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Medical Lab Technician to Medical Lab Scientist (MLT-MLS)

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College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Discover the Hidden Answers

Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science (MLT-MLS)

Online

It’s satisfying to have a career that combines multiple interests—all while serving other people. For instance, you might be interested in science, but also technology. You love to  troubleshoot problems and arrive at precise answers. You can work alone or as part of a team.

One such career is medical laboratory scientist. You’ll become the go-to person for detecting and diagnosing disease because you’ll be the one analyzing blood, tissue, and other samples. You’ll perform many routine and specialized tests in clinical, research or industrial laboratories to provide diagnostic data supporting health care, quality control and product development.

In AUM’s Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science program, you’ll study chemistry, hematology, immunology, immunohematology, and microbiology. Most medical laboratory scientists work in hospitals, but you could also work in commercial labs, departments of public health, agencies such as the U.S Food and Drug Administration, or forensic science settings, such as law enforcement.

In some fields, you might worry about getting a job right out of college. Graduates of the AUM Medical Laboratory Science bachelor’s program, though, have enjoyed a job placement rate of 100 percent for the past few years. There are several reasons, and here are a few: 

  • Expert faculty who are passionate about conveying their knowledge to you and preparing you for the job market
  • Real-world lab experiences using the latest technology and methods
  • Program accreditation by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
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The curriculum satisfies the requirements adopted by the American Medical Association Council on Medical Education which sets educational standards to ensure that these expected outcomes can be met. This program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS).

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The Know How

What you will know with a Medical Lab Science degree from AUM

We Prepare You For The Job Market

Besides learning the technical skills medical lab scientists need, you’ll also develop thinking, communication, and organizational skills—critical attributes for the job market.

We Give You A Positive Framework For Serving

Before you leave AUM with your degree, you will have collaborated with many other students, faculty, and healthcare team members.

We Set The Bar For Ethics

As a medical lab scientist, you’ll be trusted by your colleagues. Up to 70% of a physician’s medical decisions on any one patient are a direct result of lab test data.

We Help You Launch A Sustainable Career

Upon graduation, you’ll have the skills and knowledge to work in a variety of settings, all of which have a need for your expertise.

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Game Plan for Success

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Points of Pride

  • 100% job placement for past graduates
  • More than 90% pass rate on board of certification
  • One of only two MLS programs in Alabama
  • Convenient, online MLT to MLS option for current medical laboratory technicians

Soaring Warhawks

  • Christy Young is a laboratory director at Mizell Memorial Hospital in Opp, Alabama
  • Leslie Adams is a pharmacist at the U.S. Veterans’ Administration in Birmingham.
  • Kathy Dugan is Head of the Department of Medical & Clinical Laboratory Sciences at AUM.

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Video Testimonials

What is the MLS bachelor's degree program all about?

Kyle Taylor
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Why would you recommend the MLS program at AUM?

Adam Grooms
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MLT to MLS: What is it?

Kyle Taylor
We Have the Answers

Rewarding Occupations and Job Growth

MLS professionals perform many routine and specialized tests in clinical, research or industrial laboratories to provide diagnostic data supporting healthcare, quality control and product development.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in MLS and passing national boards through American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification, you’ll have opportunities to work in hospitals, laboratories, forensic science environments, and other settings.

In the AUM program, which is only one of two undergraduate programs in Alabama, students acquire 24 weeks of required clinical training and experience through affiliated hospitals and reference laboratories.

Currently hold national certification as a MLT
Or
Completed an accredited MLT program
Or
Completed a military training program in Laboratory Science
Or
Hold a college degree in a science related field and are currently working as an MT/MLT in a medical laboratory

After the required core courses are completed, students normally spend their junior and senior years completing MLS coursework. Contact the Department of Medical and Laboratory Sciences.

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James Kyle Taylor

Professor
Degree Options

Is a Degree in Medical Laboratory Science right for me?

With this bachelor’s degree as your educational foundation, you have many career possibilities.

Career/Job TitleEntry-level Education RequirementsJob Growth 2020-2030Annual Median Salary
Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists and TechniciansBachelor's degree 11% (Faster than average)$54,180
Forensic Science TechniciansBachelor's degree16% (Much faster than average)$60,590

Note: Salaries vary depending on several factors including your level of experience, education, training, demographics, and industry. Here is a sampling of the future job growth and salaries according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Quick Facts

College of Nursing and Health Sciences

At AUM’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences, you will have hands-on learning experiences, working side by side with scholars and researchers using state-of-the-art laboratories and equipment. 

Our academic departments include the School of Nursing, Medical and Clinical Laboratory Sciences, and Communication Disorders. To help you pay for college, you might qualify for one of our scholarships.

Official Name of the MLT-MLS Degree

Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science

Modality

The ​Medical Lab Technician to Medical Lab Scientist (MLT-to-MLS) program is 100% online.

Online
Medical Laboratory Science

Courses Include

To complete this degree concentration, you will need to complete courses in the university core, nursing, and electives. Contact the School of Nursing for a current listing of courses required to complete this program. 

The course listings below are only a few of the classes this concentration requires. For a full review of this program in detail, please see our official online catalog AND consult with an academic advisor.

Course #Course NameCourse Description
CLLS 3013Laboratory Techniques An introduction to the basic techniques used by clinical laboratory scientists. In addition, laboratory safety and current issues in health care explored.
CLLS 3103Immunology and SerologyA study of the human immune system in health and disease. Laboratory exercises are serologic procedures used in the laboratory diagnosis of immunologic and infectious diseases.
CLLS 3253Clinical Hematology IIA study of erythrocyte abnormalities and associated disease states. The laboratory will focus on methods used in the evaluation of abnormal erythrocyte morphology.
CLLS 4054PhlebotomyExperience in phlebotomy provided in an affiliated clinical facility. Includes a review of basic concepts related to phlebotomy.
CLLS 4080Laboratory Management and Education (writing intensiveThis course offers an overview of the management process and supervisory techniques and responsibilities commonplace in the clinical laboratory. Also covered are clinical and classroom instructional methods and evaluation strategies. This is a writing intensive course.
CLLS 4114Clinical SerologyExperience in clinical serology provided in an affiliated clinical facility. Includes a
review of basic concepts related to clinical serology.
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