Program: Medical Laboratory Science BSMLS - Andrews University

Apr 03, 2025

2018-2019

The degree program includes three years of undergraduate (BS pre-clinicals) studies plus one year (3 semesters) of clinical (BSMLS) education.

Pre-clinical Program
The first three years of undergraduate study include Andrews Core Experience, cognate science, and preclinical degree requirements. Program options feature directed elective course work selected in consultation with the faculty advisor according to the student’s career goals and interests.

Clinical (Professional) Program
The year of clinical studies is comprised of lectures and student laboratories on the Berrien Springs campus and clinical practica at an affiliated hospital or clinical laboratory site.

Refer to the Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences web site for the MLS Program Year Calendar.

Total Credits - 124

Major: Core - 43

Prerequisites - 10

MLSC 105 - Introduction to Medical Laboratory Science Credits: 1 (May be waived for transfer students)
MLSC 110 - Medical Terminology Credits: 1 (Recommended)
MLSC 210 - Fundamentals of Hematology and Hemostasis Credits: 2
MLSC 230 - Fundamentals of Clinical Microbiology Credits: 3
MLSC 240 - Fundamentals of Immunohematology Credits: 1
MLSC 350 - Fundamentals of Clinical Chemistry Credits: 3

Core Requirements - 33

MLSC 320 - Fundamentals of Immunology Credits: 3
MLSC 400 - Specimen Procurement and Processing Credits: 1
MLSC 401 - Clinical Year Seminar and Research Methodology Credits: 1
MLSC 405 - Clinical Year Seminar and Research Project Credits: 1
MLSC 411 - Hematology Credits: 3
MLSC 412 - Hemostasis Credits: 1
MLSC 421 - Clinical Immunology, Virology and Molecular Diagnostics Credits: 2
MLSC 431 - Clinical Bacteriology Credits: 4
MLSC 432 - Specialized Clinical Microbiology Credits: 2
MLSC 441 - Immunohematology Credits: 3
MLSC 442 - Transfusion Medicine Credits: 2
MLSC 451 - Clinical Chemistry I Credits: 3
MLSC 452 - Clinical Chemistry II Credits: 3
MLSC 461 - Body Fluids Credits: 1
MLSC 475 - Laboratory Operations Credits: 2
MLSC 483 - Comprehensive Review and Written Examination Credits: 1

Major: Additional Requirements - 17

Practicum

Clinical Experience

Students work side-by-side with practicing professionals in patient health care during the final portion of the clinical year. Andrews University maintains a number of affiliations with clinical institutions across the country. Student preferences for clinical site assignments are solicited and granted when possible. Final site assignments are made at the discretion of the faculty and in consultation with clinical affiliates. Each student is responsible for providing his/her own transportation for the clinical practica. Independent transportation is a condition for clinical placement; therefore, it is strongly advised that each student has his/her own car for clinicals.

MLSC 413 - Clinical Hematology & Hemostasis Practicum Credits: 4
MLSC 423 - Clinical Immunology, Virology, and Molecular Diagnostics Practicum Credits: 1
MLSC 433 - Clinical Microbiology Practicum Credits: 4
MLSC 443 - Clinical Immunohematology Practicum Credits: 4
MLSC 453 - Clinical Chemistry Practicum Credits: 3
MLSC 463 - Body Fluids Practicum Credits: 1

Certification

Students who complete the MLS Program are eligible to write the national Board of Certification examination sponsored by the ASCP (American Society for Clinical Pathology).

Cognates - 26

16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) of biological science. Select from (or equivalent courses):
BIOL 165 - Foundations of Biology Credits: 4,5
BIOL 166 - Foundations of Biology Credits: 4,5
Or BIOL 221 - Anatomy and Physiology I Credits: 4
Or BIOL 222 - Anatomy and Physiology II Credits: 4
Or Other upper division biology courses chosen in consultation with academic advisor or approved by Program Director.
16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) of chemistry (with one semester in organic chemistry or biochemistry). Select from (or equivalent courses):
CHEM 131 - General Chemistry I Credits: 4
CHEM 132 - General Chemistry II Credits: 4
CHEM 231 - Organic Chemistry I Credits: 3
CHEM 232 - Organic Chemistry II Credits: 3
CHEM 241 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory I Credits: 1
CHEM 242 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory II Credits: 1
Or BCHM 421 - Biochemistry I Credits: 4
Or Other chemistry courses chosen in consultation with academic advisor or approved by Program Director.

Undergraduate Electives 5-8

Students may select courses in consultation with and by the consent of their advisors in a planned program to enhance professional preparation. Pre-medical/pre-dental students must include the following courses:

Choose one of the following course sequence:
PHYS 141 - General Physics I Credits: 4
PHYS 142 - General Physics II Credits: 4
Or
PHYS 241 - Physics for Scientists and Engineers I Credits: 4
PHYS 242 - Physics for Scientists and Engineers II Credits: 4
PHYS 271 - Physics for Scientists and Engineers Laboratory I Credits: 1
PHYS 272 - Physics for Scientists and Engineers Laboratory II Credits: 1

Maintaining Academic Standing

Student Progression in Clinical Year

The clinical year is highly structured and sequential. Enrolled students may not drop a class, audit a class, or earn a grade lower than C- in any class. Students may enter clinical practica only upon satisfactory completion of on-campus course work. Satisfactory completion is defined as a senior-year minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 and the recommendation of the faculty. A student receiving a cumulative GPA of less than 2.50 may be allowed to advance if the program faculty identifies exceptional circumstances and recommends that the student continue in the program.

Student continuance in the clinical practica is conditional upon acceptable ethical and professional deportment as well as exemplary patient-care practices. The clinical affiliate supervisors and program faculty are final arbiters in determining student continuance.

Admission Requirements

Application Process

Clinical Year Admission Requirements

An independent admissions process is required for all students who wish to enter clinical studies. The application form may be obtained from the Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences (MLS) office or downloaded from the resources section in the department’s website (https://www.andrews.edu/shp/mls/resources/). Students must complete the application and return it to the departmental office by January 31 prior to their anticipated clinical-study year. Guest, transfer, and post-bac students must also apply to Andrews University.

Applicants’ previous course work must include 16 semester credits of biological sciences, 16 semester credits of chemistry, and one college-level course in mathematics.

Admission requires an overall GPA of 2.50. In the admissions process, the GPAs for the cognate sciences, mathematics, and medical laboratory science content courses are computed together. This combined GPA must also be a minimum of 2.50. Preference is given to students with the higher GPAs. Students may only repeat the fundamentals courses once to be eligible for admission consideration for the program.

Applicants must be able to meet the program’s published Essential Functions, a copy of which is attached to the application, and express a willingness to comply with the principles, rules, regulations, and policies of both the university and the program as they relate to the ideals and values of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the medical laboratory science profession.

Prerequisite Courses

All prerequisite course work, including Andrews Core Experience, cognate science, and pre-clinical courses, must be completed prior to entry into the clinical year. A personal interview may be required at the discretion of the Admissions Committee.

In exceptional circumstances, the Admissions Committee may accept students outside the stated policy.

Andrews Core Experience

Students must take all course requirements designated in the Professional Degree Program of the Andrews Core Experience (ACE) while noting the following course substitutions.

Life/Physical Sciences

Fulfilled through cognate sciences

Mathematics

Statistics preferred. MATH 145 Mathematics for the (Mis)Information Age will not fulfill the math requirement. Students transferring into clinical program—any college-level course.

Service

Fulfilled through clinical practica.

Additional Information

Accreditation

The Andrews University Program for Medical Laboratory Sciences holds accreditation from the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), 5600 N River Rd, Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018, (773) 714-8880 fax (773) 714-8886, e-mail at info@naacls, or the Web at www.naacls.org.