Medical Laboratory Science (BSMedLabSci)
The student preparing for a career in medical laboratory science completes a minimum of 120 semester hours of academic work.
Students complete 96 semester hours toward the Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science (BSMedLabSci) degree before advancing to the clinical education practicum requirement in the final year in which they enter a National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) accredited Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) program for an additional 12 to 16 months of clinical education. After successful completion of the clinical education practicum requirement, the student is awarded the Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science from the University 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.
All students must complete a sequence of general education; major requirements, which include clinical education practicum requirements; and special requirements, which include electives.
Total Hours Required: 120
Plan of Study
The Plan of Study is a suggested four-year course sequence to support academic planning and serves as a helpful guide. Currently enrolled students should meet with their academic advisor to tailor their course selections and timelines to their individual goals and circumstances.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Hours | |
| M 408R | Differential and Integral Calculus for the Sciences | 4 |
| CH 301 | Principles of Chemistry I | 3 |
| BIO 311C | Introductory Biology I | 3 |
| First-Year Signature Course (090) | 3 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| CH 302C | Foundations of Chemistry II | 3 |
| BIO 311D | Introductory Biology II | 3 |
| CH 204 | Introduction to Chemical Practice | 2 |
| RHE 306 | Rhetoric and Writing | 3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (080) | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Semester 3 | ||
| GOV 310L | American and Texas Government | 3 |
| U.S. History (060) | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| CH 320M | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| BIO 325 | Genetics | 3 |
| SDS 320E | Elements of Statistics | 3 |
| MIS 302F | Foundations of Information Technology Management | 3 |
| Foreign Language and Culture | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| CH 320N | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CH 220C | Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| MBS 326M | Introductory Medical Microbiology and Immunology | 3 |
| MBS 226L | General Microbiology Laboratory | 2 |
| Foreign Language and Culture | 3 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Semester 3 | ||
| GOV 312L | Issues and Policies in American Government | 3 |
| U.S. History (060) | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| MBS 360K | Immunology | 3 |
| MBS 260L | Immunology Laboratory | 2 |
| MBS 361 | Human Infectious Diseases | 3 |
| BCH 369 | Fundamentals of Biochemistry | 3 |
| Humanities (040) | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| MBS 330 | Molecular Biology of Animal Viruses | 3 |
| MBS 344 | Molecular Biology | 3 |
| MBS 361L | Clinical Bacteriology Laboratory | 3 |
| INB 365S | Human Systems Physiology | 3 |
| Visual and Performing Arts (050) | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| Hours chosen from: Clinical Education coursework | 9 | |
| Topics in Medical Laboratory Science | ||
| Topics in Medical Laboratory Science | ||
| Topics in Medical Laboratory Science | ||
| Topics in Medical Laboratory Science | ||
| Topics in Medical Laboratory Science | ||
| Topics in Medical Laboratory Science | ||
| Topics in Medical Laboratory Science | ||
| Topics in Medical Laboratory Science | ||
| Topics in Medical Laboratory Science | ||
| Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Education Practicum | ||
| Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Education Practicum | ||
| Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Education Practicum | ||
| Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Education Practicum | ||
| Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Education Practicum | ||
| Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Education Practicum | ||
| Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Education Practicum | ||
| Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Education Practicum | ||
| Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Education Practicum | ||
| Hours | 9 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| Hours chosen from: Clinical Education coursework | 9 | |
| Topics in Medical Laboratory Science | ||
| Topics in Medical Laboratory Science | ||
| Topics in Medical Laboratory Science | ||
| Topics in Medical Laboratory Science | ||
| Topics in Medical Laboratory Science | ||
| Topics in Medical Laboratory Science | ||
| Topics in Medical Laboratory Science | ||
| Topics in Medical Laboratory Science | ||
| Topics in Medical Laboratory Science (any topic) | ||
| Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Education Practicum | ||
| Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Education Practicum | ||
| Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Education Practicum | ||
| Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Education Practicum | ||
| Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Education Practicum | ||
| Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Education Practicum | ||
| Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Education Practicum | ||
| Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Education Practicum | ||
| Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Education Practicum | ||
| Hours | 9 | |
| Semester 3 | ||
| Hours chosen from: Clinical Education coursework | 6 | |
| Topics in Medical Laboratory Science | ||
| Topics in Medical Laboratory Science | ||
| Topics in Medical Laboratory Science | ||
| Topics in Medical Laboratory Science | ||
| Topics in Medical Laboratory Science | ||
| Topics in Medical Laboratory Science | ||
| Topics in Medical Laboratory Science | ||
| Topics in Medical Laboratory Science | ||
| Topics in Medical Laboratory Science | ||
| Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Education Practicum | ||
| Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Education Practicum | ||
| Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Education Practicum | ||
| Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Education Practicum | ||
| Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Education Practicum | ||
| Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Education Practicum | ||
| Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Education Practicum | ||
| Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Education Practicum | ||
| Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Education Practicum | ||
| Hours | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Requirements
All requirements are listed below, starting with the most specialized moving to the most general. Additional requirements may follow the table, so be sure to read the entire page. Some required courses listed below may also satisfy General Education requirements, including Core Curriculum.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major | ||
| Hours chosen from one of the following foreign language/culture choices: | 6 | |
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. | ||
| M 408R | Differential and Integral Calculus for the Sciences | 4 |
| SDS 320E | Elements of Statistics | 3 |
| Hours chosen from a single sequence below: | 6 | |
| Sequence 1 | ||
| Introductory Biology I | ||
| Introductory Biology II | ||
| Genetics | ||
| Sequence 2 | ||
| Advanced Introduction to Genetics: Honors | ||
| Genetics: Honors | ||
| MBS 226L | General Microbiology Laboratory | 2 |
| MBS 326M | Introductory Medical Microbiology and Immunology | 3 |
| MBS 330 | Molecular Biology of Animal Viruses | 3 |
| Human Microscopic and Gross Anatomy | ||
| MBS 344 | Molecular Biology | 3 |
| or MBS 366R | Molecular Genetics and Medicine | |
| MBS 360K | Immunology | 3 |
| MBS 260L | Immunology Laboratory | 2 |
| MBS 361 | Human Infectious Diseases | 3 |
| MBS 361L | Clinical Bacteriology Laboratory | 3 |
| INB 365S | Human Systems Physiology | 3 |
| CH 301 | Principles of Chemistry I | 3 |
| or CH 301C | Foundations of Chemistry I | |
| CH 302 | Principles of Chemistry II | 3 |
| or CH 302C | Foundations of Chemistry II | |
| CH 204 | Introduction to Chemical Practice | 2 |
| CH 320M | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| Hours chosen from: | 4 | |
| Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry Laboratory | ||
| Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry | ||
| BCH 369 | Fundamentals of Biochemistry | 3 |
| C S 303E | Elements of Computers and Programming | 3 |
| MIS 302F | Foundations of Information Technology Management | 3 |
| Clinical Education Practicum | ||
| Completion of the clinical education practicum, which requires a minimum of 24 semester hours of clinical education coursework selected from the following: (Students must consult with their advisor before enrolling in clinical education coursework requirements) | 24 | |
| Topics in Medical Laboratory Science | ||
| Topics in Medical Laboratory Science | ||
| Topics in Medical Laboratory Science | ||
| Topics in Medical Laboratory Science | ||
| Topics in Medical Laboratory Science | ||
| Topics in Medical Laboratory Science | ||
| Topics in Medical Laboratory Science | ||
| Topics in Medical Laboratory Science | ||
| Topics in Medical Laboratory Science (any topic) | ||
| Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Education Practicum | ||
| Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Education Practicum | ||
| Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Education Practicum | ||
| Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Education Practicum | ||
| Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Education Practicum | ||
| Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Education Practicum | ||
| Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Education Practicum | ||
| Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Education Practicum | ||
| Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Education Practicum | ||
| Subtotal | 92 | |
| Degree | ||
| Free electives: Additional coursework to reach total hours required. | ||
| Subtotal | 0 | |
| General Education | ||
| Remaining Core Curriculum (42 hours total) | 28 | |
| Foreign Language other than English, Beginning Proficiency | ||
| Subtotal | 28 | |
| College Requirements - Natural Sciences | ||
| General University Requirements | ||
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Additional Requirements and Policy
Clinical Education Practicum Requirement
To advance to the clinical education practicum, medical laboratory science (MLS), students must:
- complete a minimum of 96 semester hours of coursework,
- have the approval to advance to the clinical education practicum by the university program director, and
- apply to and be accepted into a MLS clinical education program, which requires 12 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).
During the clinical education practicum, the MLS clinical education program director works closely with the University and each student to ensure their success in the program. The University verifies completion of coursework and grades upon completion of the MLS clinical education program. MLS clinical education coursework must be approved by the University to be counted toward the degree. Coursework completed in the MLS clinical education program may be used to fulfill clinical education practicum requirements only and applies solely to the Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science degree.
Affiliated University Program
Students completing the MLS clinical education program offered by an affiliated university register for and complete clinical education coursework at the affiliated university. During the practicum, students remain enrolled at UT Austin, which remains the home institution. Upon completion of the practicum, MLS clinical education coursework credit completed at the affiliated university program is transferred to the University to count toward the Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science degree at UT Austin.
Non-University Affiliated Program (Hospital-Based)
Students completing the MLS clinical education program offered by a program that is not university-based, such as a hospital, enroll each semester in clinical education coursework at UT Austin and complete coursework off-campus at their specific MLS clinical education program’s location.
Special Requirements
The student must take elective coursework, if necessary, to complete a minimum of 96 semester hours of academic work required for advancement to the clinical education practicum requirement for the Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science.
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- or receive a passing grade for each pass/fail course taken in the 12 to 16-month clinical education 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 their 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.