Science Practicum: MBI 489 (12)
Electives
Fall Semester | Spring Semester |
---|---|
Medical Mycology: MBI 435 (3) | Human Viruses: MBI 464 (3) |
Analytical Chemistry: CHM 363 (3) | Analytical Chemistry: CHM 363 (3) |
Physics: PHY 161 (4) formerly PHY 171/173 (3,1) |
Physics: PHY 161 (4) formerly PHY 171/173 (3,1) |
Cell Biology: BIO 203 (3) | Cell Biology: BIO 203 (3) |
Fall Semester | Spring Semester |
---|---|
Immunology Principles/Practice: MBI 415 (4) | Medical Bacteriology: MBI 405 (4) |
Human Physiology: BIO 161 or BIO 305 (3) | Human Physiology: BIO 161 or BIO 305 (3) |