HELP 2014-2015 University Catalog Medical Laboratory Science, BS Print-Friendly Page

Banner Code:  SC-BS-MLAB

This program requires the equivalent of three years of full-time preprofessional study at the college level preceding a senior year of professional education in an affiliated school of medical technology. All affiliated schools are accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS).

Responsibility for applying to schools of medical technology and gaining admission rests with the student; however, guidance is provided by the medical labortorry science program director. Admission to medical technology schools is selective, so candidates should strive for strong academic standing. Students who fail to gain admission to an affiliated NAACLS-approved school are unable to complete the degree program. Such students may transfer to the biology major without loss of credits.

Application to medical technology schools should be initiated about a year before the desired entrance date. This fact, coupled with the large number of required courses in the preprofessional curriculum, makes it imperative that students in the program consult regularly with the medical laboratory science program coordinator. All medical laboratory science majors and prospective majors are urged to enroll in MLAB 200  as early as possible. This course provides information on the profession, as well as the educational demands placed on candidates.

Students must fulfill all requirements for bachelor’s degrees  including the Mason Core* . In addition:

• students must complete MLAB 200  and present the following courses in their biology coursework and supporting requirements with a minimum GPA of 2.00.
• A grade of C or better must be earned in BIOL 213  in order to advance to other major requirements. Students may repeat BIOL 213  once and a second time only with permission of the Department of Biology .
• Medical Technology majors must earn a minimum of C in all biology core courses listed below.
• Through the course work below, majors satisfy the Mason Core  requirements in natural science, quantitative reasoning, and information technology proficiency. Taking MLAB 300  fulfills this major’s writing intensive requirement.
• *Note:  Because of the extensive pre-professional education requirements stipulated by NAACLS, students majoring in medical laboratory science are exempt from the Mason Core requirement in the fine arts.

Senior students are registered at the university through special procedures. For details, consult the medical laboratory science program coordinator.

Students should be aware that the senior year spent off campus requires the following special interpretation of university policies:  transfer students must present at least 16 credits of 300- to 400-level biology or chemistry course work taken at Mason; no unsatisfactory grades (less than C) may be presented for courses in the senior year of professional study. Transfer students entering with more than 45 transfer credits are often unable to complete the preprofessional phase of their program in the usual three years of full-time study.

Note:  In April 2014 the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia (SCHEV) approved a name change for the degree program previously called Medical Technology, BS at George Mason University to Medical Laboratory Science, BS. The curriculum of the degree did not change.

This program of study is offered by the Department of Biology  in the College of Science .