Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science

Program Overview

If you love science and medicine and have an investigative mind, then Medical Laboratory Science is the major for you.

In today's era of rapidly evolving medical research and technology, one can hardly imagine a health care system without the contributions of medical laboratory scientists. Medical Laboratory Science is the health profession that analyzes blood, tissues, and other bodily specimens for the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of diseases.

Medical laboratory scientists are critical members of the health care team. They use their biomedical expertise and technical skills to provide essential information about the health and disease status of patients. For example, laboratory professionals identify pathogenic microbes, detect cancer cells, screen for diabetes, determine blood types and perform genetic testing.

Students in this major work closely with faculty members and engage in hands-on learning in the classroom, laboratory and clinical environment to develop critical thinking and technical skills. Students select a concentration in clinical laboratory science or public health laboratory science. All students complete a practicum at our premier regional clinical affiliates. Students also have the opportunity to apply to our accelerated master's degree program in their third year. 

Program Mission

The mission of the University of Vermont’s Medical Laboratory Science program is to educate, train and graduate professionally competent and ethical individuals committed to lifelong learning, and who are prepared to meet current and future workplace challenges in medical laboratory science.

Educational Goals

• Graduates will be competent to function as entry-level medical laboratory scientists in any clinical or public health laboratory environment
• Graduates will demonstrate problem-solving and critical thinking skills
• Graduates will demonstrate effective written and verbal communication skills
• Graduates will demonstrate the highest professional and ethical standards

Accreditation

The Medical Laboratory Science Program, Clinical Laboratory Science Concentration at the University of Vermont has been re-accredited for the period April 30, 2022 - April 30, 2032 by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science, 5600 N. River Rd., Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018-5119; (773) 714-8880.

Concentrations

Clinical Laboratory Science

The Clinical Laboratory Science Concentration equips students with coursework that prepares them for hands-on experiences in medical laboratories, where they utilize biomedical knowledge and technical skills to comprehend patient health and diseases.

Public Health Laboratory Science

Public health laboratory scientists work in state, federal, and international laboratories. Their education focuses on applying microbiology and molecular biology to public health, aiding in epidemiology, and overseeing health status monitoring and disease prevention initiatives.

Curriculum

The foundational curriculum encompasses studies in anatomy and physiology, chemistry, organic chemistry, microbiology, biochemistry, immunology, and mathematics. Students have the option to specialize in either clinical laboratory science or public health laboratory science, the latter of which concentrates on microbiology.

A Model Curriculum in Medical Laboratory Science

The Clinical Laboratory Science Concentration prepares students through coursework for practical experiences in medical laboratories. Here, they apply biomedical knowledge and technical skills to understand patient health and disease.

Clinical Laboratory Science Concentration 

Clinical laboratory science students complete course work which prepares them for practica in medical laboratories where they will apply their biomedical knowledge and technical skills and further learn about the health and disease status of patients. 

First Year

• Applications to Health
• Introduction to Public Health
• Written Expression
• General Chemistry
• Fundamentals of Calculus
• Introduction to Scientific Writing
• Human Cell Biology
• General Chemistry II
• Catamount Core Courses

Sophomore Year

• Human Anatomy and Physiology I
• Elements of Statistics
• Microbiology and Infectious Disease
• Health Care Ethics
• Catamount Core Courses
• Human Anatomy and Physiology II
• Introduction to Organic Chemistry with Lab
• Elective

Junior Year

• Leadership and Management in Health Care
• Fundamentals of Biochemistry
• Introduction to Human Disease
• Clinical Chemistry I
• Elective
• Advanced Medical Microbiology with Lab
• Immunology
• Immunology Lab
• Clinical Chemistry II

Senior Year

• Applied Molecular Biology with Lab
• Hematology with Lab
• Clinical Microbiology II
• Foundations of Interprofessionalism
• Topics in Medical Laboratory Science
• Clinical Practicum in Chemistry
• Clinical Practicum in Hematology
• Clinical Practicum in Microbiology
• Clinical Practicum in Immunohematology

Public Health Science Concentration 

Public health laboratory scientists are employed at state, federal, and international public health laboratories. Their curriculum emphasizes the application of microbiology and molecular biology to public health, supporting epidemiology, and the monitoring of health status and disease prevention strategies.

First Year

• Applications to Health
• Introduction to Public Health
• Written Expression
• General Chemistry I
• Fundamentals of Calculus I
• Introduction to Scientific Writing
• Human Cell Biology
• General Chemistry II
• Catamount Core Courses

Sophomore Year

• Human Anatomy and Physiology I
• Elements of Statistics
• Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
• Health Care Ethics
• Catamount Core Course
• Human Anatomy and Physiology II
• Introduction to Organic Chemistry with Lab
• Elective

Junior Year

• Leadership and Management in Health Care
• Fundamentals of Biochemistry
• Introduction to Human Disease
• Medical Biostatistics and Epidemiology
• Elective
• Advanced Medical Microbiology with Lab
• Immunology or Genetics
• Healthcare and Public Health Systems in the US or Epidemiology, Public Health, and Emerging Diseases

Senior Year

• Applied Molecular Biology with Lab
• Food Microbiology with Lab
• Clinical Microbiology II
• Elective
• Public Health Laboratory Practicum
• Clinical Practicum in Microbiology

The UVM Medical Center

Serving a population of more than 1 million people in Vermont and northern New York and just steps away from campus, The UVM Medical Center serves as a primary practice site.

As a student in UVM’s Medical Laboratory Science program, you will develop personal connections with professors who are researchers and clinical professionals in the field. Many of the faculty invite students to assist in their research.

Meet our faculty 

Admissions

Admission requirements align with the general university criteria, but also stipulate that candidates must have completed high school biology, mathematics up to trigonometry or precalculus, and chemistry. Additionally, taking physics is strongly advised.

Transfer Student Information Sessions

Transfer student information sessions are available to UVM students and students from outside of the university interested in transferring into College of Nursing and Health Sciences programs.

Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the bachelor's degree in Medical Laboratory Science, all MLS graduates will demonstrate:

• Competency to perform a full range of testing in a contemporary clinical or public health laboratory encompassing pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical components of laboratory services;
• Proficiency to interpret results, use critical thinking skills to problem solve, and apply statistical approaches when evaluating data;
• Ability to identify and trouble-shoot technical problems in laboratory procedures and instrumentation;
• Professional conduct as a member of the healthcare team and effective communication skills;
• An understanding of basic concepts related to quality assurance, quality improvement, laboratory education, administrative operation, information technology, and clinical decision making.

Upon completion of the bachelor's degree in Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Laboratory Science concentration, graduates will demonstrate:

• Ability to critically evaluate laboratory results and correlate them with human disease;
• Ability to determine the appropriate utilization of laboratory tests for screening, monitoring, therapy, and prognosis of human diseases;
• Adherence to standard operating procedures regarding safe work practices related to clinical specimens and infectious agents;
• Application of governmental regulations and standards as applied to medical laboratory practice in the clinical setting.

Upon completion of the bachelor's degree in Medical Laboratory Science Public Health Laboratory Science concentration, graduates will demonstrate:

• Ability to critically evaluate microbiology laboratory tests and results and correlate with infectious disease;
• Adherence to standard operating procedures regarding safe work practices related to microbial agents;
• Knowledge of laboratory testing as a vital component of broader public health surveillance systems.

Program Outcomes

Costs and Funding

• Tuition and scholarship opportunities.

More

Practicum

In their final semester, students collaborate directly with laboratory professionals at an external site. Explore practicum locations for the B.S. in Medical Laboratory Science in the University of Vermont Catalog.

Research with Faculty

Faculty research spans a variety of topics, from immunology to precision medicine, including the nature and treatment of cancer. Many faculty members engage undergraduate students in their research projects.

CCV to UVM 2+2 Pathway Program

Students enrolled in the CCV STEM Studies A.S. program have the opportunity to continue their education with a B.S. in Medical Laboratory Sciences at UVM through the pathway program.