Mar 29, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog

Medical Laboratory Sciences (B.S.)


Check departmental information for any additional requirements.

The student learning outcomes for this degree are located at http://www.niu.edu/assessment/clearinghouse/outcomes/index.shtml.

General Information


Admission to the major in medical laboratory sciences is limited. See “Limited Admissions and Limited Retention Requirements” in the front part of this catalog.

The medical laboratory sciences program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences. To become certified as a medical laboratory scientist (MLS), the graduate of the program must complete an examination for professional competence by the Board of Certification. Completion of the examination, however, is not a prerequisite for the B.S. degree.

Students must be admitted into the medical laboratory sciences program to enroll in 300- and 400- level AHLS courses. Students must maintain a grade of C or better in all 300-level AHLS designated courses in the MLS program or be subject to dismissal from the program. A student also may be dismissed from the program for actions that threaten the health and/or safety of people, violating the student professional contract, or any policy, statement, rule, law, or regulation of NIU or the clinical site. All general education courses must be completed before beginning the practicum courses in the hospital.

The medical laboratory science practicum courses, AHLS 486 and AHLS 487, include topics in hematology, hemostasis, urinalysis, body fluids, medical microbiology, medical diagnostic biochemistry, medical immunology and immunohematology. . Clinical placements at affiliated hospitals require the student to meet all clinical requirements (HERE).

Before enrolling in AHLS 486 and AHLS 487 students must have completed all other university and program requirements for graduation. Medical laboratory science online degree completion students enrolling in AHLS 497 must be in the process of completing all university requirements.   

B.S. Degree Completion Program


Medical Laboratory Sciences for Certified Clinical/Medical Laboratory Technicians 

The focus of this program is baccalaureate-level education for Medical Laboratory Sciences. This degree program is uniquely designed for clinical or medical laboratory technicians with an associate of applied science degree (A.A.S.) or associate of science degree (A.S.) and appropriate certification as granted by the ASCP Board of Certification or equivalent national organization with a minimum of one year of experience working full-time as a CLT/MLT within the last five years. Students with an associate of applied science degree or associate of science degree may need to take additional courses prior to admittance to the program. The degree program is offered entirely online. Students who desire to complete the requirements for the B.S. in clinical or medical laboratory sciences are advised to contact the program coordinator for specific information. 

Once formally admitted into the major, degree completion students will complete the didactic courses online and must complete the required AHLS 300-level courses with a grade of C or better; additional courses required are HSCI 318 or proficiency test, AHLS 440, AHLS 448, AHLS 450 and AHLS 497. Students enrolling in AHLS 497, MLT-MLS Integrated Experience, must be in the process of completing all university requirements. In addition, these students must obtain satisfactory performance in AHLS 475, Medical Laboratory Sciences Competency, taken in the final semester of the program. Degree completion students will receive up to 13 semester hours of credit the last semester prior to degree completion for the following courses: AHLS 211, AHLS 300, AHLS 311, AHLS 312, AHLS 313, AHLS 337, and AHLS 345. Upon successful completion of all the MLS requirements, the student will be awarded up to an additional 17 hours of proficiency credit for the learning experiences leading to the A.A.S. or A.S. in CLT/MLT. Students in this program are exempt from the 30-semester-hour university graduation residence.

Major in Medical Laboratory Sciences (B.S.)


The medical laboratory sciences program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences.

The student learning outcomes for this degree are located at www.niu.edu/assessment/clearinghouse/outcomes/index.shtml.  

Requirements in School (57-63)


MLT-MLS Online Degree Completion Majors: 57-60 credit hours


Requirements outside School (34-35)


MLS Majors


Total Hours for a Major in Medical Laboratory Sciences: 91-98


Recommendations


Medical laboratory science (MLS) majors must maintain an ongoing active communication with the program director for medical laboratory sciences.  

Graduates of the MLS program are encouraged to become certified as a medical laboratory scientist by sitting for the ASCP Board of Certification MLS exam for professional competence. Completion of the examination, however, is not a prerequisite for the B.S. degree. Graduates are encouraged to take the exam within six months of completion of the program.