Program Overview
The Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science at Kent State University prepares students for careers in the healthcare industry, combining three years of study with 12 months of professional hospital training. The program emphasizes laboratory science, with a focus on performing chemical, microscopic, and microbiological procedures. Graduates are eligible for national certification and qualify for a wide range of positions, including clinical laboratory technologists and health specialties teachers.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
The Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science at Kent State University provides students with a strong foundation in laboratory science and prepares them for a range of careers in the healthcare industry. Medical laboratory scientists are trained to perform complex chemical, microscopic and microbiological procedures. Graduates are eligible to sit for the Board of Registry of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists Exam.
Outline:
The program requires a total of 120 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours. The program is structured as follows:
Major Requirements:
- Biological Diversity (BSCI 10110): 4 credit hours
- Biological Foundations (BSCI 10120): 4 credit hours
- Human Genetics (BSCI 30050): 3 credit hours
- Human Physiology (BSCI 30130): 3 credit hours
- Cell Biology (BSCI 30140): 4 credit hours
- General Microbiology (BSCI 30171): 4 credit hours
- Principles of Infectious Disease (BSCI 40148): 3 credit hours
- Immunology (BSCI 40174): 3 credit hours
- General Chemistry I (CHEM 10060): 4 credit hours
- General Chemistry II (CHEM 10061): 4 credit hours
- General Chemistry I Laboratory (CHEM 10062): 1 credit hour
- General Chemistry II Laboratory (CHEM 10063): 1 credit hour
- Basic Organic Chemistry I (CHEM 20481): 4 credit hours
- Analytical Chemistry I (CHEM 30105): 3 credit hours
- Analytical Chemistry Laboratory I (CHEM 30107): 1 credit hour
- Introductory Biological Chemistry (CHEM 30284): 4 credit hours
- Inorganic Chemistry I (CHEM 30301): 3 credit hours
- Clinical Microbiology: Theory (CLS 49010): 4 credit hours
- Clinical Microbiology: Applications (CLS 49011): 4 credit hours
- Clinical Immunology: Theory (CLS 49012): 1 credit hour
- Clinical Immunology: Applications (CLS 49013): 1 credit hour
- Clinical Mycology: Theory and Applications (CLS 49014): 1 credit hour
- Clinical Parasitology: Theory and Applications (CLS 49015): 1 credit hour
- Clinical Chemistry: Theory (CLS 49020): 4 credit hours
- Clinical Chemistry: Applications (CLS 49021): 3 credit hours
- Urinalysis: Theory (CLS 49022): 1 credit hour
- Urinalysis: Applications (CLS 49023): 1 credit hour
- Immunohematology: Theory (CLS 49030): 2 credit hours
- Immunohematology: Applications (CLS 49031): 2 credit hours
- Coagulation: Theory and Applications (CLS 49032): 1 credit hour
- Clinical Hematology: Theory (CLS 49033): 2 credit hours
- Clinical Hematology: Applications (CLS 49034): 2 credit hours
- Topics in Laboratory Management (CLS 49040): 1 credit hour
- Programming for Problem Solving in Sciences (CS 10062): 3-4 credit hours
- Creative Coding (EMAT 25310): 3-4 credit hours
- Trigonometry (MATH 11022): 3 credit hours
- Basic Probability and Statistics (MATH 30011): 3 credit hours
Additional Requirements:
- Flashes 101 (UC 10001): 1 credit hour
- Kent Core Composition: 6 credit hours
- Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts: 9 credit hours (minimum one course from each)
- Kent Core Social Sciences: 6 credit hours (must be from two disciplines)
- General Electives: 5 credit hours (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours)
Roadmap:
The program provides a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study, which includes a list of courses for each semester.
Careers:
The program prepares students for a range of careers in the healthcare industry, including:
- Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians: 7.3% faster than the average growth rate, 337,800 number of jobs, $54,180 potential earnings
- Health specialties teachers, postsecondary: 20.5% much faster than the average growth rate, 254,000 number of jobs, $99,090 potential earnings
Other:
- Students are expected to consult with a medical technology advisor before registering for courses each semester.
- The fourth year clinical training is NOT guaranteed, but it is required to graduate with this major.
- Acceptance to clinical training is at the discretion of the clinical affiliates, is highly competitive and is based on multiple criteria.
- Typically, clinical affiliates will interview students with a minimum 3.000 major GPA and hospital experience.
- Students declared in the Medical Laboratory Science major are not required to meet the College of Arts and Sciences' foreign language requirement.
- The following Biological Sciences (BSCI) courses may NOT be used in the elective category for majors or minors in the Department of Biological Sciences:
- Human Biology (BSCI 10001)
- Life on Planet Earth (BSCI 10002)
- Laboratory Experience in Biology (BSCI 10003)
- Small Animal Anatomy and Physiology for Veterinary Technicians (BSCI 10005)
- Foundational Anatomy and Physiology I (BSCI 11010)
- Foundational Anatomy and Physiology II (BSCI 11020)
- Horticultural Botany (BSCI 16001)
- Ecological Principles of Pest Management (BSCI 26002)
- Plant Identification and Selection I (BSCI 26003)
- Plant Identification and Selection II (BSCI 26004)
- Human Genetics (BSCI 30050)
- Biology of Aging (BSCI 40020)
