Undergraduate Program

Degree and Certificate Offered

Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences (B.S.M.L.)
Certificate in Clinical Chemistry (CERT)

The Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences (B.S.M.L.) degree is offered at the University of New Mexico through the Department of Pathology in the School of Medicine. The program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), 5600 N. River Rd., Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018-5119, (773) 714-8880. Students who successfully complete the program are eligible to sit for the national certification examination given by the Board of Certification (ASCP).

The Medical Laboratory Sciences (MLS) program may be taken as part of a four-year curriculum leading to the Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences from the UNM School of Medicine OR as part of a degree from another four-year academic institution. The program follows a prescribed curriculum which requires two and one half years of pre-professional academic study and one and one half years in the MLS program.

Students earning a B.S. degree from an academic institution other than the University of New Mexico must meet the degree requirements established by that university in addition to the minimum educational requirements specified below for entering the UNM MLS program. Students register through UNM for all MEDL courses.

Admission Requirements

Minimum education requirements are 69 credit hours of acceptable college credits from a college or university approved by a recognized accrediting agency including the required courses listed below. All credit hours must be acceptable towards a baccalaureate degree. A minimum grade of "C" or better in all subjects and a grade of "C" or better in each prerequisite biology, chemistry and math course is required. All students are required to meet with the Medical Laboratory Sciences Program advisor on North Campus if they are interested in applying for the program.

Students coming from other universities or colleges who will earn their baccalaureate degree from their parent institutions or students who already have a baccalaureate degree must have the following prerequisites for admission to the Medical Laboratory Sciences Program at the University of New Mexico.

Total of 69 credit hours of credit including:

Biological Sciences: approximately 16 credit hours including courses in physiology and microbiology.
Chemistry: approximately 12 credit hours including one course in organic or biochemistry.
Mathematics: a minimum of one course in college-level algebra or a higher math course.

NOTE: Remedial and survey courses are not acceptable. Other recommended courses are: anatomy and physiology, cell biology, parasitology, pathogenic bacteriology, biochemistry, psychology, sociology, computer science, communications, management and education.

Students can be admitted to the program at the beginning of the Spring semester or Fall semester. An application must be submitted to the Office of Medical Laboratory Sciences by the October 15 deadline for January admission or June 15 for August admission. Application may be made while enrolled in courses needed to complete the prerequisites. Official transcripts of all college course work must be sent directly from each institution unless all course work was completed at UNM. Admission is limited, with selection based on cumulative grade point average, grade point average in Chemistry, Math, and Science courses, letters of recommendation, and a personal interview. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 is required. Selection of applicants is made by the Medical Laboratory Sciences Admissions Committee. All applicants are notified of their admission status. Selection is given to qualified persons regardless of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, qualified handicap or military involvement. Residents of New Mexico receive preference in admission.

Students earning their B.S. degrees from the School of Medicine at the University of New Mexico must follow the prescribed curriculum outlined below.

Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences

The Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences program begins each Spring semester or Fall semester. Courses may be taken as a part-time student allowing up to three years instead of the normal one and one half years to complete the program. Students are assigned to an affiliated clinical laboratory for practical experiences in the rotation courses. Hospital and reference laboratories currently used are: Quest Diagnostics, TriCore Reference Laboratories, and VA Medical Center and hospitals located throughout the state of New Mexico.

Pre-Admission Curriculum

		Credit Hours
	Biological Sciences:
	Approximately 16 credit hours to include:
BIOL 123/124L	Biology for Health Related Sciences and Non-Majors and Lab	4
-or-
BIOL 201L -and- BIOL 202L	Molecular and Cell Biology Genetics	8
BIOL 201L	Molecular and Cell Biology	4
BIOL 237/238	Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II	6
BIOL 239	Microbiology for Health Sciences and Non-Majors	4
-or-
BIOL 351 BIOL 352L	General Microbiology and Lab	4
	Chemistry:
	Approximately 12 credit hours to include:
CHEM 121/123L -and- CHEM 122/124L	General Chemistry I and Lab General Chemistry II and Lab	8
-or-
CHEM 131/123L -and- CHEM 132/124L	Principles of Chemistry and Lab
CHEM *301 CHEM 303L -or-* CHEM 212	Organic Chemistry and Lab Integrated Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry	4
	Mathematics:
	Minimum of 2 courses to include:
MATH 121	College Algebra	3
STAT 145	Introduction to Statistics (recommended)	3
-or-
	Higher math or statistics
	English:
	Competence in writing English as determined by the English Department or the following two English courses:
ENGL 110 (or ENGL 112; or ENGL 113)	Accelerated Composition (or Composition II; or Enhanced Composition)	3
ENGL 120	Composition III	3
	Interpersonal Communicative Skills:
	One course from the following:
CJ 221	Interpersonal Communication	3
CJ 225	Small Group Communication	3
	Management Theory:
	One course on general management theory:
MGMT 113	Management: An Introduction	3
	Computer Science:
	One course:
CS 150L	Computing for Business Students	3
	The University of New Mexico Core Curriculum Courses:
	Courses must be taken to fulfill the core requirements in the following areas listed. A listing of acceptable courses can be found in this catalog.
	Social and Behavioral Sciences	6
	Humanities	6
	Second Language	3
	Fine Arts	3

B.S.M.L. Degree Requirements

		Credit Hours
MEDL 234	Introduction to Clinical Immunology	3
MEDL 300L	Introduction to Medical Laboratory Sciences	2
MEDL 310	Introduction to Clinical Chemistry	3
MEDL 311L	Introduction to Clinical Chemistry Lab	2
MEDL 315L	Clinical Serology	2
MEDL 320	Introduction to Clinical Hematology/Hemostasis	4
MEDL 321L	Clinical Hematology/Hemostasis Lab	2
MEDL 330	Introduction to Microbiology	3
MEDL 331L	Introduction to Microbiology Lab	2
MEDL 340L	Introduction to Immunohematology	2
MEDL 350L	Clinical Urinalysis	2
MEDL 410L	Advanced Clinical Chemistry	3
MEDL 420L	Advanced Clinical Hematology/Hemostasis	3
MEDL 430	Advanced Clinical Microbiology	3
MEDL 431L	Advanced Clinical Microbiology Lab	2
MEDL 432L	Clinical Parasitology	2
MEDL 440L	Advanced Clinical Immunohematology	2
MEDL 445	Clinical Lab Management and Education	2
	Subtotal	44
	Clinical Rotation Courses
MEDL 351	Basic Clinical Chemistry Rotation	3
MEDL 352	Basic Hematology/Hemostasis Rotation	3
MEDL 355	Clinical Urinalysis Rotation	1
MEDL 451	Advanced Clinical Chemistry Rotation	1
MEDL 452	Advanced Hematology and Hemostasis Rotation	2
MEDL 453	Clinical Microbiology Rotation	5
MEDL 454	Clinical Immunohematology Rotation	4
	Subtotal	19
	Total	63

Certificate in Clinical Chemistry

Requirements

		Credit Hours
Semester I	Summer Term
MEDL 234	Introduction to Clinical Immunology	3
MEDL 315L	Clinical Serology	2
MEDL 350L	Clinical Urinalysis	2
MEDL 463	Laboratory Operations and Laboratory Mathematics	2
Semester II	Fall Semester
MEDL 310	Introduction to Clinical Chemistry	3
MEDL 311L	Introduction to Clinical Chemistry Laboratory	2
MEDL 355	Clinical Urinalysis Rotation	1
MEDL 410L	Advanced Clinical Chemistry	3
MEDL 461	Phlebotomy Rotation	2
MEDL 462	Specimen Processing and Collection Practicum	2
Semester III	Spring Semester
MEDL 351	Basic Clinical Chemistry Rotation	3
MEDL 451	Advanced Clinical Chemistry Rotation	1
MEDL 460	Clinical Correlations Studies	3
MEDL 464	Management Project Practicum	2

Information Requests

Communications regarding information and applications should be addressed to Medical Laboratory Sciences, MSC09 5250, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001.

NOTE: Changes in the MLS program could occur. Therefore, students should remain in touch with the MLS program advisor.

Keys and Symbols Reference