Medical laboratory scientists work in the clinical laboratory of a hospital or in other medical facilities. They perform the laboratory analyses used in the diagnosis and treatment of disease and the maintenance of health. They must have the skills to do accurate analysis and be comfortable working with a wide variety of analytical instruments. Medical laboratory scientists have very little direct contact with patients. They have a wide choice of lab settings, including hospitals, independent labs, clinics, forensic crime labs, and more.
A Bachelor of Science (BS) in Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) is offered at Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT) – Wilsonville – in partnership with Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). In order to apply, students must complete the prerequisite coursework outlined below and have earned either a minimum of 103 transferable quarter hours from an accredited institution(s) or a bachelor’s degree. The prerequisite coursework can be taken at Portland State University (PSU) and includes courses in biology, chemistry, and mathematics.
Students who wish to earn a bachelor’s degree at PSU before moving on to earn the BS in MLS should complete the University Studies program in lieu of the general education requirements listed on this document.
Completion of the prerequisite coursework does not guarantee acceptance into the MLS program. Admission is limited and competitive. Students typically exceed the minimum GPA requirement.
Portland State University Pre-Medical Laboratory Science Course List
Based on courses required by OIT/OHSU's MLS program, PSU recommends the courses listed below.
| OIT/OHSU Requirements | PSU Course Equivalency |
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| Mathematics | Introductory College Math I: MTH111Z (4 credits) or higher level Elementary Statistics I: STAT243Z (4 credits) |
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Chemistry: minimum of 24 quarter credits Must be 200 level or above Suggested courses include general chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry | General Chemistry: CH221/227, CH222/228, CH223/229 (15 credits) Note: Students wishing to enroll in General Chemistry I (CH 221) or Honors General Chemistry (CH 221H) are required to take the chemistry placement assessment and must score 90% or higher. Organic Chemistry: CH334/384*, CH335/385*, CH336/386* (15 credits) Note: CH223 is the prerequisite for this sequence Organic Chemistry labs: CH337 & CH338 (4 credits) Students do not need to complete the entire organic chemistry lecture and lab sequence as long as they meet a minimum of 24 credits of chemistry. *PSU offers 1 credit workshop courses for 334,335,336 designed to support students in the course. These will not count towards the 24 credits, but are highly recommended. Survey courses are not accepted toward OIT's requirements. Courses must be 200 level of above. |
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Biology: minimum of 24 quarter credits, including 1 course in microbiology and 1 course in immunology Must be 200 level or above | Principles of Biology: BI211/214, BI212/215, BI213/216 (15 credits) Note: CH221/227 is the pre- or co-requisite for BI211/214 Molecular Biology: BI334 (4 credits) Note: BI211 Principles of Biology is the prerequisite for this course Cell Biology: BI336 (4 credits) Note: BI211 Principles of Biology is the prerequisite for this course Elementary Microbiology BI234 OR Microbiology BI380 (4 credits) Note: BI380's prerequisite is ONE of the following: BI341 Genetics OR BI334 Molecular Bio OR BI336 Cell Bio. Immunology & Serology: BI487 (4 credits) Note: BI334 and BI336 are the prerequisites for this course Survey courses are not accepted toward OIT's requirements. Courses must be 200 level of above. Due to the prerequisite system in the Biology Department at PSU, students who complete their MLS biology prerequisites at PSU take 32 credits of biology rather than the 24 minimum credits required by OIT/OHSU. |
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| General Education Requirements: ONLY FOR STUDENTS WHO WILL NOT HAVE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE BY THE TIME THEY BEGIN THE MLS PROGRAM AT OIT |
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Minimum 6 communication courses to include College Writing I & II, a Fundamental of Speech/Public Speaking course, and 3 additional communication courses from OIT's recommended list. | Complete the following 3 classes: - College Writing I: WR121Z (4 credits)
- Intro to Technical Writing: WR227 (4 credits)
- Public Speaking: COMM111Z (4 credits)
AND Choose 3 courses from this list: - Intro to Intercultural Communication: COMM215 (4 credits)
- Interpersonal Communication: COMM218Z (4 credits)
- Communication in Groups: COMM313 (4 credits)
- Writing as Critical Inquiry: WR323 (4 credits)
- Technical Report Writing: WR327 (4 credits)
If you have taken Writing or Communication courses other than those listed above, work directly with OIT to see if the courses will count. Note: While the OIT site says that only 18 credits of communication are required, they want you to have 6 courses. PSU students must complete 24 credits of communication because courses at PSU are 4 credits each (courses at OIT are only 3 credits each). |
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| Minimum 9 quarter hours of humanities | Choose minimum of 9 credits from any of the following: ARH, ART, MUS, ENG (excluding writing/composition classes), LING, PHL, World Languages (excluding 1st year college level) No more than 3 credits of activity of performance-based courses may be used in this category. |
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| Minimum of 12 quarter credit hours in social science: Anthropology, Economics, Geography, History, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology | Choose minimum of 12 credits from any of the following: ANTH, EC, GEOG, HST, PS, PSY, SOC |
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Resources:
Oregon Institute of Technology and Oregon Health & Science University's Medical Laboratory Science Program page