Why study Medical Laboratory Science : Pre-Medicine?

The University of Cincinnati Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) Pre-Medicine is a unique program and track that will allow you to complete the standard program while substituting and adding some additional courses in order to fulfill common pre-med requirements with flexibility to take any specific prerequisite courses needed for targeted graduate programs. For example, the pre-med track replaces Biochemistry with Organic Chemistry and adds Physics. You should work with your academic advisor to determine any specific courses required for the programs you are applying.

After graduation, you will be prepared to enter medical and other professional health care programs while also being prepared to enter the in-demand Medical Laboratory Science profession. Entering medical school or related programs as an MLS gives you the advantage of a professional foundation in diagnostic laboratory testing, which factors heavily in the majority of physicians’ decisions regarding patient care.

There are many benefits of entering a Pre-Medicine curriculum within the Medical Laboratory Science program. You will have the opportunity to have health-specific undergraduate education, get to learn and engage with other allied health majors allowing you to have exposure to other health disciplines. Your final clinical year gives you experience in a hospital/medical laboratory.

Graduates of the Pre-Medicine track are still graduating from a NAACLS* accredited Medical Laboratory Science program and will be well-prepared for the Board of Certification (BOC) exam sponsored by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) for the Medical Laboratory, MLS (ASCP) credential.

Medical laboratory scientists are allied health professionals who participate in patient care by performing laboratory procedures that assist in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases. The analysis performed by medical laboratory scientists uses advanced biomedical and instrumentation and technology to perform laboratory testing on blood and body fluids in the area of chemistry, microbiology, hematology, immunology, toxicology, blood banking and molecular procedures.

Career Possibilities

Graduates are well prepared to enter into graduate and professional health care programs such as medical, dental, physician assistant and those for graduate research. Additional education is needed to become a physician or surgeon. 

Physicians and surgeons work with people across the lifespans and generally work in:

• Physicians’ offices
• Hospitals
• Academic
• Government

Students graduating from the Medical Laboratory Science – Pre-Medicine track also have the option of pursuing a career as a Medical Laboratory Scientist. Most jobs for medical laboratory scientists require a bachelor's degree and certification. To be eligible to sit for a board of certification exam, most credentialing organizations require completion of a program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS).

Medical laboratory scientists work both independently and with a team in in a variety of settings, including:

• Hospital laboratories
• Independent laboratories
• Clinics and physicians' offices
• Research and development laboratories
• Public/government health agencies
• Forensics laboratories
• Pharmaceutical companies.

Regardless of the setting, clinical laboratory scientists consistently work in a challenging, fast paced and collegial environment.

Due to the high demand for Medical Laboratory Scientist professionals, graduates of our program have a 100% employment rate upon graduation, and generally are able to choose from several entry-level technologist positions.

Major Maps

• Guide: Medical Laboratory Science: Pre-Medicine (Fall 2024)

Advising

Advisors will be there to help you at every step of your academic journey. If you have advising-related questions, please visit the College of Allied Health Sciences’ Academic Advising.

Admission Requirements

The University of Cincinnati has established academic success criteria for first-year applicants to bachelor's degree programs. All students are encouraged to apply. Please visit High School Student Admissions for more information about first-year student admission requirements.

Admission to the Clinical Year

The clinical year is required to complete the BS-MLS. All prerequisite courses must be completed before starting the clinical year. Admission to the clinical year is competitive and requires separate application. The deadline to apply is October 1 preceding the intended starting fall semester.

Highly qualified candidates may be offered Direct Admission to the clinical cohort concurrent with freshman acceptance to the university. Students not meeting qualification for direct admission can be admitted to their clinical cohort by applying for the clinical year. 

For more information, please visit the Clinical Year Application webpage.

Transferring to UC Requirements

Students who have earned a high school diploma or GED and have attended a college or university other than the University of Cincinnati since earning their high school credentials are considered transfer students. Please visit UC Admissions for information about applying to the university as a Transfer Student. 

Changing Majors within UC Requirements

If you are currently enrolled in an undergraduate program at the University of Cincinnati (including UC Blue Ash and UC Clermont), but want to change your major to one in the College of Allied Health Sciences, please visit Transition Admissions for more information.

Application Deadlines

Application deadlines can be found at Admissions Deadlines.

Accreditation

The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS): 5600 N. River Rd., Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018; Phone 773-714-8880; Fax 773-714-8886; info@naacls.org; www.naacls.org.