Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science
The student preparing for a career in medical laboratory science completes at least 100 hours of academic work at the University. After this work is completed, the student enters an accredited school of medical laboratory science (or clinical laboratory science) for an additional 12 to 16 months of clinical education. After completion of this education, the student is awarded the Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science and is eligible to take the national certification examination administered by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification (BOC). Successful completion of this exam results in national certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist.
The purpose of this degree program is to meet the increasing demand for laboratory professionals in hospital and clinic laboratories, research, industry, public health, education, and laboratory management. Medical laboratory science is also an excellent foundation for graduate study in medicine, dentistry, management, education, and other disciplines.
Prescribed Work
In the process of fulfilling degree requirements, all students must complete:
- Core curriculum
- Skills and experience flags:
a. Writing: two flagged courses beyond Rhetoric and Writing 306 or its equivalent, including one at the upper-division level
b. Quantitative reasoning: one flagged course
c. Global cultures: one flagged course
d. Cultural diversity in the United States: one flagged course
e. Ethics: one flagged course
f. Independent inquiry: one flagged course
Courses that may be used to fulfill flag requirements are identified in the Course Schedule. They may be used simultaneously to fulfill other requirements, unless otherwise specified. Please note, students may not earn the cultural diversity in the United States and the global cultures flags from the same course. Students are encouraged to discuss options with their academic advisors.
- One of the following foreign language/culture choices:
- Beginning level proficiency coursework, or the equivalent, in a foreign language.
- First course in a foreign language and a three-semester-hour course in the culture of the same language area.
- Two three-semester-hour courses in one foreign culture area; the courses must be chosen from an approved list available in the dean’s office and the college advising centers.
- Mathematics 408C or 408N, and Statistics and Data Sciences 304 or 328M
- Either Biology 311C, 311D, and 325, or Biology 315H and 325H
- Biology 226L, 326M, 330 or 446L, 344 or 366R, 360K, 260L, 361, 361L, and 365S
- Chemistry 301 or 301H, 302 or 302H, 204, 220C, 320M, 320N, and Biochemistry 369
- Computer Science 303E, Management Information Systems 302F, or Public Health 323
- Enough additional elective coursework, if necessary, to make a total of at least 100 semester hours of academic work completed at the University before the clinical education program.
- Twelve to 16 months of clinical education in a program of medical laboratory science (or clinical laboratory science) accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). The student must apply to and be accepted into a clinical education program. The clinical education program director works closely with each student to ensure his or her success in the program. Upon completion of the clinical education program, the student must submit a letter from the program director verifying completion of coursework and a transcript showing grades in all courses in the program to The University of Texas at Austin, Office of the Dean, College of Natural Sciences, 1 University Station G2500, Austin TX 78712. To be counted toward the degree, the coursework must be approved by the faculty advisor for medical laboratory science and the dean. None of the coursework completed in the clinical education program may be used to fulfill in-residence degree requirements, requirements 1 through 9 of the prescribed work above, or the requirements for a second bachelor’s degree.
Special Requirements
Students must fulfill both the University's General Requirements for graduation and the college requirements. They must also earn a grade of at least C- in each mathematics and science course required for the degree, and a grade point average in these courses of at least 2.00. Students must also earn a grade of at least C- in each course taken in the 12 to 16-month clinical education in a program of medical laboratory science (or clinical laboratory science) accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). More information about grades and the grade point average is given in the General Information Catalog.
Order and Choice of Work
The student should consult with his or her academic and faculty advisors each semester regarding order and choice of work and balancing the laboratory load. To complete the program within four years, it may be necessary for the student to take some courses during the summer.