The UT Martin Pre-Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) Plan is designed to prepare students for application to a Medical Technology (MT) or Clinical Laboratory Science (CLS) professional program. By following the Pre-MLS Plan recommendations, students will be eligible for admission into most MT or CLS programs; however, the prerequisite courses required for admission vary from one institution to the next. The courses listed below are intended only as a guideline and students are strongly encouraged to review the requirements for their school(s) of choice. Additionally, the Pre-MLS Plan is not a major and does not fulfill the requirements for a baccalaureate degree at UT Martin. The courses listed below are recommendations and are not required for degree completion unless also listed under the student’s chosen major.
In order to be eligible for certification as a medical laboratory scientist (MLS), also called a medical technologist or a medical laboratory technologist, an individual must hold a bachelor’s degree. Most MLS programs are designed as the last year or the last two years of a Bachelor of Science program, in which case applicants do not need a baccalaureate degree prior to entering the program; however, there are a few MLS programs that only offer a certificate of completion. There are also a few MLS programs that offer a Masters in Medical Laboratory Science. In general, certificate programs and Masters’ programs require a baccalaureate degree prior to admission. For MLS programs that do not require a baccalaureate degree, applicants are typically required to complete a minimum of two years of pre-professional college coursework. The specific courses required vary from school to school and students are strongly encouraged to contact their school(s) of choice for more information. For students wishing to earn a baccalaureate degree from UT Martin prior to enrolling in an MLS program, the Biology-Cell and Molecular Biology Concentration and the Bachelors of Science in Chemistry Major include many of the courses listed below.
For most MLS programs:
- Students are not required to earn a baccalaureate degree prior to matriculation.
- Applicants must demonstrate that all required course work will be completed with a grade of C or better prior to admission.
- Applicants must meet the minimal technical standards or essential skills necessary for the professional practice of Medical Laboratory Science.
At a minimum, most MLS programs require:
- 8 hours of anatomy and physiology
- 8 hours of general chemistry
- 8 hours of biology
- 6 hours of English
- 8 hours of organic chemistry
- 4 hours of microbiology
While not an exhaustive list, the following courses are strongly recommended for students considering applying to an MLS program. Students should always check with their adviser and/or school(s) of choice before deciding which classes to take.