Undergraduate students and those with a bachelor’s degree who have completed general education and program pre-requisite requirements are eligible to apply to the MLS Program. Application deadline is March 1 for Lexington campus and May 1 for Hazard campus.
At the end of the program, graduates will receive a bachelor’s degree in Medical Laboratory Science and will be eligible to sit for the certification examination (ASCP) at the Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) level. Students interested in practicing medical or clinical laboratory science outside of Kentucky should learn more about whether the MLS programs will lead to licensure, certification, registration, etc. in each state.
In addition to the University of Kentucky requirements, students seeking admission to the MLS program must complete the following pre-requisite or pre-professional courses. The following courses need to be completed before beginning the MLS program:
- 1 semester of general biology with laboratory
- 2 semesters of general chemistry with laboratory
- 1 semester of general microbiology with laboratory
- 1 semester of statistical methods
- 1 semester of human physiology (or combined course in physiology and anatomy)
Students begin their first year in the MLS program in August and graduate in December of their second year. The MLS program consists of 60 credit hours and the curriculum for traditional students, based in Lexington or Hazard, is outlined below.
Year One (Fall)
| Course Prefix and Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MLS 400 | Laboratory Techniques and Phlebotomy | 2 |
| MLS 410 | Medical Laboratory Biochemistry | 3 |
| MLS 420 | Clinical Immunology & Serology | 3 |
| MLS 460 | Clinical Hematology | 3 |
| MLS 465 | Clinical Hematology Laboratory | 2 |
| MLS 461 | Clinical Microbiology | 3 |
| MLS 466 | Clinical Microbiology Laboratory | 2 |
Year One (Spring)
| Course Prefix and Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MLS 430 | Clinical Mycology & Parasitology | 2 |
| MLS 462 | Clinical Chemistry | 3 |
| MLS 467 | Clinical Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| MLS 463 | Immunohematology | 3 |
| MLS 468 | Immunohematology Laboratory | 2 |
| MLS 464 | Body Fluids & Hemostasis | 2 |
| MLS 469 | Body Fluids & Hemostasis Laboratory | 2 |
| MLS 471 | Ethics & Professionalism | 1 |
Year One (Summer Session One)
| Course Prefix and Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
| MLS 440 | Molecular Diagnostics | 3 |
Year One (Summer Session Two)
| Course Prefix and Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MLS 450 | MLS Education & Management | 3 |
| MLS 480 | Clinical Hematology Practicum | 4 |
Year Two (Fall)
| Course Prefix and Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MLS 470 | Medical Laboratory Science Capstone | 3 |
| MLS 481 | Clinical Microbiology Practicum | 4 |
| MLS 482 | Clinical Chemistry Practicum | 4 |
| MLS 483 | Immunohematology Practicum | 4 |
Course descriptions can be found in the UK Bulletin.
- The minimum GPA for entrance into the MLS program is a 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
- Completion of application to the University of Kentucky (if currently not a UK student)
The MLS admissions committee ranks applicants based on the following criteria:
- Pre-requisite course GPA
- Overall GPA
- Recommendation letters
- One-on-one interviews which score applicants for:
- Professionalism
- Academic Preparedness
- Communication
- Alignment with the mission of the MLS program
- Complete the online application for the Medical Laboratory Science Program.
- The application window is December 1, 2023 - March 1, 2024 for Lexington Campus, and December 1, 2023 - May 1, 2024 for Hazard Campus.
- Have three individuals that can attest to your ability to succeed in this program and profession submit an online recommendation form on your behalf.
- Provide official copies of all higher education transcripts
More information regarding the recommendation forms and transcripts is provided in the online application documents.
After the deadline for applying to the MLS program, application packets will be reviewed. Qualified applicants may participate in a brief interview by MLS faculty member(s).