Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science (B.S.M.L.S.) Major in Medical Laboratory Science

Minimum required: 120 semester credit hours

Admission Requirements

  1. The Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science (B.S.M.L.S.) degree with a major in Medical Laboratory Science requires admission to the university and admission to the program.  For more information visit: http://www.health.txstate.edu/cls/degrees-programs/undergraduate.html
  2. University application deadlines are different than the Medical Laboratory Science (M.L.S.) program deadline. Any student entering Texas State may declare the bachelor of science with a major in health sciences and a Pre-Medical Laboratory Science concentration as their major. It is recommended that students arrange academic advising at least once prior to making application, and, if possible, arrange to learn about the profession through clinical laboratory tours, personal research, and interviewing a practicing M.L.S. professional. Admission and acceptance to Texas State and declaration of a pre-M.L.S. concentration does not guarantee admission to the B.S.M.L.S. program. Admission to the program is competitive and selective. The academic sequence begins during the fall semester of the junior year. Students are selected in the spring semester of their sophomore year. Enrollment is limited by student/faculty ratios and clinical placement availability.
  3. The deadline for submission of applications to the M.L.S. program is February 15th. A typical cohort size of 20 students will be admitted. Applicants will be notified of their status by April 30th or sooner. The criteria for student selection for the junior class includes scholastic ability, particularly in the sciences, essays, and a personal interview, and not on the basis of gender, race, color, religion, veteran status or condition of disability, or national origin. Due to performance standards of the profession, students must meet specific ADA standards in accordance with physical and emotional requirements of the academic program to qualify for admission.
  4. Potential applicants are encouraged to complete the University process early (six to eight weeks prior to the M.L.S. application deadline of February 15th) to facilitate review of transcripts during the M.L.S. program application process.
  5. A minimum overall GPA and science and mathematics GPA of 2.50; however, an overall GPA and a science and mathematics GPA of 3.0 is recommended in order to be competitive in the application process. Applicants must be in good academic standing to apply to the M.L.S. Program. Students on academic probation or suspension will not be considered. The science and mathematics GPA is calculated based on grades in the following nine courses which must be completed prior to submitting the M.L.S. application:
    BIO 1330Functional Biology3
    BIO 1130Functional Biology Laboratory1
    BIO 1331Organismal Biology3
    BIO 1131Organismal Biology Laboratory1
    CHEM 1341General Chemistry I3
    CHEM 1141General Chemistry Laboratory I1
    CHEM 1342General Chemistry II3
    CHEM 1142General Chemistry Laboratory II1
    MATH 1315College Algebra3
    or MATH 1319 Mathematics for Business and Economics I
    or MATH 1329 Mathematics for Business and Economics II
    or MATH 2321 Calculus for Life Sciences I
    or MATH 2417 Pre-Calculus Mathematics
    or MATH 2471 Calculus I
  6. Science and mathematics courses require a minimum grade of “C” or higher.
  7. Students may have a maximum of nine hours of core and prerequisite coursework remaining prior to beginning the M.L.S. program.
  8. Completion of the M.L.S. application packet for admission is required by the deadline (February 15th).
  9. Successful interview of selected candidate with admission committee is also required.
  10. Health records and a background check are necessary before being allowed to start the program. Specific immunizations and drug testing are necessary before clinical placements.

General Requirements

  1. The general education core curriculum courses are listed in the degree plan below along with the statewide component code number. See the General Education Core Curriculum section of this catalog for the Texas State requirements and options in the core curriculum, including Honors courses.

  2. Students must complete a minimum of 36 advanced hours (3000 or 4000 level courses).
  3. Nine hours of writing intensive (WI) courses are required for graduation.
  4. Any student who did not complete at least two years of the same foreign language in high school is required to take 6-8 hours of the same foreign language.
  5. To graduate with a B.S.M.L.S., students must successfully complete all MLS courses in a lock-step sequence with a “C” or higher. Each MLS course is offered only once each academic year; therefore, progress in the program is affected should a student fall out of the sequence due to failure to successfully complete a course. A student who falls out of sequence (whether due to illness, course failure, or other reasons) will be delayed one year to repeat the course. Students with a grade of less than a “C” in a MLS course will be stepped out of the program and individuals must reapply to the program the following year. To be considered for program readmission, all original program admission criteria and an approved schedule for retaking courses must be met. In addition, a student may repeat a MLS course only once. If the student does not earn a grade of at least “C” upon repeating the course, the student cannot continue in the program.
  6. All non-MLS courses must be completed prior to the senior year, 2nd semester (spring), due to students beginning off-campus clinical rotations.
  7. Requirements for B.S.M.L.S. completion and graduation include a Texas State GPA of 2.0 with a MLS major GPA of 2.25.
  8. During the second semester (spring) and final semester (summer) of the senior year, students are required to successfully complete five clinical laboratory rotations/experiences in MLS Clinical Practice courses. These courses require that the students spend clinical time in other facilities, primarily hospitals and reference laboratories, away from campus. Students must furnish their own transportation, and if necessary, housing. Because of the time and distances involved, typically no courses other than those listed in the MLS Program can be taken in the final two semesters of the senior year.

Course Requirements 

Freshman
First SemesterHoursSecond SemesterHours 
BIO 1330 (Life and Physical Sciences Component Code 030 [TCCN BIOL 1306 or BIOL 1406]))3BIO 1331 (TCCN BIOL1307 or 1407)3 
BIO 1130 (TCCN BIOL 1106 [taken with TCCN BIOL 1306])1BIO 1131 (TCCN BIOL 1107 )1 
CHEM 1341 (Life and Physical Sciences Component Code 030 [TCCN CHEM 1311]))3CHEM 1342 (TCCN CHEM 1312)3 
CHEM 1141 (TCCN CHEM 1111)1CHEM 1142 (TCCN CHEM 1112)1 
Communication Component Code 0103Communication Component Code 0103 
Government/Political Science Component Code 0703Choose one from the following (Mathematics Component Code 020):3 
US 110011
MATH 1315 (TCCN MATH 1314)
  
 
MATH 1319 (TCCN MATH 1324)
  
 
MATH 1329 (TCCN MATH 1325)
  
 
MATH 2321 (TCCN MATH 2313)
  
   
 
MATH 2417 (TCCN MATH 2412)
  
 
MATH 2471 (TCCN MATH 2413)
  
 15 14 
Sophomore
First SemesterHoursSecond SemesterHours 
BIO 2440 or 2400 (TCCN BIOL 2420 or 2421)4American History Component Code 0603 
Component Area Codes 090, 091, 092, 093 and 0943Government/Political Science Component Code 0703 
American History Component Code 0603Language, Philosophy, and Culture Component Code 0403 
Choose one of the following:4Choose one of the following:3 
   
CHEM 2341
CHEM 2141 (TCCN CHEM 2323 & 2123)
   
CHEM 2342
CHEM 2142 (TCCN CHEM 2325 & 2125)
 
MATH 2328 (TCCN MATH 1342)
  
 
QMST 2333 (TCCN BUSI 2305)
  
 Component Area Option Codes 090, 091, 092, 093 and 0943 
 14 15 
Junior
First SemesterHoursSecond SemesterHours 
CLS 33053CLS 33233 
CLS 34104CLS 34244 
CLS 33263CLS 34124 
Creative Arts Component Code 050 [HUMA 1315]3Social and Behavioral Sciences Component Code 0803 
 13 14 
Senior
First SemesterHoursSecond SemesterHoursSummerHours
CLS 43333CLS 43403CLS 42252
CLS 43183CLS 43703CLS 43613
CLS 44404CLS 44634CLS 44654
CLS 44604CLS 42412 
 14 12 9
Total Hours: 120
1

If US 1100 is waived, the student must have a minimum of 120 hours to graduate. See the College Advising Center.