Medical Laboratory Science Program

The medical laboratory science degree prepares you for a career in a variety of lab settings, including environmental, forensic science (crime), hospital, industrial and research labs.

Ready for Anything

As a medical laboratory science major, you become well versed in lab procedures, with an emphasis on those used in hospital settings. The degree gives you a general science foundation in chemistry, biochemistry and biology in three years on campus. A senior hospital lab practicum completes the degree. With this background, you’re qualified to take national certification exams required to work in hospital clinical labs. You also can pursue careers in health care or government or attend graduate school or medical school.

By the time you graduate, your experiences include:

  • Close mentoring relationships with faculty
  • Experience with state-of-the-art lab equipment
  • OCP 388 Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Practicum is a 10-month practicum in a NAACLS-accredited hospital lab in suburban Chicago and Peoria
  • Networking and professional development through the Alpha Epsilon Delta honor society, BUMed club, Health Science Organization, Global Medical Training organization and Student Health Advisory Committee

Making your Mark

The medical laboratory science degree is valuable if you enjoy behind-the-scenes work in medicine or law. It gives you the skills to excel in crime, environmental, hospital or industrial labs, as well as public health organizations. While most graduates found jobs at hospital labs in the Midwest, some have attended medical school at Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, Southern Illinois University and Rosalind Franklin University.

Major Requirements

Required Courses - 124 hrs.

  • BIO 151: Molecules to Cells - 3 hrs.
  • BIO 152: Molecules to Cells Laboratory - 1 hr.
  • BIO 230: Human Anatomy and Physiology I - 3 hrs.
  • BIO 232: Human Anatomy and Physiology II - 3 hrs.
  • BIO 231: Human Anatomy and Physiology I Lab - 1 hr.
  • BIO 233: Human Anatomy and Physiology II Lab - 1 hr.
  • BIO 406: General Microbiology - 4 hrs.
  • BIO 468: Immunology of Host Defense - 3-4 hrs.
  • CHM 122: Introduction to Medical Laboratory Science - 1 hr.
  • CHM 110: General Chemistry I - 3 hrs.
  • CHM 111: General Chemistry I  Lab - 1 hr.
  • CHM 116: General Chemistry II - 3 hrs.
  • CHM 117: General Chemistry II Lab - 1 hr.
  • CHM 252: Organic Chemistry I - 4 hrs.
  • CHM 253: Organic Chemistry I Lab - 1 hr.
  • CHM 256: Organic Chemistry II - 3 hrs.
  • CHM 257: Organic Chemistry II Lab - 1 hr.
  • CHM 360: Biochemistry - 3 hrs.
  • CHM 361: Biochemistry Lab - 1 hr.
  • MTH 111: Elementary Statistics - 3 hrs.