Medical Laboratory Science

Mission Statement

In conjunction with mission statements of LMU and the School of Medical Sciences, the faculty of the Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) Program strive to instill the highest professional and ethical standards in the preparation of quality medical laboratory scientists through a superior academic program at the undergraduate level. Specifically, the mission of the Medical Laboratory Science Program is to prepare medical laboratory scientists with the Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science that demonstrates professional competency in the medical laboratory science field, including but not limited to the clinical areas of hematology, immunohematology, clinical chemistry, clinical microbiology, urinalysis, immunology/serology, and laboratory management.

Goals of the Medical Laboratory Science Program:

As a member of the School of Medical Sciences, the Medical Laboratory Science Program seeks to fulfill the following goals:

• Provide a baccalaureate program in Medical Laboratory Science that meets the academic standards of the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), the State of Tennessee, and LMU.
• Provide conscientious, caring, skilled medical laboratory scientists who are highly capable of comprehending and practicing the science of laboratory medicine.
• Provide an educational background that enables graduates to accept supervisory and teaching positions in the medical laboratory sciences.

Philosophy Statement of the Medical Laboratory Science Program:

It is the philosophy of the program that Medical Laboratory Scientists are essential members of the health care team, and that they provide a valuable diagnostic service to physicians and other medical care providers. We believe that the patient is an individual member of society with rights and privileges, worthy of respect—regardless of age, color, creed, disability, ethnic/national origin, gender, military status, race, religion, or sexual orientation. It is the educational goal of the Medical Laboratory Science Program to provide students with up-to-date medical information and competency skills, to stimulate them to think for themselves, and to give them professional ideals on which to base their future careers.

Medical Laboratory Science is a healthcare career that combines modern laboratory science with medical care. Tests performed in clinical laboratories by medical laboratory scientists assist physicians and other medical care providers in both the diagnosis and the treatment of pathological conditions. Medical laboratory scientists perform and interpret a wide variety of tests, ranging from simple blood glucose tests to advanced molecular diagnostic assays.

The Medical Laboratory Science major leads to the Bachelor of Science degree and is fully accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). and the State of Tennessee. NAACLS may be contacted via telephone at 773-714-8880 or at the following address:

5600 N. River Road
Suite 720
Rosemont, IL 60018
Phone: 1-773-714-8880
Fax: 1-773-714-8886
Web address: www.naacls.org

While attending their Medical Laboratory Science courses students in the Medical Laboratory Science program gain “real world” experience in a variety of clinical settings. The current clinical affiliates of this program can be found at https://www.lmunet.edu/school-of-medical-sciences/mls/index .

Graduates of this program are eligible to take the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification Exam (ASCP BOC) and directly enter the workforce in a variety of clinical settings, which may include hospital laboratories, clinic laboratories, and research and development laboratories.

Please note that the granting of the Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Laboratory Science is not contingent upon the students passing any type of external certification or licensure examination such as the ASCP BOC exam.

Admission Application Requirements for the LMU Medical Laboratory Science Program:

1. Submission of official academic transcripts from all postsecondary schools attended.
2. Admission to LMU.
3. Formal application for admission to the LMU Medical Laboratory Science Program.
4. Completion and submission of the medical profile physical form and official evidence of a negative urine drug screen. These are to be completed at the applicant’s own expense.
5. Satisfactory completion of a minimum of 65 credit hours of general education and collateral science requirements with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or higher.
6. Completion of 16 credit hours in chemistry including organic chemistry with laboratory and 8 credit hours of the biological science prerequisite requirements. In accordance with the State of Tennessee Medical Laboratory Board, survey, audit, remedial, college level examination program, advanced placement, and clinical courses do not qualify as fulfillment of the chemistry or biology collateral science requirements.

Note: Please be aware that in certain academic programs requiring internship or placement in a medical facility, (including Medical Laboratory Science) a criminal background check and/or an additional chain-of-custody urine drug screen may be required by affiliate agencies and organizations. If required, these tests would be administered at the student’s expense.

Progression Policies of the Medical Laboratory Science Program:

1. If a student earns one final grade below a “B” in the first sequence of MEDLS courses, namely MEDLS 301, 310, 320, or 391, the student will be automatically academically dismissed from the MEDLS program. The student may reapply for admission into the program, but it is clearly understood that readmission is not guaranteed. If admitted, the student must repeat the entire the first sequence of MEDLS courses, namely MEDLS 301, 310, 320, and 391.
2. If a student earns one final grade below a “B” in the second sequence of MEDLS courses, namely MEDLS 302, 330, 340, or 392, the student will be placed on academic probation in regards to the MEDLS program and that particular course must be repeated in the next semester BEFORE the student is allowed to continue to the next sequence of MEDLS courses. If the student fails to achieve a final grade of a “B” or higher in the repeated MEDLS course, the student will be automatically academically dismissed from the MEDLS program. The student may reapply for admission into the program, but it is clearly understood that readmission is not guaranteed. If readmitted, the student must restart the program in the first sequence of MEDLS courses, namely MEDLS 301, 310, 320, and 391.
3. If a student earns two or more final grades below a “B” in the second sequence of MEDLS courses, namely MEDLS 302, 330, 340, or 392, the student will be automatically academically dismissed from the MEDLS program. The student may reapply for admission into the program, but it is clearly understood that readmission is not guaranteed. If readmitted, the student must restart the program in the first sequence of MEDLS courses, namely MEDLS 301, 310, 320, and 391.
4. If a student earns a final grade below a “B” in any 400 level MEDLS course, the student is placed on academic probation in regard to the MLS program and that particular course must be repeated BEFORE the student is allowed to continue to the next sequence of MEDLS courses.
5. If a student earns two or more final grades below a “B” in the 400 level MEDLS courses whether in the same semester or different semesters, the student will be automatically academically dismissed from the MLS program. The student may reapply for admission into the program but it is clearly understood that readmission is not guaranteed. If readmitted, the student must repeat the entire program beginning with the first sequence of MEDLS courses, namely MEDLS 301, 310, 320, and 391.
6. No student will be readmitted into the MLS Program more than once.
7. In order to progress in the program, students must successfully complete the Medical Laboratory Science courses in sequence as specified in the LMU Medical Laboratory Science Student Handbook.
8. If the student chooses to interrupt their MEDLS course sequence for any reason (withdrawal from any MEDLS course, withdrawal from LMU, failure to enroll in the next MEDLS course sequence, etc.), this will be considered as an automatic withdrawal from the MLS Program. In this case, the student must begin the application process again and readmission is not guaranteed. If readmitted, the student must repeat the entire program beginning with the first sequence of MEDLS courses, namely MEDLS 301, 310, 320, and 391.
9. Any student with an Incomplete “I” in any MEDLS prefixed course(s) will not be allowed to enroll in subsequent MEDLS courses until the incomplete “I” has been removed from the transcript. “Incompletes” are only given to students who are unable to complete their MEDLS courses due to a properly documented medical illness or injury. If a student is deemed appropriate to receive an “incomplete”, all of the required course and/or clinical work must be completed by no later than 30 days after the conclusion of the current term. If the student fails to complete the requirements of that particular course, the student will receive zeros on all missed assignments and their final grade will be calculated accordantly.

Readmission Policy of the Medical Laboratory Science Program:

Consideration for readmission to the MLS program is given on an individual, space-available basis and it should be noted that no student will be readmitted more than once and that all new, first-time applicants will be given priority in terms of admission consideration over readmission applications.

All readmission applicants must do the following:

1. Complete the required LMU Medical Laboratory Science Application for Readmission form.
2. Provide evidence of extenuating circumstances at the time of dismissal from the MLS Program during a scheduled interview with the LMU MLS Program Admission Committee, composed of the faculty of the LMU MLS Program.
3. Provide evidence of academic success, i.e., improved GPA and/or in the interim between the last semester of enrollment in the MLS Program and the semester that they are seeking to be readmitted.