What is Medical Laboratory Science (MLS)?

The Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) program is a nationally accredited program that prepares you to apply scientific and analytical skills to analyze blood, body fluids, cells and other specimens to diagnose, treat and monitor disease and promote health maintenance. 

The Medical Laboratory Scientist is an essential part of the healthcare team that performs and interprets laboratory tests with minimal direct patient contact. MLS professionals are highly trained specialists in Clinical Hematology, Clinical Chemistry, Immunohematology (Blood Banking), Molecular Diagnostics, and Clinical Microbiology. 

If you are interested in a career that combines science and medicine with the desire to help others, consider the MLS program. Our MLS graduates have a 3- year average job placement rate of 100% and many receive multiple job offers. Potential employers include hospitals, reference labs, diagnostic instrument manufacturers, biotech companies, and public health laboratories.

A student looks through a microscope in an applied biomedical sciences lab at UMass Lowell.

Gain clinical experience with UMass Lowell clinical affiliates

UMass Lowell’s Applied Biomedical Sciences Medical Laboratory Science program begins with on-campus lecture and laboratory courses and culminates in over 400 hours of intensive experience in clinical/medical diagnostic laboratories before graduation. Clinical affiliates include top Boston hospitals as well as community hospital laboratories around the area. The experiences gained in the combination of on-campus courses and clinical internships will sharpen your skills and prepare you for an entry-level position as an MLS professional, as well as qualification for the national certification exam.

The Medical Laboratory Science program is offered in cooperation with the following clinical affiliates (subject to availability):

Launch Your Career or Continue to Graduate School

With an average job placement rate of 100 percent, the UMass Lowell MLS program is highly regarded by employers.

Microscope with multiple lenses and a slide

Medical Laboratory Science Degree Careers

Our Medical Laboratory Science graduates are successfully employed by laboratories in:

  • Hospitals
  • Physician offices
  • Medical reference labs
  • American Red Cross blood banks 
  • Public health laboratories
  • Veterinary laboratories
  • Universities
  • Diagnostic instrument manufacturers
  • Medical Schools

Graduates have also continued to graduate schools, including:

  • Master's degree
  • Doctoral degree
  • Medical School
  • Veterinary School
  • Physician's Assistant programs
  • Pathologist's Assistant programs

Prepare for the Certification Exam

After completing the degree, you'll be qualified to take the Board of Certification examination for Medical Laboratory Scientists offered by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP).

NAACLS Accreditation

This program is fully accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), 5600 N. River Rd. Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018-5119, Contact: 847-939-3597 or 773-714-8880, email: info@naacls.org, and the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences website.

How to Apply

You will begin your studies in the Clinical Science (CS) Option of the ABS Program. Your training in MLS starts at the junior level once you complete certain required courses and apply to transfer into the program.

Admission into the MLS Program is a two-step process.

  1. Apply or transfer to the Clinical Science (CS) Option of the Applied Biomedical Sciences (ABS) major. Internal transfers must have minimum basic science and cumulative GPAs of 2.500.
  2. After at least one successful semester in the CS Option, and upon meeting certain course and GPA pre-requisites, students will then be eligible to apply to the Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) Option.

Visit the Applied Biomedical Sciences degree program page for more information on admission and the degree pathway. For specific questions about the ABS-MLS option please contact Assoc. Prof. Nancy Goodyear, MLS Program Director, by email: Nancy_Goodyear@uml.edu.

Medical Laboratory Science Program Outcomes: Pass Rates

Year of GraduationNumber of GraduatesASCP BOC Exam Overall Pass Rate
2023**15100%*
20221776%*
20212169%*
20201871%*
20192082%*

The three-year average (2021 – 2023) is 80%.

*Pass rates represent success within one year of graduation.
**Data for the class of 2023 may be incomplete.


Medical Laboratory Science Program Outcomes: Graduation & Attrition Rates

Year of GraduationGraduation Rate*Attrition Rate*
2023100%0%
202295%5%
2021100%0%
2020100%0%
2019100%0%

The three-year average graduation rate (2021 – 2023) is 98%.

*For those students entering the final year of the program.


Medical Laboratory Science Program Outcomes: Placement Rates

Year of GraduationNumber of GraduatesPlacement Rate*
2023**15100%
202217100%
202121100%
202018100%
201920100%

The three-year average placement rate (2021 – 2023) is 100%.

*For those who found employment in the field or a closely related field and/or continued their education within one year of graduation. Placement rates do not include graduates who failed to respond to program officials regarding employment status after multiple attempts.
** 2023 data may be incomplete.

Meet Our Students

UMass Lowell student Ellen Panetto pictured in a lab coat looking into a microscope in one of the health sciences labs
Ellen Panetto '18
Medical Laboratory Science

Ellen Panetto was always interested in anatomy and how the body works, but wasn't sure exactly what area she wanted to work in. Her clinical rotation experiences led to her decision to pursue a career as a pathologists' assistant.

I've been able to see how labs are run in small and large hospitals. These experiences gave me the ability to see what kind of environment I might want to work in and to learn from technicians in all stages of their careers.
Read More About Ellen Panetto 

Contact

For specific questions about the ABS-MLS option, please contact:
Assoc. Prof. Nancy Goodyear, Ph.D., MLS(ASCP)CM
Nancy_Goodyear@uml.edu