Bachelor's in Medical Laboratory Sciences

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of North Texas

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences (BSMLS) at the University of North Texas is designed for students who want to build a career in clinical laboratory science, combining scientific knowledge with hands-on laboratory and clinical experience. Students study areas such as cell biology, microbiology, immunology, biochemistry and human physiology while developing skills to perform laboratory testing on blood, tissue and body fluids.

Curriculum Structure:

First Year:

Students establish a strong scientific foundation through courses such as BIOL 1710 Biology, BIOL 1760 Biology Lab, BIOL 2041/2042 Microbiology & Lab, and CHEM 1410/1430 General Chemistry I & Lab. They also develop quantitative and communication skills through MATH 1680 Elementary Probability and Statistics and TECM 2700 Technical Writing.

Second Year:

The curriculum moves into more specialized chemistry and clinical-science preparation, including CHEM 2370/3210 Organic Chemistry I & Lab, BIOL 3381/3382 Medical Bacteriology & Lab, and BIOC 3621/3622 Principles of Biochemistry & Lab. Students also develop organizational and technology-related skills through courses such as MGMT 3721 Essentials of Organizational Behavior and BCIS 2610 Intro. to Computers in Business.

Third Year:

Students progress into advanced medical laboratory subjects including BIOL 3510/3520 Cell Biology & Lab and BIOL 4201/4202 Immunology & Lab, alongside physiology and advanced biology options. This stage deepens their understanding of cellular processes, immune responses and biological systems relevant to clinical laboratory testing.

Fourth Year:

Students complete the program through 12 months of clinical training, gaining practical experience in an affiliated medical laboratory sciences clinical program. Clinical training can be completed through approved affiliates including Baylor Scott & White, Houston Methodist Hospital, Parkview School of Medical Laboratory Science, Tarleton State University and United Regional Health Care.

Focus Areas:

Clinical laboratory science, medical bacteriology, cell biology, immunology, biochemistry, human anatomy and physiology, genetics, parasitology, histology, biotechnology, molecular biology, clinical instrumentation, laboratory testing, quality control and clinical training.

Learning Outcomes:

Students develop oral and written communication, quantitative data analysis, laboratory organization and prioritization, clinical instrumentation skills, and in-depth clinical science knowledge. The program also prepares students to perform laboratory testing on blood, tissue and body fluids and to apply laboratory findings to the diagnosis and treatment of disease.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The program's affiliated clinical training sites are approved by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), and graduates are eligible to take national examinations administered by the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP-BOC). UNT itself is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Reputation & Employability:

UNT reports that Medical Laboratory Sciences graduates can pursue careers in hospitals and clinics, independent laboratories, blood banks, pharmaceutical firms, research laboratories, physician offices and other healthcare settings. The university also highlights the program's practical laboratory experience and curriculum developed in cooperation with hospitals and medical centers.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in UNT’s B.S. in Medical Laboratory Sciences gain practical experience through laboratory-based coursework and then complete a substantial period of professional clinical training. The program specifically develops skills in operating modern clinical instrumentation, examining cells and body fluids under a microscope, quantitative data analysis, and laboratory organization, while UNT’s Chemistry Building and Life Sciences Complex provide state-of-the-art laboratory equipment for research involving cell structure and microorganisms.

Key experiential opportunities include:

12-month clinical training: After completing at least 88 semester hours at UNT, students undertake a minimum of 12 months/32 semester hours of clinical training at a NAACLS-approved hospital or university laboratory.
Clinical laboratory experience: Affiliated clinical sites include Baylor Scott & White, Houston Methodist Hospital, Parkview School of Medical Laboratory Science, Tarleton State University, United Regional Health Care, University of Texas Medical Branch, and Medical Laboratory Sciences Group of Oklahoma.
Laboratory techniques: Coursework gives students experience with techniques for examining cells and body fluids under a microscope, alongside study of bacteria, disease, immunology, genetics and biochemical processes.
Clinical instrumentation: Students develop the ability to operate modern clinical instrumentation, one of the marketable skills specifically identified by UNT for the program.
Research laboratories and equipment: UNT states that its Chemistry Building and Life Sciences Complex have state-of-the-art equipment supporting research into cell structure and microorganisms.
Advanced microscopy: UNT Biological Sciences facilities include microscopy resources such as a Hitachi TM-1000 scanning electron microscope, with 20×–10,000× magnification and EDX analysis capability.
Student organizations: Medical Laboratory Sciences students can participate in Lambda Alpha Beta, a pre-professional organization, as well as Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society and Alpha Epsilon Delta Health Pre-Professional Honor Society.
Computing/technical skills: The degree includes BCIS 2610 – Introduction to Computers in Business and TECM 2700 – Technical Writing, supporting the program’s broader technical and professional skill development.

Facilities & Resources:UNT’s Chemistry Building and Life Sciences Complex provide laboratory environments equipped for work involving cell structure and microorganisms. Biological Sciences also maintains specialized microscopy resources, including scanning electron and confocal microscopy equipment, giving students access to advanced imaging technologies within the wider biological sciences environment.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Medical Laboratory Sciences at the University of North Texas prepares graduates for laboratory-based careers supporting the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of disease. UNT identifies employment settings including hospitals and clinics, blood banks, independent laboratories, pharmaceutical firms, research laboratories and physician offices.

Possible career roles: Medical Laboratory Scientist, Clinical Laboratory Scientist, Laboratory Technologist, Quality Control Specialist.

Here are some of the opportunities and support available to students:

Career support: UNT’s Career Center provides career coaching, résumé and interview support, internship guidance, employer connections and access to Handshake for jobs and internships. Students can continue using Career Center resources after graduation.
Employer connections: UNT hosts 20+ career fairs annually, along with employer-hosted events, networking opportunities and on-campus interviews.
Clinical partnerships: The Medical Laboratory Sciences program is affiliated with approved clinical laboratory schools and requires students to complete at least 12 months/32 semester hours of clinical training after completing the required UNT coursework.
Employment and salary: UNT's Medical Laboratory Sciences program page does not publish program-specific employment or salary figures, so a specific graduate employment rate or salary should not be presented as a UNT program statistic.
Professional accreditation value: Clinical training is completed through laboratories approved by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), and the curriculum is designed to support eligibility for national certification as a medical laboratory scientist/clinical laboratory scientist.
Long-term professional value: UNT states that the program supports eligibility for related licensure in Texas. Students planning to work in another U.S. state should check that state's certification/licensure requirements because requirements can differ.
Graduation outcomes: The degree can lead to opportunities in hospitals and clinics, blood banks, independent laboratories, pharmaceutical companies, research laboratories, physician offices, public-health organizations and other laboratory-related settings.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.S. in Medical Laboratory Sciences, students can build on their laboratory and clinical background through graduate study, advanced clinical laboratory education, research-focused postgraduate programs, or professional healthcare programs, depending on their career goals. The clinical and scientific foundation can also support progression into specialized laboratory, research and healthcare-related pathways.