Major map compass icon
2022-2023

Medical Laboratory Sciences, Bachelor of Science (and accelerated masters)

VCU

Community college:
A.A.&.S. or A.S. in Science or Health Science (Virginia Community College System)
Virginia Community College System
Program description

Medical laboratory scientists’ critical role on the health care delivery team is to provide physicians laboratory data, essential information for making decisions related to diagnoses and treatment. Due to emerging technologies and knowledge of the human condition, the profession of medical laboratory sciences is forever challenging and rewarding.  The shortage of medical laboratory scientists in the workforce has ensured job opportunities for graduates and plentiful student scholarship offerings.

 

The program includes classroom, laboratory, and hands-on experiences. Students participate in multiple full-time clinical laboratory rotations at facilities in the Richmond, Charlottesville, Tidewater, and Abingdon areas, including VCU Health, Central Virginia VA Health Care system, University of Virginia Health System, Bon Secours Health Partners Laboratory, and more.

 

Medical laboratory scientists receive training in the following areas: clinical chemistry, the study of chemical reactions that occur in normal and diseased processes; hematology, the study of the cellular elements of the blood and blood-forming tissues and hemostatic mechanism; urine and body fluids analysis, the study of principles and practices of urinalysis, kidney function, and analyses of cerebrospinal fluid and other body fluids; microbiology, the study of microbiological aspects of infectious disease and the isolation and identification of pathogenic bacteria; immunohematology, the application of theory and principles of blood banking, cell typing, compatibility testing and antibody identification; and immunology, the study of the immune system and the serological and molecular techniques used for diagnosing infectious disease. 

 

Upon graduation students are eligible to take the national examination for medical laboratory scientists given by the Board of Certification of the American Society for Clinical Pathology.

Career opportunities

Medical laboratory scientists and medical technologists perform laboratory testing in various settings to diagnose, monitor and treat diseases. Most medical laboratory personnel work in hospital laboratories. Many are also employed by private physicians, medical groups, public health and environmental laboratories, research facilities, pharmaceutical and biomedical companies, universities, industrial medical laboratories, molecular diagnostic laboratories and the armed forces. On the job, you would:


  • Conduct analysis of body fluids, such as blood or urine, using microscopes, automated instruments, and manual techniques to detect abnormalities or diseases.
  • Analyze the results of tests or experiments to ensure conformity to specifications, and high quality test results, using special mechanical or electrical devices.
  • Set up, maintain, calibrate, clean, and test sterility of medical laboratory equipment.

With a master's or doctoral degree, you could also manage a medical laboratory, perform clinical and translational research, or teach clinical laboratory science courses in a postsecondary environment.

Bachelor-level job titles
  • Biomedical Laboratory Officer
  • Clinical Laboratory Scientist
  • Medical Laboratory Scientist
  • Medical Technologist
  • Occupational Health and Safety Technologist
  • Quality Control Analyst
  • Research and Development Scientist
  • Sales or Technical Representative
Graduate and professional level job titles
  • Laboratory Manager/Supervisor
  • Lead Scientist
  • Molecular and Cellular Biologist
  • Teaching and Research Faculty
Contact information

 

VCU Transfer Center

Telephone: (804) 827-1349

Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu

Transfer Advising Request

VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist


Office of Admissions

Telephone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638

Email: ugrad@vcu.edu
Apply Here.

Guaranteed transfer admission requirements

Completion of associate degree
Minimum GPA of 3.0
All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better

Receive a satisfactory rating on the admission interview.

Highest level of math required
  • MATH 151
Science required
  • 5+ additional science courses
Foreign language requirements
  • No
Additional tuition/fees
  • Yes
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
  • 2.5+ cumulative GPA to apply, 2.0+ cumulative GPA to progress

Transfer major map
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2022-2023

Medical Laboratory Sciences, Bachelor of Science (and accelerated masters)

Virginia Community College System (A.A.&.S. or A.S. in Science or Health Science)

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
Explore Year 1
  • Schedule an appointment with your community college advisor to map out your associate degree course plan.
  • Enroll in a SDV student success course.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges and utilize tutoring resources to get ahead.
  • Explore GRASP financial aid resources and submit the FAFSA on time.
  • Identify a mentor in a diversity organization.
  • Attend diversity-focused events on your community college campus and in your community (e.g., international festival).
  • Make friends with people with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
  • Create a weekly and monthly budget.
  • Prepare for a career after college by creating a brand for yourself.
  • Develop personal and career goals and create SMART steps for 2-3 "dream jobs."
  • Practice independent living skills such as money and time management, self-care, and personal responsibility.
Experience Year 2
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Research housing options for next year.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the VCU Medical Laboratory Sciences department, consider joining a VCU club, or meeting with VCU students to make professional and personal connections.
  • Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or department-related events.
  • Check out the VCU Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA) and follow @vcuomsa.
  • Find out about VCU REAL and learn about REAL graduation requirement.
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs throughout the year.
  • Acquire career related experience (e.g., job, internship, organization involvement).
  • If your GPA is 3.5 or higher, consider applying for the VCU Honors College.
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Schedule an appointment with your community college advisor to map out your associate degree course plan.
  • Enroll in a SDV student success course.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges and utilize tutoring resources to get ahead.
  • Explore GRASP financial aid resources and submit the FAFSA on time.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Identify a mentor in a diversity organization.
  • Attend diversity-focused events on your community college campus and in your community (e.g., international festival).
  • Make friends with people with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Create a weekly and monthly budget.
  • Prepare for a career after college by creating a brand for yourself.
  • Develop personal and career goals and create SMART steps for 2-3 "dream jobs."
  • Practice independent living skills such as money and time management, self-care, and personal responsibility.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Research housing options for next year.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the VCU Medical Laboratory Sciences department, consider joining a VCU club, or meeting with VCU students to make professional and personal connections.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or department-related events.
  • Check out the VCU Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA) and follow @vcuomsa.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Find out about VCU REAL and learn about REAL graduation requirement.
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs throughout the year.
  • Acquire career related experience (e.g., job, internship, organization involvement).
  • If your GPA is 3.5 or higher, consider applying for the VCU Honors College.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.

Recommended courses
Major map compass icon
2022-2023

Medical Laboratory Sciences, Bachelor of Science (and accelerated masters)

Virginia Community College System (A.A.&.S. or A.S. in Science or Health Science)

Virginia Community College System courses
Course Title Equivalent course Credits Requirements
Students who earn this associate degree before enrolling at VCU will be eligible for a waiver of VCU's general education requirements.
SDV 100 or 101 College Success Skills UNIV 101 1 Elective
ENG 111 College Composition I Note: students with credit for AP English Language and Composition will only receive credit for UNIV 111 at VCU and should take ENG 112 to fulfill the VCU composition requirement. UNIV 111-112 3 General education (admission prerequisite)
ENG 112 College Composition II UNIV 200 3 General education (admission prerequisite)
MTH 161 Precalculus I (or higher level math) MATH 141 3 General education (admission prerequisite)
BIO 101 General Biology I BIOL/Z 151 4 Major (admission prerequisite)
BIO 141 Human Anatomy and Physiology I (both BIO 141 and BIO 142 must be taken to receive credit for the VCU equivalents) BIOL 205 + PHIS/Z 206 4 Major (admission prerequisite)
BIO 142 Human Anatomy and Physiology II (both BIO 141 and BIO 142 must be taken to receive credit for the VCU equivalents) BIOL 205 + PHIS/Z 206 4 Major (admission prerequisite)
CHM 111 General Chemistry I CHEM/Z 101 4 Major (admission prerequisite)
CHM 112 General Chemistry II CHEM/Z 102 4 Major (admission prerequisite)
CHM 241 + CHM 245 Organic Chemistry I + Laboratory CHEM/Z 301 5 Major (admission prerequisite)
Social science Select one: ECO 150, PSY 200, SOC 200, SOC 211 VCU equivalent 3 General education (admission prerequisite)
Humanities/Arts Select any approved humanities/fine arts for associate degree VCU equivalent 3 General education (admission prerequisite)
Complete general education and elective requirements for the associate degree VCU equivalents 19 Elective
Community college credits transferred to VCU 60
VCU courses
Course Title Credits Requirements
Your GPA Doesn't Transfer With You Although you worked hard to earn your grades at your current institution, they will only be considered by VCU for an admission decision. Once you enroll at VCU, your GPA will reset to 0.0, and your new GPA will be determined by your level of success in your classes at VCU.
CLLS 301 Hematology 3.5 Major
CLLS 302 Abnormal Hematology 4 Major
CLLS 304 Urine and Body Fluid Analysis 2 Major
CLLS 306 Immunohematology 4.5 Major
CLLS 307 Introduction to Pathogenic Microbiology 3 Major
CLLS 308 Pathogenic Bacteriology 5 Major
CLLS 310 Clinical Immunology 4.5 Major
CLLS 311 Clinical Chemistry and Instrumentation I 5 Major
CLLS 312 Clinical Chemistry and Instrumentation II 5 Major
CLLS 337 Clinical Education 1 Major
CLLS 407 Interpretive Immunohematology 2.5 Major
CLLS 408 Advanced Microbiology 2 Major
CLLS 409 Interpretive Hematology 2 Major
CLLS 410 Advanced Clinical Chemistry and Instrumentation 2 Major
CLLS 411 Principles of Education/Management 3 Major
CLLS 412 Senior Seminar 1 Major
CLLS 483 Biochemistry Practicum 3 Major
CLLS 485 Hematology Practicum 3 Major
CLLS 493 Clinical Microbiology Practicum 3 Major
CLLS 494 Miscellaneous Clinical Practicum 3 Major
CLLS 496 Blood Bank Practicum 3 Major
CLLS 438 Research Paper (optional) 0 to 1 Major
Minimum number of credits completed at VCU 65
Minimum credits required for bachelor's degree 125
The accelerated B.S. and M.S. program allows qualified students to earn both the B.S. and M.S. in Medical Laboratory Sciences in a minimum of three years after entry into the medical laboratory sciences baccalaureate program by completing approved graduate courses during the final year of the program. Minimum qualifications for entrance to this accelerated program include completion of 115.5 undergraduate credit hours, including 60 prerequisite undergraduate credit hours and 52.5 credit hours of undergraduate professional course work in medical laboratory sciences including: CLLS 301, CLLS 302, CLLS 304, CLLS 306 , CLLS 307, CLLS 308, CLLS 310, CLLS 311, CLLS 312, CLLS 337, CLLS 483, CLLS 485, CLLS 494 and CLLS 496; a GPA of 3.0 in undergraduate medical laboratory science course work; a satisfactory interview and a positive recommendation from the Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences faculty.