Medical Laboratory Sciences

Rockhurst University offers the Bachelor of Science degree with a major in medical laboratory sciences in cooperation with the below medical institutions:

1. Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City
2. North Kansas City Hospital
3. University Health Truman Medical

Formerly this program was called Clinical Laboratory Sciences.

Prerequisite courses for admission to the clinical program, designed to meet the requirements established by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), include specific courses in chemistry, biological sciences, and a minimum mathematics proficiency.

Upper-level professional course work is taken at one of the affiliated hospitals. Graduates of the program are eligible to challenge either of two nationally recognized certification examinations to become clinical laboratory scientists or medical technologists. Graduation is not, however, contingent upon passing any type of certifying examination.

Undergraduate students interested in medical laboratory sciences may apply directly to the program. Applications are obtained from the academic director on campus, or from the specific program of an affiliate.

Students may elect one of two routes of entry into the program:

1. Students who are seeking a baccalaureate degree in medical laboratory sciences from Rockhurst University must complete 98 semester hours and all non-clinical degree requirements before beginning the professional component at a hospital site. The professional component lasts approximately one calendar year. Upon successful completion of the medical laboratory sciences course work, the student is awarded a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in medical laboratory sciences.
2. Students may choose to complete a degree with a major in chemistry, biology, or other related area, including the specific required courses for medical laboratory sciences admission, and then apply directly to one of the affiliated hospitals for admission to medical laboratory sciences as a non-degree student. Students considering this option should discuss the relative advantages with the academic director and the program director.

Upon admission to the program the following coursework will be completed and transferred back to Rockhurst from the affiliate.  The courses taken at the affiliate will include the following:

¹ St Luke’s and North Kansas City

² University Health Truman Medical Center

*At St Luke’s and North Kansas City this coursework includes Topics in CLS/MLS (4).  At University Health other courses include Lab Management (3), Clinical Urinalysis (2), Introduction to Clinical Lab (1) and Phlebotomy (2). 

For more information, see Medical Laboratory Sciences, B.S.  

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