Biomedical Science Major: Medical Laboratory Science Option (B.S.)

The Biomedical Science: Medical Laboratory Science (BMS:MLS) program provides you with the medical knowledge and understanding of diagnostic testing needed for a fulfilling career in the biomedical sciences, including as an American College of Clinical Pathology-certified Medical Laboratory Scientist.

As a Biomedical Science: Medical Laboratory Science major, you will:

• learn to determine the presence, extent, or absence of human disease through understanding the diagnostic testing that medical professionals use to make these determinations (70% of physician decisions are based on diagnostic testing results)
• obtain hands-on experience by performing immunological, biochemical, molecular, and microbiological procedures that aid in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease

Unique features of the MLS option include:

• the only 4-year degree program in NH that includes a path for students to become certified as Medical Laboratory Scientists (MLS) by the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) and that is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS)
• Certified Medical Laboratory Scientists are in high demand and easily find employment in hospitals and medical centers throughout the country
• the MLS program is affiliated with Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and NorDx/Maine Medical Center

Careers or post-baccalaureate education of previous Medical Laboratory Science graduates include:

• certified medical laboratory scientists (ASCP) in diagnostic testing  laboratories in hospitals and industry
• research scientists/laboratory technicians
  • biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies
  • biomedical research facilities
  • forensic laboratories
  • hospital reference laboratories
  • government public health laboratories
• secondary school educators (with additional coursework in education)
• diagnostic product development
• sales and marketing
• state and federal government agencies (e.g., U.S. Food and Drug Administration).
• professional health programs
  • medical school
  • allied health programs (physician assistant, pathologists’ assistant, pharmacy)
• graduate programs
  • microbiology
  • biomedical science
  • biochemistry
  • nursing
  • public health
  • business administration

Sample Degree Plan

This sample degree plan serves as a general guide; students collaborate with their academic advisor to develop a personalized degree plan to meet their academic goals and program requirements.

Degree Requirements

All Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*Major GPA requirements as indicated.

Major Requirements

The Medical Laboratory Sciences (MLS) program is NAACLS accredited and follows accreditation requirements.

Students in this option take four Foundation courses, five Bioscience Core courses, six BMS:MLS core courses, and five Major Elective courses. One capstone experience, supervised and approved within the major, is required of all seniors. The capstone explores areas of interest based on the integration of prior learning. In addition, all other University academic requirements must be completed, including those for the University Discovery Program and Writing Requirement.

A minimum grade of C- minus or above is required in BMS:MLS Core Courses.

Required Courses

¹

CHEM 403 fulfills the Physical Science Discovery requirement.

²

Students applying to health profession schools need a full year of Organic Chemistry, a full year of Introductory Biology, and a full year of English. CHEM 651/CHEM 653 and CHEM 652/CHEM 654 should be taken in place of CHEM 545/CHEM 546; ENGL 502 or ENGL 503 is suggested in addition to ENGL 401. See Pre-Professional Health Program Advising.

³

Statistics fulfills the Quantitative Reasoning Discovery requirement.

⁴

BIOL 411 fulfills the Biological Science Discovery requirement, Discovery Laboratory requirement, and the Discovery Inquiry requirement

BMS-MLS Major Electives

FIVE (5) unique Major Electives are required. Two courses must include a laboratory component.

⁵

If BMS 721 is taken concurrently with BMS 720, it may count as one of the two required Laboratory Electives. However, BMS 721 is not a Major Elective course, so five Major Electives must still be completed, at least one of which includes a lab component, plus four additional Major Electives with or without lab.

⁶

Required for students interested in MLS clinical generalist internship

⁷

A 20 credit Clinical Hematology Internship covering advanced instruction in hematology and hemostasis at a local hospital or reference laboratory is also available. Please see your advisor for information.

Capstone

The capstone explores areas of interest based on the integration of prior learning. The capstone requirement may be satisfied through a course, created work or product, or some form of experiential learning (e.g., honors thesis, mentored research project, or other special student activity). Students may take more than one capstone course. Capstone completion is never displayed on Degree Works; your advisor will certify capstone completion at the time of graduation. Students must have 90 credits or more when completing their capstone requirement. See your advisor for questions about capstones.

For a Capstone experience not listed above, such as an internship, submit a Capstone Experience Approval form prior to beginning the experience. 

Program Learning Outcomes

Core Knowledge

• Students will demonstrate an understanding of core knowledge in biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, genetics and biomedical sciences.

Quantitative Literacy, Inquiry & Analysis

• Students will be able to apply the scientific method to examine experimental evidence and draw informed conclusions.
• Students will be able to use graphs to represent scientific data.
• Students will be able to apply statistical methods to interpret scientific data.

Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

• Students will be able to use data to troubleshoot an unexpected outcome.
• Students will be able to apply core knowledge to critically interpret scientific data.

Written Communication

• Students will demonstrate written skills to communicate scientific knowledge and experimental data.

Oral Communication

• Students will be able to demonstrate oral presentation skills to communicate scientific knowledge and experimental data.

Biomedical Science: Medical Laboratory Sciences option

• Students will be able to correlate patient history, symptoms and laboratory test results with the diagnosis and treatment of clinical disease state
• Students will be able to interpret, analyze, and identify clinical laboratory results.
• Students will be able to define the mechanisms that give rise to human diseases and/or organ system dysfunction, including hypersensitivity, renal disease, acid-base disorders, etc.
• Students will be able to recognize risk factors for the development of disease
• Students will be able to identify and explain the underlying principle(s) of appropriate testing methodologies and assays for diagnosis of clinical diseases and organ system dysfunction.