Undergraduate College Catalog

Medical Laboratory Science Major

Overview

Medical laboratory scientists are health professionals who supervise and conduct laboratory diagnostic tests on patients’ body fluids and/or tissues, assisting the physician with diagnoses and treatments. An education in this field will prepare the student for a variety of career opportunities.

The Medical Laboratory Science major prepares students to transfer in three years to an MLS program outside of University of Jamestown. Acceptance into the off-campus program is independent from University of Jamestown. Students should consult with the program director, registrar, Business Office, and Financial Aid Office early in their course of study to ensure a clear understanding of the MLS program, application procedure, and financial aid implications for the off-campus portion of the course of study. (There is one prerequisite course, Hematology with lab, that must be taken online from UND or from another institution at the student’s own expense.)

Students must apply for admittance to an affiliated MLS program during the fall semester of the junior year. Minimum GPA is 2.8. There can be no more than one "D" in any math or science course, and the student must be recommended by the University of Jamestown MLS program director. The senior year is spent exclusively in professionally-oriented courses in the twelve-month clinical program; therefore, all general education requirements must be completed before attending. Grades and credits earned at the affiliated program are transferred to the University of Jamestown. Upon satisfactory completion of the program, the bachelor's degree is granted by the University of Jamestown.

Two options are available in preparing for a career in medical laboratory science (MLS) Students can plan programs so that they need not decide immediately which option they will choose. Each includes a year of clinical internship in an accredited medical laboratory science (medical laboratory science) program and prepares the student for the medical laboratory scientist certification exam from the Board of Registry of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists. As a member of the Western College Alliance for Medical Laboratory Science, a cooperative education program between several universities and colleges in the Midwest, University of Jamestown is affiliated with the medical laboratory science program at the University of North Dakota (UND). The final professional year begins with a summer semester at the University of North Dakota. Fall and spring semesters are then spent at one of the many possible clinical sites. There are currently more than twenty-five clinical affiliates in North Dakota, Minnesota, and other western states.

 

 

Requirements

The student must apply for admittance to an affiliated MLS program during the fall semester of the junior year. Minimum GPA is 2.8. There can be no more than one “D” in any math or science course, and the student must be recommended by the University of Jamestown MLS program director. The senior year is spent exclusively in professionally oriented courses in the twelve-month clinical program; therefore, all general education requirements must be completed before attending. Grades and credits earned at the affiliated program are transferred to University of Jamestown. Upon satisfactory completion of the program, the bachelor’s degree is granted by University of Jamestown.

Courses Taken at University of Jamestown

BIOL 150Introduction to Biology I (Lec/Lab)

3/1

BIOL 151Introduction to Biology II (Lec/Lab)

3/1

BIOL 208Human Anatomy and Physiology I (Lec/Lab)

4/1

BIOL 209Human Anatomy and Physiology II (Lec/Lab)

4/1

BIOL 216Microbiology (Lec/Lab)

3/1

BIOL 305Cell Biology (Lec/Lab)

4/1

BIOL 435Immunology

3

CHEM 133General Chemistry I (Lec/Lab)

3/1

CHEM 134General Chemistry II (Lec/Lab)

3/1

CHEM 343Organic Chemistry I (Lec/Lab)

3/1

CHEM 344Organic Chemistry II (Lec/Lab)

3/1

MATH 113Pre-Calculus

4

Total Credit Hours:55

MATH 113 or higher

Courses Taken Online from UND

To see information about these specific courses, click here.
MLS 325Hematology

3

MLS 325LHematology Laboratory

2

Total Credit Hours:5
 

Highly-Recommended Courses

BIOL 210Medical Terminology

1

BIOL 430Genetics (Lec/Lab)

4/1

BUSN 321Business Management

3

MATH 205Statistics

3

 

Senior Year 12-Month Clinical Program

Summer Semester Courses (online)

MLS 411Clinical Chemistry I

2

MLS 412Clinical Hematology & Hemostasis

3

MLS 413Clinical Immunohematology I

2

MLS 414Clinical Microbiology I

3

MLS 415Clinical Urinalysis & Body Fluids I

2

MLS 416Clinical Immunology & Molecular Diagnostics

1

Total Credit Hours:13

Fall Semester Courses (on campus at UND)

MLS 420Clinical Laboratory Operations

2

MLS 421Clinical Chemistry II

2

MLS 422Clinical Hematology & Hemostasis II

3

MLS 423Clinical Immunohematology II

2

MLS 424Clinical Microbiology II

3

MLS 425Clinical Urinalysis & Body Fluids II

2

Total Credit Hours:14

Spring Semester Courses (at Clinical Site)

MLS 431Clinical Chemistry & Urinalysis III

2

MLS 432Clinical Hematology & Hemostasis III

2

MLS 433Clinical Immunohematology III

2

MLS 434Clinical Microbiology III

2

MLS 449 Capstone in Medical Laboratory Science

3

MLS 450Advanced Clinical Applications in Medical Laboratory Science

1

Total Credit Hours:12
All courses with the MLS identifier are offered through the University of North Dakota (UND). To see course descriptions and other course information, visit UND's Medical Laboratory Science webpage.

Total Credit Hours: 39

Plan of Study

Outcomes

Upon completion of the Medical Lab Science major, the student will be:

  1. Able to explain and apply the vocabulary, fundamental principles, and theories relevant to the field. 
  2. Able to choose and safely use appropriate laboratory and field techniques and equipment.
  3. Able to demonstrate proficiency to problem-solve, troubleshoot, interpret results, and think critically when evaluating data.
  4. Able to communicate precisely and analytically in scientific written and oral formats.
  5. Well prepared for success in an MLS internship program.