Medical Laboratory Sciences, B.S.

• Curriculum
• Faculty

Program Description

A medical laboratory scientist (MLS), also known as a medical technologist or clinical laboratory scientist, is the health professional that provides laboratory information and services needed for the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Medical laboratory scientists perform a variety of laboratory tests, ensure the quality of the test results, explain the significance of laboratory tests, evaluate new methods, and study the effectiveness of laboratory tests. They are responsible for performing scientific testing on biological specimens and reporting results to physicians. 

Advent Health University offers a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Medical Laboratory Sciences. The program is designed to prepare students to take the national certification examination and perform specimen analyses associated with the diagnosis and treatment of disease. 

To be considered for admission, the applicant must meet the admission criteria outlined below.

When to Apply

High school and transfer applicants should apply to AHU to complete their prerequisite courses before applying to the BSMLS program. Qualified applicants may apply to the program as early as one semester prior to their intended enrollment date. Before applying, foreign applicants should refer to the admission policy of AHU for international students. All applicants should refer to the application deadlines and corresponding enrollment dates cited below.

Spring Admission                             October 15

Summer Admission                          January 15

Licensure and Accreditation

AdventHealth University, including the BS-MLS program, is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), and Adventist Accrediting Association (AAA). Additionally, the MLS program has applied for accreditation by The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences.”

Admission

To be accepted into the BSMLS degree program, a student must meet the general requirements for admission into AdventHealth University (see General Studies Admission in the Admission Information section), and:

1. Submit the Medical Laboratory Sciences Program Application once admitted to the University. The application can be accessed at http://my.ahu.edu.

2. Have a minimum admissions GPA of 2.70 in prerequisite courses. A grade of C or better is required for all prerequisite courses.

3. Pass the drug screen and the FDLE background check as stipulated by AHU. Applicants who do not meet this criterion will not obtain the Board of Clinical Lab Personnel trainee license and will not be accepted into the program.

4. Meet the health and safety requirements of AHU hospital affiliates. During the clinical rotation, students will be required to work at the end of the last year with medical laboratory scientists in hospital laboratories to complete the various clinical rotations required by the program. This will only be possible if students abide by the health and safety guidelines of AHU and its affiliates. 

5. Competitive applicants will be invited to attend an interview. Meeting minimum admissions requirements does not guarantee an invitation for an interview.  Every applicant who wishes to be accepted to the program must complete the interview process.  

6. Students must complete all general education and program prerequisites prior to the start of the program, as follows:

                                 English and Composition: 8 semester hours

• ENGL 101  - English Composition 1 (3 credits)
• ENGL 102  - English Composition II (3 credits)
• ENGL 144  - Medical Terminology (2 credits) 

                                 Biological Science: 16 semester hours

• BIOL 151  - General Biology with Lab (4 credits)
• BIOL 152  - General Biology II and Lab (4 credits)
• BIOL 101  - Anatomy and Physiology I and Lab (4 credits)
• BIOL 102  - Anatomy and Physiology II and Lab (4 credits) 

                                Chemistry: 8 semester hours 

• CHEM 151  - General Chemistry I and Lab (4 credits)
• CHEM 152  - General Chemistry II and Lab (4 credits)

                                Humanities/Religion: 3 semester hours

• REL_100 or 200 level (3 credits)
• For students who attended or are enrolled in an Adventist college three course credits of religion are required per year of residency or full-time equivalent of study attended.  See religion requirement policy for more information. 

• Students coming from other institutions can transfer courses that have achieved the objectives and skills related to the study of human culture including language, literature, philosophy, or history, in place of the religion credits required for the full-time equivalent. See religion requirement policy for more information.

                                Mathematics: 3 semester hours

• MATH 120   - College Algebra (3 credits)

Reapplication Process 

Applicants who are not admitted to the Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences program during a specific admission cycle may reapply to the program for the next admission cycle if they have successfully met the minimum admission requirements. Reapplicants are expected to meet the published admission deadlines by submitting the following additional information to the Office of Admission: 

1. Application online. 

2. Updated official transcripts from any accredited institutions attended since the original application was submitted.

Progression

Students may progress toward a Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences (BSMLS) when they:

• Maintain a minimum overall GPA of 2.70

• Successfully complete each course with a minimum of 2.00 (“C”).  

• Failed courses must be repeated as follow:  

  1. No more than three BSMLS courses may be repeated at AHU. 

  2. Students can only repeat the same courses one time. 

Failure to comply with the progression policy may result in dismissal from the program. Please, see the dismissal policy.

Academic Warning

At the end of an academic trimester, an academic warning will be given to a student when:

• Experiencing poor academic performance.
• Fail one course. 
• Withdraw more than one course within the trimester. 
• Trimester & Cumulative GPA drops below 2.7. 
• A single academic warning will be given throughout the program. Student will be dismissed from the program if our policies are repeatedly violated.

Throughout the trimester, an academic warning in the form or Early Alert will be sent to provide follow-up for students identified by faculty as having academic difficulties or other problems that may impact student success. The main objective of this alert is to assist students with issues early in the trimester to increase the chance of success and retention by providing proactive interventions as part of a university-wide effort. An early alert referral will be made by any faculty throughout the semester. Here is a checklist of some warning signs that may prompt an Early Alert referral: 

• Class attendance: the student has too many absences or the student stopped going to class
• Problems in academic performance
• Exam score of 77% or below
• Failed assignments, quizzes, and tests
• The student is not passing the course
• Lack of writing and/or grammar skills
• Lack of reading comprehension skills 
• Lack of engagement/easily distracted
• Lack of course preparation/participation
• Not meeting assignment deadlines
• Lack of organization 
• Time management
• Lack of student response
• Changes in behavior, attitude, interest, motivation or appearance
• Work quality has declined
• Student lacks the study skills to be successful in college
• Student is having difficulty adjusting to college life
• Student is experiencing personal problems.

Academic Performance Plan 

Depending on the needs of the student, faculty will refer the students to a particular staff member or service area that can include:  

• Meeting with Chaplains
• Meeting with Behavioral Health Counselor
• Meeting with relevant tutors
• Meeting with Academic Advisor
• Meeting with Department or Institution administration. 

Dismissal 

Students will be dismissed from the BS in Medical Laboratory Science program if the student fails (receives a grade lower than C): 

• In four or more BMLS courses at AHU.
• In the same course twice.
• Student will be dismissed from the program if our policies are repeatedly violated.

Consequences of dismissal. When dismissed, a student is no longer enrolled in the BSMLS program. Students dismissed from the program will be under the General education and University guidelines, which means the student will only be allowed to take 100-200 level courses at the University. 300-400 level courses will only be available to students within the BSMLS program. Students have the right to appeal dismissal decisions following the University Academic Appeal policy. 

Readmission 

Students are considered for readmission to the Health and Biomedical Science (HBS) program when they meet admission requirements and: 

• Readmission is not automatic and is contingent on available class space and the discretion of the Department Chair. 

Students will be readmitted under new academic catalog program policies. Eligible students will be considered for readmission to the program when they complete the following: 

• Submit a Readmission Form to the Health and Biomedical program Chair eight weeks before the trimester in which seeking admission. 
• Undergo a faculty review of prior academic performance, including reason(s) for withdrawal or dismissal, along with evidence of the applicant’s efforts to strengthen areas of weakness. 

Completion

AdventHealth University will consider students for graduation and conferral of a Bachelor of Science degree when they have met the University requirements for graduation (see Graduation in the Academic Catalog for further information) and have:

1. Completed a minimum of 120 trimester hours with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.70.
2. Completed the prescribed course of study.

	Pre-Requisite Coursework	Credits
	English and Composition	8
	Biological Sciences	16
Prerequisite Courses	Chemistry	8
	Humanities and Religion	3
	Mathematics	3
	Total General Education and Prerequisite Courses	38
	Core Coursework	Credits
Cognate Courses	Biological Sciences (4), Chemistry (4), Humanities/Religion (6)	14
BSMLS Courses	Core/Didactic Courses (Lecture and Labs)	56
BSMLS Courses	Laboratory Rotations	12
	Total Core Courses	82
	TOTAL BSMLS	120

3. Achieve a minimum grade of ‘C’ or above in all required courses and electives for the degree. 

4. Completed a minimum of 61 trimester hours in residence at AdventHealth University (Core/Didactic courses, Clinical experience courses). 

BSMLS Program Curriculum:

Cognate Courses:

• Biological Science: 4 semester hours
  • BIOL 330  - General Microbiology, Lab (4 credits) 
• Chemistry: 4 semester hours
  • CHEM 311  - Organic Chemistry I and Lab (4 credits)
• Required Religion: 6 semester hours
  • RELP 103  - Philosophy of Healthcare (3 credits) 
  • RELE 305  - Ethics for Nursing and Allied Health (3 credits) 

Core Curriculum