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2022-2023

Medical Laboratory Sciences (degree completion program for MLTs), Bachelor of Science

VCU

Community college:
Associate of Applied Science: Medical Laboratory Technology (College of Southern Maryland)
College of Southern Maryland
College of Southern Maryland
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 (A.A.S. in Medical Laboratory Technology)
  • Minimum GPA of 2.0
  • Complete all general education and science prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of "C.
  • Submit documentation of active MLT national certification.
  • Review admission requirements here.
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 (degree completion program for MLTs), Bachelor of Science

College of Southern Maryland (Associate of Applied Science: Medical Laboratory Technology)

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
  • Attend cultural events at community college and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
  • Make friends with people with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
  • Browse careers related to clinical laboratory sciences through the Career Coach.
  • Explore the community college’s Focus 2 Career resource to look into building a career and financial future.
  • Build a LinkedIn profile.
  • Take a career assessment through the Career Coach.
  • Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
  • Familiarize yourself with the Career Services offered at Community College and VCU and explore Career Pathways on the VCU website.
Experience Year 2
  • Research housing for next year.
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Become familiar with OMSA at VCU.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or clinical lab-related events.
  • Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Create a draft resume and bring it to career services advisor or workshop for review.
  • Plan to complete at least two internships (job experiences) before your senior year of college.
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs at community college to explore your interests.
  • Find out about VCU REAL and learn about REAL graduation requirement.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
  • 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.

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Attend cultural events at community college and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
  • Make friends with people with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Browse careers related to clinical laboratory sciences through the Career Coach.
  • Explore the community college’s Focus 2 Career resource to look into building a career and financial future.
  • Build a LinkedIn profile.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Take a career assessment through the Career Coach.
  • Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
  • Familiarize yourself with the Career Services offered at Community College and VCU and explore Career Pathways on the VCU website.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Research housing for next year.
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Become familiar with OMSA at VCU.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or clinical lab-related events.
  • Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Create a draft resume and bring it to career services advisor or workshop for review.
  • Plan to complete at least two internships (job experiences) before your senior year of college.
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs at community college to explore your interests.
  • Find out about VCU REAL and learn about REAL graduation requirement.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
  • 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.

Recommended courses
Major map compass icon
2022-2023

Medical Laboratory Sciences (degree completion program for MLTs), Bachelor of Science

College of Southern Maryland (Associate of Applied Science: Medical Laboratory Technology)

College of Southern Maryland courses
Course Title Equivalent course Credits Requirements
AAS in Medical Laboratory Technology requirements Students who earn this associate degree before enrolling at VCU will be eligible for a waiver of VCU's general education requirements.
MLT 1012 Intro. To Clinical Laboratory Science 1 Major
MLT 1012L Intro. To Clinical Laboratory Science Lab 1 Major
ENG 1010 Composition and Rhetoric Note: students with credit for AP English Language and Composition will only receive credit for UNIV 111 at VCU and should take ENG 1020 to fulfill the VCU composition requirement. UNIV 111-112 3 General education (admission prerequisite)
BIO 1060 Principles of Biology I BIOL 151 3 Major (admission prerequisite)
BIO 1060L Principles of Biology I Lab BIOZ 151 1 Major (admission prerequisite)
MTH 1120 College Algebra MATH 141 3 General education (admission prerequisite)
BIO 2010 Microbiology BIOL 209 3 Major (admission prerequisite)
BIO 2010L Microbiology Lab BIOZ 209 1 Major (admission prerequisite)
MLT 1042 Hematology 3 Major
MLT 1042L Hematology Lab 2 Major
MLT 1060 Immunohematology 3 Major
MLT 1060L Immunohematology Lab 2 Major
MLT 1080 Clinical Microbiology 3 Major
MLT 1080L Clinical Microbiology Lab 2 Major
MLT 1022 Urinalysis and Body Fluids 2 Major
MLT 1022L Urinalysis and Body Fluids 1 Major
CHE 1050 Introductory Chemistry CHEM 100 3 Elective
MLT 2013 Clinical Biochemistry 3 Major
MLT 2013L Clinical Biochemistry Lab 1 Major
MLT 2015 Clinical Practice I 5 Major
BIO 1040 Introduction to Human Anatomy & Physiology BIOL 201 3 Major (admission prerequisite)
BIO 1040L Introduction to Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab BIOZ 201 1 Major (admission prerequisite)
Social/behavioral sciences Select from POL 1010, PSY 1010, SOC 1010 VCU equivalent 3 General education (admission prerequisite)
MLT 2018 Mycology, Parasitology, & Virology 2 Major
MLT 2018L Mycology, Parasitology, & Virology Lab 2 Major
MLT 2020 Clinical Practice II 5 Major
Communications Communications (select from COM 1010, COM 1250, COM 1350) SPCH 121 3 General education (admission prerequisite)
Credits completed for AAS degree 65
Additional Admission Prerequisites An MLT (CLT) applicant must have a minimum of 44 non-MLT semester hours of transferable credit for admission as a full-time student (38 hours for part-time admission).
ENG 1020 Composition & Rhetoric UNIV 200 3 General education (admission prerequisite)
CHE 1200 General Chemistry I CHEM 101 3 Major (admission prerequisite)
CHE 1200L General Chemistry I Lab CHEZ 101 1 Major (admission prerequisite)
CHE 1210 General Chemistry II CHEM 102 3 Major (admission prerequisite)
CHE 1210L General Chemistry II Lab CHEZ 102 1 Major (admission prerequisite)
CHE 2200 Organic Chemistry I CHEM 301 3 Major (admission prerequisite)
CHE 2200L Organic Chemistry I Lab CHEZ 301 1 Major (admission prerequisite)
MTH 1150 Precalculus Algebra & Trig. MATH 151 4 Major (admission prerequisite)
Total additional credits 19
VCU will award proficiency credits to students admitted to the program after completion of the AAS degree. The total number of proficiency credits awarded to students for upper-level course requirements will be determined by VCU after transfer through challenge examinations or exemptions based on documented competencies in required laboratory skills.
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 (students will be eligible for 1.5 proficiency credits for this course) 2 to 3.5 Major
CLLS 302 Abnormal Hematology 4 Major
CLLS 304 Urine and Body Fluid Analysis (students will be eligible for .5 proficiency credits for this course) 1.5 to 2 Major
CLLS 306 Immunohematology (students will be eligible for 2 proficiency credits for this course) 2.5 to 4.5 Major
CLLS 307 Introduction to Pathogenic Microbiology 3 Major
CLLS 308 Pathogenic Bacteriology (students will be eligible for 2 proficiency credits for this course) 3 to 5 Major
CLLS 310 Clinical Immunology (students will be eligible for 1 proficiency credit for this course) 3.5 to 4.5 Major
CLLS 311 Clinical Chemistry and Instrumentation I (students will be eligible for 2 proficiency credits for this course) 3 to 5 Major
CLLS 312 Clinical Chemistry and Instrumentation II (students will be eligible for 1 proficiency credit for this course) 4 to 5 Major
CLLS 337 Clinical Education (students will be eligible for 1 proficiency credit for this course) 0 to 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 (students will be eligible for 3 proficiency credits for this course) 0 to 3 Major
CLLS 485 Hematology Practicum (students will be eligible for 3 proficiency credits for this course) 0 to 3 Major
CLLS 493 Clinical Microbiology Practicum (students will be eligible for 3 proficiency credits for this course) 0 to 3 Major
CLLS 494 Miscellaneous Clinical Practicum (students will be eligible for 3 proficiency credits for this course) 0 to 3 Major
CLLS 496 Blood Bank Practicum (students will be eligible for 3 proficiency credits for this course) 0 to 3 Major
CLLS 438 Research Paper 1 Elective
Credits completed at VCU 40 to 66
Minimum number of credits required for bachelor's degree 125