Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences

Website: https://twu.edu/biology/undergraduate-programs/bachelor-of-science-in-medical-laboratory-sciences/

The Medical Laboratory Sciences Program is offered through the Division of Biology. The medical laboratory scientist becomes increasingly important as new and more effective techniques of laboratory diagnosis are developed. In addition, positions are frequently available in medical research. Career opportunities are found throughout the country in large and small communities.

Our program is designed to prepare the student as a member of the health services team and leads to a Bachelor of Science degree. The student completes the pre-clinical phase during the first three years in the program and begins the clinical sequence in the senior year.  This clinical rotation consists of both formal classes (hematology, parasitology, etc.) and hands-on laboratory training. Clinical rotation sites are approved by TWU and the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS).  TWU currently has four affiliate sites for completion of clinical training:

Certification

Completion of the program qualifies the Medical Laboratory Sciences student to take the National Registry Examination for certification as MLS (ASCP).

Marketable Skills

Defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's 60x30 Strategic Plan as, "Those skills valued by employers that can be applied in a variety of work settings, including interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skills areas. These skills can be either primary or complementary to a major and are acquired by students through education, including curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities."

  1. Written and oral communication skills.
  2. ​Demonstrate critical thinking by using logic and reasoning to interpret scientific results.
  3. Ability to design and conduct properly controlled experiments.
  4. Utilize modern scientific instruments and methods.
  5. ​Work collaboratively as part of a team to perform, analyze, interpret, and present research.
  6. ​Ability to understand and comply with laboratory safety guidelines.

Admissions

All applicants must meet the general undergraduate admission requirements.

Admission to Clinical Rotations

In the third year of the program, Medical Laboratory Sciences students must submit an application and be accepted for clinical rotations at an affiliate site.  TWU currently has four affiliate sites for completion of clinical training:

Degree Requirements

Total Semester Credit Hours (SCH): 122-123   

Major: 34 SCH;  Required Minor: 20-21 SCH (Chemistry)

Program Code: MEDTECH.BS;  CIP Code: 51.1005.00

Lecture and lab must be taken concurrently.  A minimum grade of C is mandatory in all required courses for Medical Laboratory Sciences majors.

Texas Core Curriculum

ENG 1013Composition I3
ENG 1023Composition II3
Mathematics3
Life & Physical Sciences6
Language, Philosophy, & Culture3
Creative Arts3
HIST 1013History of the United States, 1492-18653
HIST 1023History of the United States, 1865 to the Present3
POLS 2013U.S. National Government3
POLS 2023Texas Government3
Social & Behavioral Sciences3
CAO: Women's Studies3
CAO: First Year Seminar, Wellness or Mathematics3
Total SCHs42

Courses Required for Major

BACT 3113
BACT 3111
General Microbiology
and General Microbiology Laboratory
4
BACT 4113
BACT 4111
Immunology
and Immunology Laboratory
4
BIOL 4813
BIOL 4811
Molecular and Cellular Biology: Gene Expression
and Molecular and Cellular Biology: Gene Expression Laboratory
4
ZOOL 4243
ZOOL 4241
Medical Physiology
and Medical Physiology Laboratory
4
BIOL 4681Biology Seminar1
Biology Elective from BACT, BIOL, or ZOOL9
Biology Elective hours must include coursework appropriate for science majors. The following courses are not acceptable electives: BACT 1003/BACT 1001, BIOL 1013, BIOL 1023, BIOL 1033, BIOL 1223, ZOOL 2013/ZOOL 2011, and ZOOL 2023/ZOOL 2021.
Total SCHs26

Departmental Requirements

BIOL 1113
BIOL 1111
Principles of Biology I
and Principles of Biology I Laboratory
4
BIOL 1123
BIOL 1121
Principles of Biology II
and Principles of Biology II Laboratory
4
Choose one of the following:4
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry Laboratory I
Principles of Chemistry I
and Principles of Chemistry Laboratory I
Choose one of the following:4
General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry Laboratory II
Principles of Chemistry II
and Principles of Chemistry Laboratory II
CHEM 2213
CHEM 2211
Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I
4
CHEM 3223
CHEM 3221
Organic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory II
4
Choose one of the following:4-5
Quantitative Chemical Analysis
and Quantitative Chemical Analysis Laboratory
Biochemistry I
and Biochemistry I Laboratory
MATH 1303College Algebra3-4
or MATH 2014 Calculus I
MATH 1703Elementary Statistics I3
Choose one of the following:4
Principles of Physics I
and Principles of Physics Laboratory I
General Physics I
and General Physics Laboratory I
Total SCHs38-40

Electives

Medical Laboratory Sciences Clinical Rotation27
Total SCHs27

Students must satisfy the 3 SCH global perspectives graduation requirement.

During the first three years of this program, students complete Core and degree requirements toward preparation for clinical training at an approved affiliate site. Students may need to complete some of this coursework during summer sessions in order to finish classes within a three year period. The senior year will be spent at an affiliate hospital with a contractual agreement with TWU.

General types of courses in the senior year include studies in the areas of microbiology, parasitology, clinical chemistry, hematology, serology, urinalysis, mycology, and histology.

Clinical year arrangements are made with the Director of the Medical Laboratory Sciences Program. Medical Laboratory Sciences majors must submit a cross-registration form to the Division of Biology for each semester of the clinical program.  The clinical component semester credit hours will be transferred to Texas Woman's University as 30 or more advanced semester hours credit.

Minor

No minor is offered in Medical Laboratory Sciences. The minor in chemistry is incorporated within the medical technology curriculum.

Required Courses
CHEM 1113
CHEM 1111
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry Laboratory I
4
CHEM 1123
CHEM 1121
General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry Laboratory II
4
CHEM 2213
CHEM 2211
Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I
4
CHEM 3223
CHEM 3221
Organic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory II
4
Choose one of the following4-5
Quantitative Chemical Analysis
and Quantitative Chemical Analysis Laboratory
Biochemistry I
and Biochemistry I Laboratory
Total SCHs20-21

Recommended Plan of Study

First Year
FallTCCNSCHs
BIOL 1113
BIOL 1111
Principles of Biology I
and Principles of Biology I Laboratory
BIOL 1406
& BIOL 1106
4
CHEM 1113
CHEM 1111
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry Laboratory I
CHEM 1311
& CHEM 1111
4
MATH 1303College Algebra MATH 13143
ENG 1013Composition I ENGL 13013
UNIV 1231Learning Frameworks: First-Year Seminar EDUC 1100, EDUC 1200, EDUC 13001
 SCHs 15
SpringTCCN
BIOL 1123
BIOL 1121
Principles of Biology II
and Principles of Biology II Laboratory
BIOL 1407
& BIOL 1107
4
CHEM 1123
CHEM 1121
General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry Laboratory II
CHEM 1312
& CHEM 1112
4
MATH 1703Elementary Statistics I MATH 13423
ENG 1023Composition II ENGL 13023
Multicultural Women's Studies CAO Core3
 SCHs 17
Second Year
FallTCCN
BACT 3113
BACT 3111
General Microbiology
and General Microbiology Laboratory
4
CHEM 2213
CHEM 2211
Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I
CHEM 2323
& CHEM 2123
4
POLS 2013U.S. National Government GOVT 23053
HIST 1013History of the United States, 1492-1865 HIST 13013
Biology Elective (in consultation with advisor)3
 SCHs 17
SpringTCCN
ZOOL 4243
ZOOL 4241
Medical Physiology
and Medical Physiology Laboratory
4
CHEM 3223
CHEM 3221
Organic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory II
4
POLS 2023Texas Government GOVT 23063
HIST 1023History of the United States, 1865 to the Present HIST 13023
Creative Arts Core3
 SCHs 17
Third Year
FallTCCN
BIOL 4813
BIOL 4811
Molecular and Cellular Biology: Gene Expression
and Molecular and Cellular Biology: Gene Expression Laboratory
4
PHYS 1133
PHYS 1131
Principles of Physics I
and Principles of Physics Laboratory I
PHYS 1301
& PHYS 1101
4
Biology Elective (in consulation with advisor)3
Social/Behavioral Science Core3
Language, Philosophy & Culture Core3
 SCHs 17
SpringTCCN
BACT 4113
BACT 4111
Immunology
and Immunology Laboratory
4
Chose one of the following4-5
Quantitative Chemical Analysis
and Quantitative Chemical Analysis Laboratory
 
Biochemistry I
and Biochemistry I Laboratory
 
BIOL 4681Biology Seminar 1
Biology Elective (in consultation with advisor)3
 SCHs 12-13
Fourth Year
FallTCCN
Clinical Rotation - Upper Level14
 SCHs 14
SpringTCCN
Clinical Rotation - Upper Level13
 SCHs 13
 Total SCHs:  122-123