The program’s interdisciplinary curriculum provides students with content knowledge across STEM fields, training a generation of students to become future leaders in MLS. Upon graduation, students will qualify to sit for the MLS certification exam offered by the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP BOC) and the American Medical Technologists (AMT) examination. Upon receipt of a passing score, students will qualify for licensure by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners. All MLS majors will be required to complete a total of 124 hours of coursework that includes the Xavier Core Curriculum, required courses in MLS, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and clinical practicum courses at Ochsner.
Prior to advancing into the third year of the MLS program, students must complete an application and interview, and have meet MLS requirements before advancing into the professional phase. Transfer students are expected to have completed the major requirements prior to registering for MLS courses in their junior year and are expected to complete Core requirements prior to graduation. The Department of Biology will host informational sessions on and off campus to highlight the program.
Enrollment criteria for the program include:
- Minimum 2.7 GPA
- Having withdrawn from fewer than three courses
- Earned a “C” or better in prerequisite Biology and Chemistry courses
If a student has declared MLS as their major, by their third year said student must have completed MDLS 2000 (or equivalent) with a “C” or better, complete an MLS application and interview, and be accepted into the professional (advanced) phase of the MLS program. Students who have not declared MLS as their major, must complete all the prerequisite courses, complete MDLS 2000 (or equivalent) with a “C” or better, complete an MLS application and interview, and be accepted into the professional (advanced) phase of the MLS program to declare MLS as their major.