Medical Laboratory Science - B.S.

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Kent State University

Program Overview

The Medical Laboratory Science, B.S. at Kent State University prepares students to perform complex chemical, microscopic and microbiological procedures used in clinical laboratory settings. Students complete three years of academic study at Kent State followed by 12 months of professional training at an approved hospital, creating a direct pathway toward professional medical laboratory science and eligibility for the ASCP Board of Certification examination.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1:

Students establish a strong foundation in biological and chemical sciences through courses such as BSCI 10110 – Biological Diversity, BSCI 10120 – Biological Foundations, and CHEM 10060 – General Chemistry I with its associated laboratory. Mathematics through MATH 11022 – Trigonometry also supports the quantitative skills needed for later laboratory science coursework.

Year 2:

The second year moves into more specialized biological and chemical concepts, including BSCI 30140 – Cell Biology, BSCI 30130 – Human Physiology, and BSCI 30171 – General Microbiology. Students also progress through chemistry with courses such as CHEM 20481 – Basic Organic Chemistry I and CHEM 30301 – Inorganic Chemistry I, strengthening their understanding of biological systems and laboratory analysis.

Year 3:

Students develop advanced preparation for clinical laboratory practice through subjects including BSCI 40148 – Principles of Infectious Disease, BSCI 40174 – Immunology, and CHEM 30284 – Introductory Biological Chemistry. They also begin professional clinical laboratory subjects such as CLS 49010 – Clinical Microbiology: Theory, CLS 49020 – Clinical Chemistry: Theory, and CLS 49030 – Immunohematology: Theory, connecting scientific knowledge with diagnostic laboratory applications.

Year 4:

The final 12 months consist of professional training at an approved hospital, where students complete the required in-hospital clinical experience. This professional phase builds on coursework in Clinical Hematology, Coagulation, Immunohematology, Clinical Chemistry, Clinical Microbiology, Urinalysis and Laboratory Management, preparing students for professional medical laboratory practice.

Focus Areas:

Medical laboratory science, clinical microbiology, clinical chemistry, hematology, immunology, immunohematology, molecular and chemical analysis, infectious disease, urinalysis, coagulation, human physiology, laboratory management, diagnostic testing.

Learning Outcomes:

Professional medical laboratory certification preparation, clinical sample analysis, human physiology and health knowledge, interpretation of chemical and molecular data for clinical diagnosis, clinical laboratory procedures, microbiological analysis and diagnostic problem-solving.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The program prepares graduates to sit for the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification examination. Kent State also states that the program is designed to prepare students for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio; students planning to practice in another state should review that state's specific requirements.

Reputation (Employability):

Kent State highlights career preparation in clinical research, teaching and laboratory services, while its official program information lists potential employment areas including clinical laboratory work. The university's published career data for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians lists 351,200 jobs and $61,890 potential earnings, while noting that these figures represent the broader occupation rather than Kent State graduates specifically.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students gain hands-on experience through both on-campus laboratory courses and professional clinical training, with coursework designed around the procedures and analysis used in medical laboratories:

Clinical Microbiology: CLS 49010 – Clinical Microbiology: Theory covers laboratory isolation, cultivation, identification and characterization of pathogenic microorganisms, followed by CLS 49011 – Clinical Microbiology: Applications for practical application.
Clinical Immunology: CLS 49012 – Clinical Immunology: Theory and CLS 49013 – Clinical Immunology: Applications develop practical understanding of detecting and quantifying antigens and antibodies.
Clinical Chemistry: Students complete CLS 49020 – Clinical Chemistry: Theory and CLS 49021 – Clinical Chemistry: Applications, connecting laboratory science with clinical analysis.
Urinalysis: CLS 49022 – Urinalysis: Theory and CLS 49023 – Urinalysis: Applications provide focused preparation in clinical analysis of urine.
Immunohematology: The curriculum includes CLS 49030 – Immunohematology: Theory and CLS 49031 – Immunohematology: Applications, providing practical preparation in this area of laboratory medicine.
Programming/digital skills: Students can take CS 10062 – Programming for Problem Solving in Sciences or EMAT 25310 – Creative Coding, giving the program a documented computational component.
Professional clinical training: Students complete 12 months of professional training at an approved hospital after three years of study at Kent State. This clinical experience fulfills the program's experiential-learning requirement.
Clinical placement: The fourth-year clinical training is required for graduation but is not guaranteed; acceptance is determined by clinical affiliates and is highly competitive. Kent State states that clinical affiliates typically interview students with at least a 3.000 major GPA and hospital experience.
Research opportunities: The Department of Biological Sciences offers undergraduate research opportunities, although the university does not identify a specific research laboratory exclusively designated for Medical Laboratory Science students.
Group projects and field trips: Kent State's official Medical Laboratory Science sources do not specifically identify required group projects or field trips, so these should not be presented as program features.

Facilities & Resources: Students begin their Medical Laboratory Science training at Kent State's Kent Campus, using laboratory-based instruction within the Department of Biological Sciences before progressing to professional clinical training at an approved hospital. The university's Health Professions resources also connect students with clinical and industry opportunities across healthcare organizations, while the Department of Biological Sciences provides undergraduate research opportunities.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Medical Laboratory Science, B.S. at Kent State University prepares graduates for professional laboratory practice through three years of university study followed by 12 months of professional hospital training. Graduates are trained to perform complex chemical, microscopic and microbiological procedures, with program outcomes including performing clinical-sample assays and interpreting chemical and molecular data for diagnosis.

Typical career roles include: Clinical Laboratory Scientist, Medical Laboratory Technologist, Clinical Laboratory Technologist, Medical Laboratory Scientist.

Career development and professional opportunities include:

Career services: Kent State's Career Exploration and Development provides resume and cover-letter reviews, job-search strategies, internship or shadowing searches, mock interviews, networking support, LinkedIn guidance and graduate-school preparation. Students also receive access to Handshake for jobs, internships, co-ops, career events and employer opportunities.
Employment and salary information: Kent State lists the broader occupation of Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians at 351,200 U.S. jobs and $61,890 potential earnings. The university notes that these figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and represent the occupation nationally, not salaries specifically earned by Kent State graduates.
Clinical-industry connection: Students complete 12 months of professional training at an approved hospital after three years at Kent State. Placement in the fourth-year clinical training is competitive and determined by the clinical affiliates; Kent State notes that affiliates typically interview students with at least a 3.000 major GPA and hospital experience.
Employer connections: Kent State's Career Exploration and Development office works with employers through career fairs, Handshake job postings, virtual interviews and internship programs, creating opportunities for students to connect with organizations recruiting university talent.
Professional certification: Graduates are eligible to sit for the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification examination, providing a recognized professional certification pathway in medical laboratory science.
Licensure consideration: Kent State states that the program is designed to prepare students for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. Students intending to practice elsewhere should check that state's individual requirements.
Graduation outcome: The fourth-year clinical training is required for graduation, although acceptance into the clinical training is not guaranteed and is subject to the clinical affiliates' selection criteria. The degree requires 120 credit hours and has minimum 2.000 major and overall GPA requirements.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.S. and pursuing professional certification, graduates can continue into graduate-level study in areas such as clinical laboratory science, biomedical sciences, biology, public health or related health sciences, depending on the admission requirements of the chosen institution. Kent State's Career Exploration and Development also provides graduate-school preparation to help students explore and plan their next academic step.