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Medical Laboratory Science

A student pursuing a medical laboratory science degree works in a lab wearing a white lab coat.

A medical laboratory science degree prepares students for the certification needed to work in medical labs. People in this career conduct laboratory tests on biological samples to diagnose and treat medical conditions.

This program provides students with hands-on learning through a six-month hospital laboratory experience. This firsthand training teaches students how to manage medical laboratories and develop the skills needed to teach and orient staff. Additional program course work includes biomedical laboratory sciences, mathematics, statistics, communications and clinical laboratory science experiences.

National certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) is a requirement for most jobs in medical laboratories. From July 2018 to June 2021, Michigan State University's Bachelor of Science program in medical laboratory science had

  • a 100% graduation rate;
  • a 96% certification rate;
  • 98% of graduates land a job and/or continue their education within one year of graduation.

Applying to the medical laboratory science program

The medical laboratory science program is only open to undergraduate juniors and seniors who have completed certain requirements. Incoming students who want to study medical laboratory science should first select biomedical laboratory science as their major.

Biomedical laboratory science students can apply to the medical laboratory science program in their junior year. After applications are submitted, a faculty committee will review and admit students at the end of their junior year.

To learn more about the program's requirements and how to apply, visit the Office of the Registrar website.


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