Medical Laboratory Science at University of Utah

Program Description

Medical Laboratory Scientists (MLS) perform laboratory analyses on blood and body fluids. Results of these analyses are used by physicians in diagnosing, treating, monitoring, and preventing diseases. As a Medical Laboratory Science student at the University of Utah, you will gain the knowledge and technical skills needed to work in a modern diagnostic laboratory. Accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), the MLS curriculum consists of courses in urinalysis, clinical chemistry, microbiology, immunology, immunohematology (blood banking), hematology, laboratory operations, molecular diagnostics, education, and research design. Students will learn appropriate procedures to collect, process, and analyze biological specimens, to properly maintain laboratory equipment and instruments, and to support health care providers in the interpretation of laboratory findings. Skills and knowledge obtained in the first year of professional coursework are further developed through clinical rotations in local clinical laboratories during the final year of study. Graduates of this exciting program are prepared for a number of careers in science and medicine that make a difference in the lives of others.

The Student Experience

Upon completion of the MLS program, students are eligible to sit for a national certification examination such as the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP BOC) Technologist examination. In addition to their studies, students can network and meet MLS peers by joining the Medical Laboratory Science Professional Club (MLSPC).

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the MLS program are well-prepared for a career as a Medical Laboratory Scientist, but may also choose to work in industry, research, public health, forensics, etc. With additional education at the graduate level, students can become university professors, administrators, or researchers, making groundbreaking discoveries in their field.