2026-2027 Academic DRAFT Catalog

Nov 01, 2025

2026-2027 Academic DRAFT Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Medical Laboratory Science, BS (MLB-BS)

CIP Code: 511005

Program Description

Medical Laboratory Scientists are essential members of the health care team providing physicians, practitioners, and patients with timely, accurate lab results vital to patient diagnosis and appropriate treatment. WSU’s program has a history of producing well-rounded medical laboratorians who are prepared to enter the workforce upon graduation. Students who are successful in this program and profession are academically strong, especially in rigorous science courses, are detail-oriented, ethical, organized, and have good manual dexterity and fine motor skills.

The Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) degree program is a 3+1 medical laboratory curriculum which includes 3 years of prerequisite coursework and a one-year (3 semester) Medical Laboratory Science Program which is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences, (NAACLS), 5600 N. River Road, Suite 720, Rosemont, IL. 60018.

The MLS program’s clinical year curriculum begins Summer semester (in May) and includes intensive didactic lecture and laboratory courses on campus, followed by two semesters (Fall and Spring) of supervised clinical rotations at an affiliated clinical facility with concurrent advanced lectures. Our clinical affiliates include: Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Clinton Memorial Hospital, CompuNet Clinical Laboratories (Premier Health), Dayton Children’s Hospital, Kettering Health, Mercer Health, Mercy Health, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Reid Health, TriHealth McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital, UC Health, Dayton Veterans Administration Medical Center, Wayne Healthcare, and Wilson Health.

The MLS program’s course objectives are orientation toward theory, clinical practice, and clinical correlation. Producing high-quality outcomes including job placement, graduation rates, and ASCP board of certification passage rate. Students are placed in varied clinical rotation practice environments. Including Blood Banking, Clinical Chemistry, Hematology, Microbiology, Molecular Diagnostics, and Urinalysis and Body Fluids. Students also learn laboratory leadership and management of clinical laboratory services. As well as develop mechanical aptitude to service and maintain laboratory instrumentation. The program also provides a solid foundation for most graduate medical program.

The program plan is specifically designed to facilitate student progress and promote career development in any clinical laboratory discipline. Graduates of the program will have met educational requirements to take the certification exam for Medical Laboratory Scientists maintained by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification (BOC). While passing the ASCP-BOC exam is not required to pass the MLS program, it is a nationally recognized credential employers in the field require for their employees.

Continuing education is required for ASCP certification renewal.

Upon successfully completing the twelve-month (3 semesters full time) MLS program, students are eligible to receive the Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science degree, and certificate of completion of the accredited MLS program.

Admission Requirements

Departmental Entrance Requirements

For admission into the Department of Biological Sciences, applicants must meet the following requirements:

completion of a least 15 semester hours with a minimum GPA of 2.00 overall
completion of at least one semester course in general biology (BIO1120 or 1150) with a grade of “C” or higher

Program Admission Requirements

Please refer to the degree requirements on MLS program page
A minimum overall GPA of 2.7, a minimum GPA of 2.7 in all courses with a BIO prefix, and a grade of ‘C’ or better in all courses in biological sciences, chemistry and math
Applications and 3 letters of recommendation (2 science professors and 1 employer or advisor) are due November 1 of the year prior to the program start
Criteria used to determine admission include the academic record, letters of recommendation, and a personal interview. The number of positions in each class for the clinical year is limited and determined each year by the Program’s Advisory Committee
Requirements for admission to the clinical year program are set by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), and the WSU Medical Laboratory Sciences Program with input from its Advisory Committee.

Admission to Wright State University or the Department of Biological Sciences does not automatically guarantee admission into the Medical Laboratory Science program.

Student Performance

Students must complete all CoSM courses, including courses required for the program, with a grade of “C” or better.

Program Learning Objectives

Students enrolled in this program will learn to:

Demonstrate success in foundational courses including biology, chemistry, math and other Core courses to prepare for work in Medical Lab Science.
Describe how medical laboratories operate including: safety practices, regulatory agencies and compliance, efficient lab management, application of statistical concepts, utilization of Quality Assurance programs and continuing education.
Demonstrate competence in performance of lab procedures including pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical components in major medical lab areas including: Clinical Chemistry, Hematology/hemostasis, Immunology, Transfusion Services, Microbiology, Urinalysis & Body fluids.
Display communication skills necessary for interdisciplinary professionalism, as well as ethics regarding performing lab procedures and protecting patient information
Apply knowledge of lab values and critical thinking skills to accurately interpret patient lab data

Program Learning Outcomes

As a result of their learning experience, graduates of this program can:

Demonstrate success in foundational courses including biology, chemistry, math and other Core courses to prepare for work in Medical Lab Science.
Describe how medical laboratories operate including: safety practices, regulatory agencies and compliance, efficient lab management, application of statistical concepts, utilization of Quality Assurance programs and continuing education.
Demonstrate competence in performance of lab procedures including pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical components in major medical lab areas including: Clinical Chemistry, Hematology/hemostasis, Immunology, Transfusion Services, Microbiology, Urinalysis & Body fluids.
Display communication skills necessary for interdisciplinary professionalism, as well as ethics regarding performing lab procedures and protecting patient information
Apply knowledge of lab values and critical thinking skills to accurately interpret patient lab data

For More Information

Program Requirements

I. Wright State Core: 41 Credit Hours

As a part of the requirements for a bachelor’s degree at Wright State University, all students must complete the Wright State Core, a general education curriculum. Most programs require 36 hours in the Core, some programs may require additional hours.

Specific Core classes in some of the Elements may be required by some majors. When this occurs, the specific Core courses required will be listed below. In Elements where a specific course is not required, students can choose any course from the Wright State Core Program Requirements.

First-Year Seminar: 1 Credit Hour

All students must successfully complete a First-Year Seminar during their first year. Transfer students who transfer 24 or more credit hours (post high school graduation) are exempt from this requirement and will need to satisfy one additional credit hour in the Additional Core Courses category.

UVC 1010 - First Year Seminar Credit Hour(s): 1 to 3

Element A - English Composition: 6 Credit Hours

First-Year Writing Course (3 credit hours)

All students must successfully complete ENG 1100.  Based on Writing Placement level, some students may be required to enroll in a corequisite course (DEV 0100). 
ENG 1100 - Academic Writing and Reading Credit Hour(s): 3
Second-Year Writing Course (3 credit hours)
ENG 2100 - Research Writing and Argumentation Credit Hour(s): 3

Element B - Mathematics, Statistics, and Logic: 4 Credit Hours

Based on Math Placement Level, students may need additional prerequisite or corequisite coursework in mathematics prior to enrollment in the required course below.

Required:

STT 1600 - Statistical Concepts Credit Hour(s): 4 OR
STT 2640 - Elementary Statistics Credit Hour(s): 4

Element C - Arts and Humanities: 6 Credit Hours

Students will select two Arts and Humanities courses, with different course prefixes from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements. One course must fulfill the History requirement.

History Requirement (3 credit hours)

Choose 1 course from the list below:
HST 1100 - Western Civilizations to 1500 Credit Hour(s): 3 (GI)
HST 1200 - The West and the World since 1500 Credit Hour(s): 3 (GI)
HST 1500 - Introduction to Greek and Roman Culture Credit Hour(s): 3 (GI)
Arts and Humanities Course (3 credit hours)

Choose an additional Arts and Humanities course (a different prefix from what is chosen above) from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements.

Element D - Social and Behavorial Sciences: 6 Credit Hours

Students will select two Social and Behavioral Sciences courses, with different course prefixes from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements.

Element E - Natural Sciences: 8 Credit Hours

Students will select two Natural Science courses, from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements. At least one course must contain a laboratory.

Required:

BIO 1120 - Cells and Genes Credit Hour(s): 4
BIO 1120L - Cells & Genes Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
BIO 1150 - Organisms and Ecosystems Credit Hour(s): 4
BIO 1150L - Organisms & Ecosystems Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0

Additional Core Courses: 10 Credit Hours

Students will select up to 10 additional credit hours from Elements A-E from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements to reach the 36 minimum hours required in the Core. Unless specified by the student’s major, these are selected by the student. When a major has required courses in this area, the specific Core course(s) required will be listed below.

Required:

CHM 1210 - General Chemistry I Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 1210L - General Chemistry Lab I Credit Hour(s): 2
CHM 1210R - General Chemistry Lab I Recitation Credit Hour(s): 0
CHM 1220 - General Chemistry II Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 1220L - General Chemistry Lab II Credit Hour(s): 2
CHM 1220R - General Chemistry Lab II Recitation Credit Hour(s): 0

Additional Core Requirements

Within the 36 credit hours of the Wright State Core students must successfully complete the following:

· One Global Inquiry (GI) course

· Two Inclusive Excellence (IE) courses

· One to two Integrated Writing (IW) courses. To meet degree requirements all students must complete a minimum of 3 IW courses by choosing either (a) 1 in the Core and 2 in the major or (b) 2 in the Core and 1 in the major. Students should check their major program requirements for courses that fulfill Integrated Writing.

Students who do not make choices within the 36 required hours of the Core to fulfill the GI, IE, and IW requirements will take additional Core hours beyond the minimum of 36.

II. Departmental Core Requirements: 9.5-10.5 Credit Hours

BIO 1110 - Freshman Seminar Bio Sciences Credit Hour(s): 1
BIO 2110 - Principles of Molecular and Classical Genetics Credit Hour(s): 3
BIO 2120 - Cell Biology Credit Hour(s): 3
BIO 2140 - Introduction to Cell Biology Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 2.5
BIO 2140R - Introduction to Cell Biology Recitation Credit Hour(s): 0
or
BIO 3140 - Molecular Biology Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 3.5
BIO 3140R - Molecular Biology Laboratory Recitation Credit Hour(s): 0

III. Departmental Requirements and Electives: 52.5-55.5 Credit Hours

a. Departmental Requirements and Electives: 47 Credit Hours

BIO 3100 - Clinical Microbiology Credit Hour(s): 3
BIO 3110 - Clinical Microbiology Lab Credit Hour(s): 2 (IW)
MLB 4110 - Orientation to Medical Laboratory Science Credit Hour(s): 1
MLB 4111 - Orientation to Medical Laboratory Science Lab Credit Hour(s): 0.5
MLB 4210 - Urine and Body Fluid Analysis Credit Hour(s): 1
MLB 4211 - Urine and Body Fluid Analysis Lab Credit Hour(s): .5
MLB 4310 - Basic Hematology Credit Hour(s): 2
MLB 4311 - Basic Hematology Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 1
MLB 4320 - Advanced Hematology Credit Hour(s): 2
MLB 4330 - Hematology Practicum Credit Hour(s): 3
MLB 4410 - Hemostasis Credit Hour(s): 1
MLB 4411 - Hemostasis Lab Credit Hour(s): .5
MLB 4510 - Basic Clinical Chemistry Credit Hour(s): 2
MLB 4511 - Basic Clinical Chemistry Lab Credit Hour(s): 1
MLB 4520 - Advanced Clinical Chemistry Credit Hour(s): 2
MLB 4530 - Clinical Chemistry Practicum Credit Hour(s): 3
MLB 4610 - Serology Credit Hour(s): 1
MLB 4611 - Serology Lab Credit Hour(s): .5
MLB 4710 - Basic Diagnostic Microbiology Credit Hour(s): 3.5
MLB 4711 - Basic Diagnostic Microbiology Lab Credit Hour(s): 1.5
MLB 4720 - Advanced Diagnostic Microbiology Credit Hour(s): 2
MLB 4730 - Diagnostic Microbiology Practicum Credit Hour(s): 3
MLB 4810 - Basic Immunohematology Credit Hour(s): 2
MLB 4811 - Basic Immunohematology Lab Credit Hour(s): 1
MLB 4820 - Advanced Immunohematology Credit Hour(s): 2
MLB 4830 - Immunohematology Practicum Credit Hour(s): 3
MLB 4990 - Medical Laboratory Operations and Education Credit Hour(s): 2 (IW)

b. Life Science Electives: 5.5-8.5 Credit Hours

Choose from the following:

BIO 3140 - Molecular Biology Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 3.5
BIO 3140 may be taken as a Life Science Elective if not taken as part of the Biological Sciences Core
BIO 3700 - Bioethics Credit Hour(s): 3 (IW)
BIO 3990 - Undergraduate Teaching Assistant Credit Hour(s): 1 to 3
BIO 4080 - Writing in the Biological Sciences Credit Hour(s): 3
BIO 4240 - Disease Ecology and Evolution Credit Hour(s): 3
BIO 4460 - Advanced Cell Biology Credit Hour(s): 3
BIO 4760 - Human Parasitology and Mycology Credit Hour(s): 3
BIO 4880 - Independent Writing Credit Hour(s): 1
BIO 4900 - Biology Internship Credit Hour(s): 3 to 8
BIO 4950 - Senior Honors Research Credit Hour(s): 1 to 3
BIO 4990 - Undergraduate Research in Biology Credit Hour(s): 0 to 3
BMB 4001 - Fundamentals of Biochemistry Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 3120 - Quantitative Analysis Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 3120L - Quantitative Analysis Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 2
MI 4260 - Immunology Credit Hour(s): 3
MI 4310 - Virology Credit Hour(s): 3
BIO 3990, BIO 4880, BIO 4900, BIO 4950, BIO 4990 can be applied with approval from the Program Director. Any other course approved by the Program Director that is related to Medical Lab Sciences may also be taken.
ANT 3100 - Human Structure and Function I Credit Hour(s): 4

IV. Related Requirements: 12-14 Credit Hours

ANT 2100 (4) and ANT 2120 (4) with B or higher can substitute for ANT 3120 with permission of the program director

ANT 3120 - Human Structure and Function II Credit Hour(s): 4
CHM 2110 - Organic Chemistry I Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 2110L - Organic Chemistry Lab I Credit Hour(s): 2
CHM 2120 - Organic Chemistry II Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 2120L - Organic Chemistry II Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 2
or
BMB 4001 - Fundamentals of Biochemistry Credit Hour(s): 3

V. General Electives: 0-5 Credit Hours

Students must earn a minimum of 120 credit hours for a baccalaureate degree. If the total number of credit hours in the WSU Core (general education program) and the major requirements do not total at least 120 credits, students will choose additional courses (general electives) to meet the minimum required 120 credit hours. Students may choose from any undergraduate course in the Academic Catalog for which they meet the course prerequisites and for which they do not already have earned credit.

Total: 120-121 Credit Hours

Graduation Planning Strategy

A Graduation Planning Strategy (GPS), also known as a four-year guide, is an academic tool showing one example of how a program can be completed in a certain amount of time. All Wright State undergraduate majors can be completed in four years with careful planning. Some programs may require summer coursework. Time to degree is dependent on many factors including student placement in mathematics and writing courses, CCP and AP coursework, transfer coursework, and other variables.

These guides are valid for this year’s Academic Catalog only and are subject to change. These guides are a recommendation only and your actual program may vary. Students should consult with their academic advisor on a regular basis and create a personalized plan to degree completion.