Prospective Students

Welcome to the profession of the medical laboratory science! It's a world where highly skilled medical professionals investigate disease and confront life and death issues head-on. Using complex electronic equipment, advanced technology and computers, medical laboratory professionals investigate health and disease, and provide data vital to the care and treatment of the sick and injured. The fact is that the practice of modern medicine is not possible without the medical information provided through the tests performed in the medical laboratory.

Medical laboratory scientists (MLS) are key members of the medical investigation team. What these medical professionals do can mean the difference between life and death for the critically ill or injured, as the information provided to physicians and other healthcare providers influences the care and treatment received.

ONU's Department of Biological and Allied Health Sciences offers both a baccalaureate degree and a post baccalaureate certificate in Medical Laboratory Science. Partnered with local medical laboratories like the one at Lima Memorial Hospital, the university graduates are scholastically accomplished and skilled medical laboratorians.

Bachelor of Science Medical Laboratory Science

Ohio Northern University (ONU), Department of Biological and Allied Health Sciences offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Laboratory Science (MLS). This degree is designed for students who want a baccalaureate degree and seek national certification in medical laboratory science. Those who complete the degree may pursue career opportunities in various laboratory settings including medical, research and public health or choose to continue their education in graduate or professional school (e.g., medical, dental, etc.)

The BSMLS degree at ONU centers on student learning using community-partnered curriculum. Students are expected to complete all degree requirements including (a) a minimum of 35 semester hours of approved general education coursework, (b) a minimum of 37 semester hours of biology requisites, (c) a minimum of 18 semester hours of chemistry cognates, (d) participation in the college assessment program, and (e) a minimum of 51 semester hours of medical laboratory science core coursework (clinical training program). Students are encouraged to include recommended science electives as time and scheduling permit. Full-time students can complete the curriculum in 9 semesters (four years).

The last year of study requires that the student apply for admission to and complete a clinical training program. Students admitted to ONU's resident training program (West Central Ohio Medical Laboratory Science - WCOMLS) continue their didactic coursework in the Department of Biological Sciences and complete applied clinical coursework at area affiliates including Lima Memorial Hospital, Lima, Ohio.

Post Baccalaureate Certificate

Additional Information: The Department of Biological and Allied Health Sciences offers a Post Baccalaureate (PB) Certificate in Medical Laboratory Science (MLS). The certificate is designed for individuals with a baccalaureate or advanced degree from an accredited institution and who have completed required coursework in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and computer science.  Courses cannot be survey or remedial in nature and must have been completed within seven years prior to beginning coursework at ONU.

Upon admission to the program, students must complete a minimum of 51 semester horus of medical laboratory science core coursework including a supervised clinical experience.  Upon satisfactory completion of the prescribed course of study, students receive a certificate in medical laboratory science and are eligible to seek professional certification for the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP).  Students may then pursue career opportunities in various laboratory setting including clinical, industrial and public health or choose to continue their education in graduate or professional school (e.g., medical, dental, etc.)