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Medical Laboratory Science

MLT to MLS Bachelors Degree Track

The Medical Laboratory Science Department at WSSU offers the MLT to MLS Distance Learning Program for graduates of an accredited Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) program seeking a bachelor's degree in Medical Laboratory Science. Students must be certified as medical laboratory technicians to be accepted into the WSSU MLT to MLS Distance Learning Program. The MLS courses are delivered online to accommodate students working as MLTs. Campus visits are welcome but not required for this program.

To be officially admitted to the MLT-MLS DL program, you must:

  • Have completed an accredited MLT program
  • Be working as an MLT, full-time, part-time, or PRN
  • Be certified as an MLT (you can begin the program, but must be certified before graduating)

In addition to being successful and maintaining enrollment in the program, you must earn and maintain a grade of C or better in all professional MLS courses. Failure to maintain grades of C or better in professional courses will result in dismissal from the program. If you are dismissed from the program, you will have to request to be readmitted by submitting a formal request to the MLS admissions committee.

General Information about the MLT-MLS Distance Learning Program

The courses for the Bachelor's in Medical Laboratory Science are a combination of General Education, Pre-Professional, and Professional courses. If you have earned a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, you may be exempt from the WSSU general education course requirements. This is also true if you have earned an associate of arts (AA) or associate of science (AS) degree from a North Carolina community college.

Graduates from a North Carolina community college who have earned an associate of applied science (AAS) degree are NOT exempt from the WSSU General Education requirements. Some of your MLT coursework may transfer to WSSU to partially meet general MLS Pre-Professional, General Education Courses, and Professional course requirements.

The MLT to MLS Distance Learning degree is earned by completing two phases:

  • Pre-Professional Phase (non-clinical coursework) includes completing the general education course requirements and the pre-professional MLS prerequisites.
  • Professional Phase (clinical coursework) includes completion of the MLS clinical courses and clinical practicums.

Note: most students are eligible for transfer of clinical practicums with the MLT associate degree and professional certification.

 

Thank you for your interest in WSSU's MLT to Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) Distance Learning (DL) Program. The MLS DL Program is an upper-level baccalaureate program to which you apply after graduating or close to completion of an MLT-accredited program. Follow the steps below to apply to the MLS DL Program

 Apply for admission to WSSU:

If you apply to WSSU and need to complete your general education requirements, please note that you may not be able to take all general education courses online.

Preprofessional courses can be taken concurrently while completing any general education course requirements. Although the general education and preprofessional courses may be taken at the accredited university or college of your choice, be sure that you are taking college transferable courses and that these courses meet WSSU equivalent courses.

You may choose to complete your WSSU general education course requirements as follows:

  • At your local community college before applying to WSSU or,
  • At your local community college while enrolled in the MLT-MLS program at WSSU.
  • Through WSSU, either online or on-campus, depending on class availability.

Be sure to submit official transcripts to the registrar for any classes taken outside of WSSU.

If you have earned an AA or AS degree from a North Carolina community college or a bachelor's degree from any accredited university, you may not be required to complete the WSSU general education course requirements.

The WSSU MLS preprofessional course requirements apply to all students, regardless of prior degree.

  1. Apply for admission to the MLT to MLS program
    • Apply to the MLT-MLS program after completion or when nearing completion of an MLT program.  You should apply to the MLS program when you have started classes in the last semester of your MLT program or have already graduated from an MLT program.

Before you receive full acceptance into the WSSU MLS DL program, you must have submitted and completed the following. Qualified students may be conditionally accepted into the program upon the completion and receipt of all these criteria:

  • Completed General Education requirements
  • Completed preprofessional prerequisite requirement
  • Proof of Certification as an MLT
  • 3 copies of the Recommendations Form
  • Signed copy of the Essential Functions Form
  • Personal Essay explaining your interest in earning a degree in Medical Laboratory Science from WSSU, approximately 1 page long

Please be aware that your transcripts submitted to the Admissions Office will be entered by the WSSU Office of the Registrar into your WSSU Banner Transcript. UCaLL (University College and Lifelong Learning) officially evaluates your WSSU Banner Transcript. MLS advisors cannot officially evaluate your official transcripts.

Transfer students with AAS degrees must complete a total of 60 credit hours of general education courses, including 1 course in each of the following areas:

  • Fine Arts
  • History
  • Literature
  • Foreign Language/Culture
  • Social/Behavioral Science
  • Scientific Literacy
  • Quantitative Literacy

Some of your MLS prerequisites meet these requirements. Also, up to 30 credit hours from your MLT courses can be transferred as General Education Electives. These may not appear on your WSSU Banner Transcript initially but can be requested as needed.

* Students receiving their medical laboratory training in the military should contact the Distance Learning Program Coordinator before beginning the application process.

  1. Contact the DL Manager for questions about the MLT-MLS DL Program