BS-Medical Laboratory Science

Program Goals

The goal of the Medical Laboratory Science Program is to provide a solid program of study that qualifies students for admission to a hospital-based program for clinical laboratory education. The program involves three years of undergraduate study at Gannon and a fourth year of clinical education at a hospital-based program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS). Currently, Gannon is affiliated with the medical laboratory science programs of AHN Saint Vincent Hospital, Erie, Pennsylvania; UPMC Chautauqua WCA, Jamestown, New York; and Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center, Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Students may also apply to other accredited hospital-based programs even though these programs are not affiliated with Gannon.

The Medical Laboratory Science Program prepares students to become competent medical laboratory professionals for entry-level work, which is a solid steppingstone to diverse careers in health care and other settings. Grounded in the liberal arts, sciences and professional specialization, the rigorous comprehensive curriculum is designed to promote the development not only of the technical skills inherent in the field but also critical, analytical, and problem solving skills. It articulates the mission of Gannon University.

GU Undergraduate Entry Requirements

• Completion of four years of science courses at the high school level (biology and chemistry courses are required, while physics is highly recommended)

• Completion of four years of math courses at the high school level

• Cumulative high school GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale

Curriculum Overview

The curriculum draws heavily on biology and chemistry and provides an opportunity for students to minor in either discipline. The hands-on experience during the clinical laboratory education in the senior year provides students intensive experiential learning, which allows them to further understand and apply their science education. Many medical preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic decisions involve testing and analyzing laboratory test results. By performing these responsibilities behind the scenes, medical laboratory scientists are important members of the healthcare team.

Graduates’ Competencies

Graduates’ entry-level career competencies meet the accreditation standards of the medical laboratory science profession. General and specific competencies pertain to professional and ethical considerations, professional laboratory skills, communication, computerization and instrumentation, management, and education. The course content and clinical laboratory experience encourage excellence, independence, and confidence in the application of skills, clinical theory, and problem solving. Students provide services to patient care during their clinical internship. Graduates are well prepared to pass the national Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) certification exam required by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification (BOC).

Career Opportunities

Medical laboratory scientists are problem-solvers, dealing with the complexities and outcomes of medicine and science. They provide invaluable service to patient care by performing a wide range of laboratory tests, confirming the accuracy of test results, and reporting the test results to pathologists and other physicians. Medical laboratory scientists work in blood banking, chemistry, hematology, immunology, and microbiology. They apply their solid foundation in the sciences and medical laboratory education to the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases.

Practice settings for medical laboratory scientists include hospitals, independent laboratories, clinics, public health agencies, and industries. Molecular diagnostics, molecular biotechnology companies, and other specialized laboratories offer additional career opportunities. Experienced medical laboratory scientists have opportunities to advance their career by specializing in certain areas, such as cell marker technology, bioengineering and cancer research, drug testing, therapeutic drug monitoring and biogenetics. Industry offers career opportunities in product development, marketing, sales, and quality assurance.

Currently, the demand for medical laboratory scientists far exceeds the supply of qualified laboratory professionals. With continued population growth and medical advances, the need for medical laboratory scientists is expected to increase.

Application for Clinical Internship and Degree Completion

In general, students apply for admission to hospital-based programs at the start of the fall semester in their junior year, and upon acceptance, begin their clinical education the following summer. Students will have completed all their prerequisite courses prior to their clinical education. Because each hospital-based program has a different calendar, it is important for students to obtain information about individual programs as early as possible. The program director at Gannon assists students with the application process; however, the University does not guarantee admission of students to the hospital-based programs. These programs conduct their own selection process. Selection of students for admission to the hospital laboratory program is based primarily on grade point average (GPA), typically a 3.0 or higher. In addition, hospital-based programs typically require a science GPA of 2.8 or higher. Therefore, students with a low GPA, especially in the sciences, may not be accepted by the hospitals for the laboratory portion of the program. Students should know the requirements of each program they are considering.

While students are completing their laboratory education, they are considered students of that program and do not register at Gannon. They are governed by the academic policies of their laboratory education program. They should still adhere to certain university deadlines that affect their degree completion. For example, they are responsible for applying for May graduation by early November.

Directors of affiliated hospital-based programs send students’ grades to Gannon to be recorded on the students’ transcripts.

Students who complete Gannon’s three-year academic requirements and successfully complete their fourth year of studies (approximately 12 months) at an accredited medical laboratory science program will be awarded the Bachelor of Science degree with a major in medical laboratory science. Students graduate in the summer following completion of their laboratory education. Graduates are eligible to take a national certification test given by the Board of Certification of the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP). Those who pass the exam may use the initials, MLS (ASCP) CM after their name, showing proficiency in Medical Laboratory Science.

MDTC courses are offered by hospital-based medical laboratory science programs. Hospital programs may have different course titles.