Medical Laboratory Science Curriculum

Medical Laboratory Science offers exciting educational and career opportunities for students wishing to combine an interest in the sciences with laboratory medicine and diagnostic health care. As vital members of the health-care team, medical technologists work closely with pathologists and other physicians to provide information needed for the diagnosis and therapeutic management of disease. Technologists may pursue diverse career opportunities in hospitals, universities, government, or industrial laboratories. They represent the upper division of medical laboratory personnel and can establish challenging careers in laboratory administration, specialized research, technical services, marketing, or Medical Laboratory Science education.

Graduates are qualified to enter graduate programs leading to masters and doctoral degrees. Medical Laboratory Science, with carefully chosen elective coursework, is an excellent major for students wishing to pursue professional degrees in human medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, physician/pathologist assistant programs, podiatry, physical therapy, and other health areas.

Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science

• MEDT 260 Methods in Medical Technology (4 credits): A study of the principles and practice of clinical laboratory medicine, including approaching the patient, venipuncture, laboratory procedures, and professional ethics. A site visit to a hospital laboratory is included. Offered every fall. Three-hour lecture, three-hour lab per week.

• MEDT 301 Clinical Microbiology I (4 credits): Introductory study of the classification, morphology, growth requirements, biochemical characteristics, and pathogenic mechanisms of infectious bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Laboratory exercises present techniques and procedures used to isolate and identify medically significant bacteria and fungi from clinical specimens. Offered every spring. Three-hour lecture, three-hour lab per week.

• MEDT 305 Clinical Chemistry I (4 credits): A study of clinical laboratory safety procedures, the principles of method and instrument evaluation, the manual and automated biochemical analysis of body fluids, including analytical procedures and correlation of laboratory data with biochemical and physiological processes in health and disease states. Offered every spring. Three-hour lecture, three-hour lab per week.

• MEDT 315 Hematology I (4 credits): A study of the human hematopoietic system in health and disease states and its relationship to other organ systems. A morphological study of the cellular components of blood and the mechanisms of normal hemostasis plus the pathological changes caused by disease or by anticoagulant therapy. Venipuncture techniques will be used to obtain specimens for testing. Offered every spring. Three-hour lecture, three-hour lab per week.

• MEDT 340 Clinical Immunology/Immunohematology I (4 credits): A comprehensive study of the cellular and humoral immune responses in health and disease. Includes serologic evaluation of infection, a study of human blood groups and associated genetics, transfusion therapy, detection of in vivo antigenantibody reactions, and hemolytic disease of the newborn Offered every spring. Three-hour lecture, three-hour lab per week.

• MEDT 345 Clinical Microscopy (1 credit): A study of body fluids which encompasses urine, cerebrospinal fluid, gastric fluid, peritoneal, pericardial, amniotic, synovial, and seminal fluids. Includes renal physiology and pathophysiology of urinary tract disease and the microscopic and biochemical changes in urine which occur as a result of disease and are observed in the clinical laboratory. Offered every spring. One-hour lecture, three-hour lab per week, eight-weeks duration.

• MEDT 350 Clinical Foundations in Medical Laboratory Sciences (1 credit): An orientation to the clinical portion of the Medical Laboratory Sciences Program, including the study of blood and blood borne pathogens; safety regulations in a hospital setting; exposure treatment and incident reporting; and phlebotomy theory and practice.

• MEDT 402 Advanced Clinical Microbiology (3 credits): Advanced study of clinical microbes and the pathogenesis of infectious disease. Supervised hospital and classroom instruction in current manual and automated systems for isolating and identifying medically important bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites from all sites of human infection. Methods in antimicrobial susceptibility testing for antibiotic therapy are included. Offered every fall.

• MEDT 403 Advanced Clinical Microbiology Lab (2 credits): Supervised laboratory instruction in the isolation and identification of medically important bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites.  Students observe and perform automated and manual techniques to process patient’s specimens, cultivate pathogens, establish antibiotic sensitivities and interface with medical staff.  Students will master established procedures for entry level positions in a level 2 and level 3 clinical microbiology lab.  Offered every fall. 

• MEDT 406 Advanced Clinical Chemistry (3 credits): Advanced study of biochemical analysis of body fluids and the clinical significance of results. Supervised hospital and classroom instruction in performing these manual and automated analyses and the evaluation of test results. Offered every fall.

• MEDT 407 Advanced Clinical Chemistry Lab (2 credits): Supervised hospital instruction in performing automated and manual biochemical analyses of results on body fluids. Emphasis placed on workflow management, quality control, and troubleshooting. Offered every fall.

• MEDT 411 Advanced Hematology (3 credits): Advanced study of hematology and coagulation. Supervised hospital and classroom instruction in current techniques of hematological analysis and evaluation of the diagnostic significance of results. Testing and evaluation of hemostatic function are included. Offered every fall.

• MEDT 412 Advanced Hematology Lab (2 credits): Supervised medical laboratory instruction in the current techniques of hematology analysis and evaluation of the diagnostic significance of results. Testing and evaluation of hemostatic function are included. Offered every fall.

• MEDT 441 Advanced Clinical Immunology/Immunohematology (3 credits): Advanced study of immunology and immunohematology. Supervised hospital and classroom instruction in testing for antigen-antibody reactions resulting from blood group and tissue incompatibility and infectious disease; review of blood processing, antibody identification, and component therapy. Offered every fall.

• MEDT 442 Advanced Clinical Immunology/Immunohematology Lab (2 credits): Supervised, hands on experience with manual and automated testing for antigen-antibody reactions resulting from blood group and tissue incompatibility. Students will practice specimen and component blood processing, antibody identification, as well as quality control procedures. Offered every fall.

• MEDT 445 Clinical Microscopy (1 credit): Advanced study of body fluids. Supervised hospital and classroom instruction in diagnostic procedures used to evaluate all types of body fluids. Offered every fall.

• MEDT 477 Topics in Medical Technology (Capping Course) (3 credits): A lecture and discussion-oriented study of current topics in medical technology. Advanced topics in medical technology, medical technology education, biomedical ethics and laboratory management are included. Case studies and problem solving emphasized. Offered every spring.