The University of Minnesota’s Medical Laboratory Sciences program offers three pathways to eligibility for the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification (BOC) Exam, which is required for employment in the hospital setting. These include Certificate in MLS, BS Degree in MLS and Professional Masters in MLS.
The MLS program also offers a master’s degree plan for advanced studies in the field of laboratory science. The Master’s of Science degree in Biomedical Laboratory Science (MS-BLS) provides additional theory, research and practice knowledge in the field, including topic areas of laboratory operations and management, molecular diagnostic science, education and teaching, or specialty areas of laboratory practice such as flow cytometry or cytogenetics. The degree plan prepares candidates for specialty certifications in the field such as Molecular Biology or Microbiology. The master’s degree plan reflects the interdisciplinary nature of laboratory practice and research with an emphasis on critical reasoning and innovative approaches to laboratory operations, leadership, research and evidence-based practice as well as laboratory method development and validation.