Program: Medical Laboratory Sciences, BSMLS - University of North Texas

Mar 30, 2025

2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Course work for the Bachelor of Science in medical laboratory sciences teaches you to perform tests on blood, tissue and body fluids to determine proper treatment for illnesses and diseases. These technical skills may be used in operating and repairing laboratory instruments and monitoring quality-control programs.

The Department of Biological Sciences offers a Bachelor of Science in medical laboratory sciences in affiliation with the following schools of clinical laboratory science that are approved by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS):

Oklahoma Consortium of Clinical Laboratory Science Affiliates
Baylor Scott and White, Temple
Tarleton State University at All Saints Hospital, Fort Worth
Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston
United Regional Medical Health Care System (School of Medical Technology), Wichita Falls
Parkview School of Medical Laboratory Science, Pueblo, CO
The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (School of Health Professions), Galveston

Students complete a minimum of 88 semester hours at UNT (prior to entering clinical training) and a minimum of 12 months of clinical training (for a minimum of 32 semester hours) at any NAACLS-approved school of medical laboratory science to complete the degree.

Upon graduation, students are eligible to take national examinations given by the American Society of Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCPBOC). The ASCPBOC examination is administered by computer several times a year. Upon passing the registry examination, the student is considered a certified medical laboratory scientist. The awarding of the degree is not contingent upon students’ passing national board examinations.

Degree requirements

Hours required and general/college requirements

A minimum of 120 semester hours, of which 36 must be advanced, and fulfillment of degree requirements for the bachelor’s degree as specified in the General university requirements in the Academic policies section of this catalog and the College of Science degree requirements .

Major requirements

Foundation course requirements

The foundation course requirements listed below must be completed before enrollment in 3000 and 4000 level courses required for the major. Successful completion is based on achieving a C or better in each course and an overall 2.5 grade point average in these courses.

Science course requirements

Satisfactory completion of a minimum of 12 months of professional training at an approved medical laboratory sciences school as verified by an official transcript sent to the UNT medical laboratory sciences coordinator. The transcript is evaluated by the director who recommends to the dean of the College of Science and the Registrar that a minimum of 32 hours of credit be granted for the completed professional training. These hours are exempt from the UNT residency requirement.

In addition to the foundation course requirements, the following courses must be completed with a grade of C or better:

Biology courses:

Choose either the Human Anatomy and Physiology sequence (courses and labs) or Animal Physiology (with lab):

Plus two courses (with labs, if indicated) from:

Chemistry courses:

Other course requirements

BCIS 2610 - Introduction to Computers in Business
MGMT 3720 - Organizational Behavior
or
MGMT 3721 - Essentials of Organizational Behavior for Non-Business Majors
TECM 2700 - Technical Writing (replaces ENGL 1320 in University Core Curriculum)
Completion of a minimum of 12 months of clinical training (for a minimum of 32 semester hours) at any affiliated NAACLS-approved school of medical laboratory science to complete the degree.

Electives

Hours required for electives may vary based on course selection and the University Core Curriculum requirements. Electives may be required to satisfy the advanced hour requirement and/or the minimum total hours required for the degree. For specific information, see an academic advisor in the College of Science.

Other requirements

Only two attempts will be allowed for each biology and biochemistry course in the degree. Grade of C or better and minimum 2.5 grade point average in foundation courses, C or better in all upper-division courses counting towards major requirements, and an overall 2.0 grade point average are required for graduation. All students seeking to enter the Department of Biological Sciences, with the exception of beginning freshmen, must meet the minimum grade point averages given above. Students in the department whose foundation course or overall grade point average drops below the minimum for two consecutive semesters will be removed from the program.

Submit the following forms to the program coordinator:

Request for Degree Statement
Financial Aid
Notice of Acceptance to Clinical Training

Four-year degree plan (example)

The following four-year plan is one example of a variety of ways in which you can complete your chosen degree in four years, and will serve as a guide for you to design your pathway to degree completion. Variations will depend on whether you need to take prerequisites or have college credit from exams or dual enrollment.

Year 1

Semester 1		Semester 2
BIOL 1710 - Biology for Science Majors I	3 hours	BIOL 2041 - Microbiology	3 hours
BIOL 1760 - Biology for Science Majors Laboratory	2 hours	BIOL 2042 - Microbiology Laboratory	1 hour
CHEM 1410 - General Chemistry for Science Majors	3 hours	CHEM 1420 - General Chemistry for Science Majors	3 hours
CHEM 1430 - Laboratory Sequence for General Chemistry	1 hour	CHEM 1440 - Laboratory Sequence for General Chemistry	1 hour
ENGL 1310 - First-Year Writing I	3 hours	TECM 2700 - Technical Writing	3 hours
MATH 1680 - Elementary Probability and Statistics	3 hours	Social and Behavioral Sciences core	3 hours
Total	15 hours	Total	14 hours

Year 2

Semester 1		Semester 2
BCIS 2610 - Introduction to Computers in Business	3 hours	BIOC 3621 - Principles of Biochemistry	3 hours
CHEM 2370 - Organic Chemistry I	3 hours	BIOC 3622 - Principles of Biochemistry Laboratory	1 hour
CHEM 3210 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory I	1 hour	BIOL 3381 - Medical Bacteriology	3 hours
American History core	3 hours	BIOL 3382 - Medical Bacteriology Laboratory	1 hour
Creative Arts core	3 hours	American History core	3 hours
Government/Political Science core	3 hours	Government/Political Science core	3 hours
Total	16 hours	Total	14 hours

Year 3

Semester 1		Semester 2
BIOL 3510 - Cell Biology	3 hours	BIOL 4201 - Immunology	3 hours
BIOL 3520 - Cell Biology Laboratory	1 hour	BIOL 4202 - Immunology Laboratory	1 hour
BIOL 3800 - Animal Physiology	3 hours	Component Area Option A core	3 hours
BIOL 4510 - Animal Physiology Laboratory	1 hour	Language, Philosophy and Culture core	3 hours
MGMT 3721 - Essentials of Organizational Behavior for Non-Business Majors	3 hours	Advanced Biology Lecture and Lab	4 hours
Advanced Biology Lecture and Lab	4 hours
Total	15 hours	Total	14 hours

Year 4

Semester 1		Semester 2
Med Lab Science Senior Year	16 hours	Med Lab Science Senior Year	16 hours
Total	16 hours	Total	16 hours