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Medical Laboratory Science
Play a vital role in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of disease – be a Medical Laboratory Scientist.
Stevenson's Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science combines the sciences of biology and chemistry with medicine and the clinical sciences to prepare you for a professional career as a medical laboratory scientist, also known as medical technologist.

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Overview
Overview
Bachelor of Science
Medical laboratory scientists are “diagnostic detectives.” We apply biology, chemistry and medicine to perform and interpret laboratory data. This laboratory data aids in the diagnosis and treatment of disease as well as disease monitoring and prevention. It is a profession that requires vast knowledge to make life-saving decisions. This is an exciting, challenging and rewarding healthcare profession.
There is a demand for more testing as our population grows older and medical knowledge expands into biogenetics, DNA and cell marker technologies, and personalized medicine. However, there is a critical shortage of medical technologists. The shortage is growing by 10,000 practitioners per year!
Our program curriculum culminates in the senior year at the Sinai Hospital campus and a semester-long clinical practicum to develop competency in all disciplines. Graduates are eligible to take the national certification examination to become a certified Medical Laboratory Scientist, MLS (ASCP). You will have the benefits of the MLS faculty who are working professionals in their area of expertise. Our programs offer personal attention in small, select classes of students and the networking opportunities as a result of being in the clinical laboratory your entire last semester.
The Medical Laboratory Science degree is a versatile one that will prepare you to become a certified medical laboratory scientist qualified to work wherever laboratory testing is researched, developed, or performed, including hospital, private, research, industrial, biomedical, and forensic laboratories; pharmaceutical companies; and fertility centers.
Our graduates are currently employed in many area hospitals, such as, Sinai Hospital, Northwest Hospital, University of Maryland Medical Center, Johns Hopkins Hospital, and Washington Hospital Center, but also in other parts of the country. In fact, 100% of our MLS graduates obtain full-time employment (some before graduation) or continue onto post-graduate education.
For more information on a career as a Medical Laboratory Scientist: www.ascls.org and www.ascp.org.
Accreditation
The Medical Laboratory Science program is accredited through April, 2020 by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS); 5600 North River Road, Suite 72; 60018-5119; 773-714-8880; http://www.naacls.org
What Will You Learn?
- How to be a disease detective. As diseases like MRSA, Zika and Ebola take center stage in our world, you will learn how to detect these diseases, protecting the patient and the public.
- How red and white blood cells and platelets look microscopically and tell whether they are normal or abnormal.
- Red blood cells are flexible because they have to be. They negotiate through very narrow spaces such as veins and capillaries. If they break apart, the patient becomes anemic.
- How to be an anemia detective. Low hemoglobin indicates an iron deficiency or some other type of anemia.
- White blood cells are important to the immune system. As a Medical Laboratory Scientist, you will learn how abnormal white cells appear, so you can diagnose leukemia.
- The ancient Greeks and Egyptians studied urine. Testing urine can easily and inexpensively determine health, wellness and detect disease.
- Someone in the United States needs blood every 2 seconds. Medical Laboratory Scientists working in the Blood Bank perform sophisticated type and cross studies, matching donors with recipients who have anemia, leukemia, sickle cell disease and are victims of trauma.
- Medical Laboratory Scientists study patient samples looking for metabolic and genetic markers for heart attack, diabetes, cancer and AIDS.
- Communication, teamwork, time management and collaboration are essential when working as a group for the good of the patient. Everyone in the clinical laboratory does their part in discovering the diagnosis of the patient.
- How to recognize critical illnesses by blood chemistries including diabetic crises, sepsis, genetic diseases, poisonings, even heart attacks.
- From the tiny hydrogen ion to the giant gamma globulins, Medical Laboratory Scientists in the chemistry lab measure the molecules that keep us alive or make us sick, diagnose our diseases or confirm our health. There is no hospital without the laboratory.
A complete listing of learning objectives for the Medical Laboratory Science program can be found in our Academic Catalog.
Learning ObjectivesWhy Study Medical Laboratory Science?
- Small classes afford rich opportunities for faculty to build caring and mentoring relationships with students.
- Our graduates are highly valued and sought after by employers.
- 100% of our graduates were employed or continued in a post-graduate program 2007-2016.
- Partnership with Sinai Hospital, one of the top teaching hospitals in this area.
- Intensive hands-on clinical experience makes our students confident going into the workplace.
- Scholarships and education grants are available in the workplace.
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Courses & Requirements
Courses and Requirements
he courses listed below are required for completion of the bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory science. Students must also complete the requirements for the Stevenson Educational Experience (SEE).
Specific pre- and co-requisites for each course are listed in the course descriptions.
Major Requirements
FYS 100 First Year Seminar BIO 113 General Biology I: Cell Biology and Genetics BIO 113L General Biology I Laboratory: Cell Biology and Genetics BIO 203 Microbiology BIO 217 Principles of Biochemistry BIO 222 Human Anatomy BIO 230 Genetics BIO 322 Human Physiology CHEM 115 General Chemistry I CHEM 115L General Chemistry I Laboratory CHEM 115S General Chemistry I SoLVE CHEM 116 General Chemistry II CHEM 116L General Chemistry II Laboratory CHEM 116S General Chemistry II SoLVE MATH 136 Introduction to Statistics MLS 210 Principles of Laboratory Science MLS 310 Hematology I MLS 310L Hematology I Laboratory MLS 315 Clinical Mycology, Parasitology and Virology MLS 320 Urinalysis and Body Fluids MLS 320L Urinalysis and Body Fluids Laboratory MLS 325 Clinical Chemistry I MLS 330 Clinical Microbiology I MLS 335 Clinical Laboratory Management MLS 338 Molecular and Immunologic Diagnostics MLS 405 Transfusion Medicine MLS 410 Hematology II MLS 420 Clinical Microbiology II MLS 425 Clinical Chemistry II MLS 430 Professional Research and Writing MLS 431 Clinical Chemistry Practicum MLS 432 Clinical Hematology Practicum MLS 433 Clinical Microbiology Practicum MLS 434 Clinical Immunohematology Practicum PSY 101 Introduction to Psychology
Applications
- Application Documents
- Supplemental Health Form
(Required for all Junior, Senior, and Categorical Certificate Medical Laboratory Science Students)
Last Updated: 06/07/2017
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Tracks & Minors
Tracks and Minors
Categorical Certificate Training Program
The Categorical Certificate Training Program is available for students who already have a bachelor’s degree in biology, biotechnology, chemistry, or related science. Please see the Medical Laboratory Science website for information, admission requirements and application procedures.
Articulation Agreements
Community College of Baltimore County, Associate of Applied Science, Medical Laboratory Technology: It is possible for students to transfer credits from CCBC that count in the Stevenson Educational Experience (SEE) and the medical laboratory science curriculum.
Anne Arundel Community College, Associate of Applied Science, Medical Laboratory Technology: It is possible for students to transfer credits from AACC that count in the Stevenson Educational Experience (SEE) and the Medical Laboratory Science curriculum.
Last Updated: 06/07/2017
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What Can You Do With This Degree?
Graduates of our Medical Laboratory Science program embark on many rewarding career choices, including:
• Medical Laboratory Scientist
• Molecular Biology Technologist
• Specialist in Blood Banking
• Point of Care Coordinator
• Infection Preventionist
• Laboratory Information Systems Specialist
Curious about internships and job placement after you graduate? Visit our Office of Career Services.