About the Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences Program

The Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences Program of the Department of Laboratory Sciences in the UAMS College of Health Professions is dedicated to providing students with the appropriate education necessary for the development of entry-level competencies in all areas of the routine clinical laboratory.

Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences Program will be prepared to sit for entry-level national certification examinations in the discipline and will be prepared to practice as ethical and competent professionals.

In keeping with the mission of the College of Health Professions, the program will also be actively involved in scholarly activities and professional service including the development and delivery of continuing education to appropriate clinical laboratory professionals.

The Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences Program will empower entry-level laboratorians with the knowledge, skills and ethical foundation to advance the field and improve patient outcomes.

The Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences Program will provide unequaled support for our students by focusing on their needs and the needs of the profession.

The Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences Program is dedicated to achieving all our student success goals. Learn more about them on our Goals and Competencies page.

The educational objectives of the Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences Program are detailed in our core competencies. Learn more about them on our Goals and Competencies page.

The Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences Program offers multiple enrollment options:

• A traditional On-Campus Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences Program
• An Extended Internship Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences Program
• An Online Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences Degree Advancement Program

On-Campus Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences Program

The On-Campus Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences Program offers full-time and part-time tracks which begin each fall. The three-semester full-time track requires 17 months to complete, while the five-semester part-time track requires 29 months to complete.

Extended Internship Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences Program

The Extended Internship Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences Program offers the same full-time and part-time tracks as the On-Campus program and begins each fall.

This program track allows individuals interested in pursuing education for medical laboratory sciences without the requirement for relocation.

The program includes completion of virtual lectures and laboratory courses with extended clinical internships at an affiliated hospital. Applicants must be living in an area accessible to a facility that is willing to host students for these extended internships.

Online Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences Degree Advancement Program

The Online Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences Degree Advancement Program offers its curriculum in three-, four- and five-semester tracks. All three tracks can be started in either the fall or spring semester.

Admitted students who have completed all prerequisite courses can choose from any of the three tracks. Those with outstanding prerequisite courses are eligible only for the four- or five-semester tracks. Refer to the Admissions Requirements page for more information about prerequisite courses.

Non-Degree Online Medical Laboratory Sciences Program

Non-degree-seeking students can take courses from the Online Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences Degree Advancement Program by applying to the college as a non-degree student.

This option is ideal for those needing a specific course for their professional career or for those looking to enter the degree advancement program in the future but lacking enough prerequisites.

This option is recommended for individuals with at least 60 semester hours of college credit and one year of full-time lab experience by the course start date. Courses are offered online, and only those available in the current semester are open to non-degree students.

The maximum number of credits that may be taken as a non-degree student is 24 hours.

The UAMS Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences Program offers multiple paths for students to complete the requirements for the program.

We offer full-time and part-time opportunities for the traditional On-Campus Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences Program.

We also offer an Online Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences Degree Advancement Program for students who have graduated from a medical laboratory technician program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences and want to pursue a Bachelor of Science in medical laboratory sciences. Our program can be completed in as little as three semesters or as long as five semesters.

Students may also opt to take classes as a non-degree-seeking student through our Non-Degree Online Medical Laboratory Sciences Program. Non-degree students are allowed to take up to 24 hours while in non-degree status.

The On-Campus Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences Program partners with several clinical affiliate sites to provide students with diverse clinical experiences. The program currently works with affiliates in Arkansas, Missouri and Texas to provide clinical rotation opportunities for our students.

The clinical affiliates in Batesville, Arkansas, include the following:

• White River Medical Center

The clinical affiliates in Benton, Arkansas, include the following:

• Saline Memorial

The clinical affiliates in Clinton, Arkansas, include the following:

• Ozark Health Medical Center

The clinical affiliates in Conway, Arkansas, include the following:

• Conway Regional Medical Center

The clinical affiliates in El Dorado, Arkansas, include the following:

• South Arkansas Regional Hospital

The clinical affiliates in Fayetteville, Arkansas, include the following:

• Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks
• Washington Regional Medical Center

The clinical affiliates in Fort Smith, Arkansas, include the following:

• Baptist Health Regional Hospital
• Mercy Hospital Fort Smith

The clinical affiliates in Harrison, Arkansas, include the following:

• North Arkansas Regional Medical Center

The clinical affiliates in Hot Springs, Arkansas, include the following:

• CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs
• National Park Medical Center

The clinical affiliates in Little Rock, Arkansas, include the following:

• Arkansas Children’s Hospital
• Arkansas Department of Public Health
• CHI St. Vincent Infirmary
• UAMS Medical Center
• VA Central Arkansas Healthcare System

The clinical affiliates in Magnolia, Arkansas, include the following:

• Magnolia Regional Medical Center

The clinical affiliates in Monticello, Arkansas, include the following:

• Baptist Health Medical Center-Drew County

The clinical affiliates in Mountain Home, Arkansas, include the following:

• Baxter Regional Medical Center

The clinical affiliates in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, include the following:

• Jefferson Regional Medical Center

The clinical affiliates in Rogers, Arkansas, include the following:

• Mercy Medical Center, Northwest

The clinical affiliates in Russellville, Arkansas, include the following:

• St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center

The clinical affiliates in Searcy, Arkansas, include the following:

• Unity Health White County Medical Center

The clinical affiliates in Springdale, Arkansas, include the following:

• Northwest Medical Center

The clinical affiliates in Texarkana, Arkansas, include the following:

• CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System
• Wadley Regional Medical Center

The clinical affiliates in Springfield, Missouri, include the following:

• Mercy Health Springfield Communities

The clinical affiliates in Abilene, Texas, include the following:

• Hendrick Health

The Online Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences Degree Advancement Program does not have clinical affiliates. Students in that program obtain clinical training through their jobs as medical laboratory technicians.

Students in the traditional On-Campus Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences Program will attend classes four days per week in the didactic phase of our program. For full-time students, this is two semesters. For part-time students, this is four semesters. The last semester for both full-time and part-time students consists of a five-day internship at an approved clinical site. 

Students in the Online Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences Degree Advancement Program complete their studies 100% online in an asynchronous format.

Students in the On-Campus Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science Program and Extended Internship programs start the program each fall semester. 

The capacity for the traditional program is 30 students per year.

The capacity for the Extended Internship Program and the Online Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences Degree Advancement Program varies per year.

A Bachelor of Science in medical laboratory sciences is awarded upon successful completion of all academic and practicum requirements for enrollment option of the UAMS Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences Program.

Graduates of the degree program are eligible to apply for certification examinations given by national agencies in the field of medical laboratory sciences and for licensure examinations given by some states.

Successful completion of the degree program does not itself ensure certification or licensure. The granting of the Bachelor of Science is not contingent upon the student’s performance on any type of external certification or licensure examination. Each student is responsible for becoming familiar with the applicable certification and licensure requirements.

Applicants who are applying to programs leading to licensure in states other than Arkansas must be aware of the various state professional licensure requirements. Please check licensure requirements by state at CareerOneStop.

At UAMS, we value and respect your military service. We have a long line of Air Force, Army and Navy-trained medical laboratory technicians that have been very successful in our program. Our faculty are well versed in all aspects related to military laboratory training and service. While in our program, you will receive the following:

• Outstanding education that will help you on the job
• Support to help with tuition assistance or veteran’s benefits
• Individualized plans to help keep you on track if you deploy
• Career planning assistance for those who want to obtain a commission or looking for a post-military career in a civilian lab
• Peer connections with other military laboratory professionals

Military Personnel Video

UAMS College of Health Professions — MLT-to-MLS Online Degree Program for Military Personnel

Military E-Brochure

Use the link below to download our brochure with information about the Online Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences Degree Advancement Program for military medical laboratory technologists, including how to contact Colonel (Retired) Nathan Johnson, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Sciences.