2021-2022 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog 
    
    Nov 23, 2024  
2021-2022 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Medical Laboratory Sciences, B.S.


The program in MLS is offered in cooperation with NAALCS-accredited clinical teaching labs at various partnering institutions. Fontbonne University offers two options for students interested in pursuing certification in MLS. The single-major curriculum can be completed in four years, leading to the B.S. in MLS; the double-major option requires five years; leading to double majors in Biology and MLS. Clinical internship placements, which are required for the MLS major, are awarded on a competitive basis and cannot be guaranteed by the university. After successful completion of a NAACLS accredited MLS program and receipt of the BS degree, students are eligible to sit for the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) MLS certification examination. A list of current partnering institutions can be obtained by contacting the department.

Major Retention for Medical Laboratory Science


Students seeking a degree in medical laboratory science must maintain a 2.75 cumulative GPA and a 3.0 Science GPA (see “Required Courses in the Major”). Should a student’s cumulative or Science GPA fall below these values in any given semester, he or she will have teh following semester (not including summer) to raise their GPA to the required level or it will become necessary to change majors. For transfer students, the grade attained on any transferred courses will be calculated into the respective GPA for this purpose.

Learning Outcomes


  • Students obtaining a degree in Medical Laboratory Science from the Biological and Behavioral Sciences Department at Fontbonne University will demonstrate the following by the time they reach the end of their program:  
  • Students will be able to broadly understand the major biological and physical science concepts as measured by performance on quantitative assessment quizzes and demonstrate laboratory skills through a quantitative skills assessment in CHM 106.    
  • Students will identify and acquire valid scientific resources; apply the scientific method to a problem; design an experiment, analyze data, and form a conclusion, as measured by performance on quantitative assessment quizzes.  
  • At the end of a year of clinical training, students will sit for and pass the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) MLS certification exam.  

General Education Requirements


The following specific general education course must be chosen to meet the requirements for the MLS major:

Courses Required in Biology (35 credits)


One Course from the Following (3 credits)


*Only two students/year will be enrolled in BIO 224 , chosen on a competitive basis.

Choose One Physics Sequence (8 credits)


Courses Required in Medical Laboratory Sciences (2 semesters/36 credits)


The Medical Laboratory Internship includes lectures and experiential training in the laboratory techniques and procedures utilized in a hospital setting. Fontbonne University is a partner with NAACLS-accredited teaching clinical laboratories to provide these opportunities, however acceptance into an internship is highly competitive and not guaranteed by the university. In the absence of an internship, students would complete the degree in Biology and have the option of pursuing the double major with MLS.