Graduate Programs

Medical Laboratory Science

Note: The MLS program is not accepting new applications.

Health care and related biomedical fields are among the fastest growing industries because of an aging population, expanded health care coverage, and technological advances. Recognizing this, the department developed, in conjuction with the Providence campus, a three-year, part-time evening program for working professionals. There are four major and two minor tracks within the program. The major tracks are biotechnology, cytopathology, medical laboratory science, and public health laboratory science; the minor tracks are education and management.

The Providence-based program provides training in:

• advanced technical and scientific applications in the clinical and biotechnology laboratory;
• state-of-the-art research methodology in both basic and applied science;
• supervisory, managerial, and administrative leadership skills;
• methodology for developing programs and teaching in both academic and clinical settings.

Admission Requirements

Students must meet the following requirements to be considered for admission into the Graduate Medical Laboratory Science Program:

• Baccalaureate degree from an accredited university or college with a major in medical technology/clinical laboratory science, microbiology, chemistry, biochemistry, biology, or a related area, and at least one course in statistics.
• Certification (or certification eligibility) by a nationally recognized certifying agency (such as NCAMLP, ASCP, NRM, NRCC, etc.) as a generalist or specialist clinical laboratory scientist, or a minimum of one year of post-baccalaureate clinical laboratory experience.
• Official scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) are recommended, but not required.
• Up to 6 credits may be transferred for course work completed at the graduate level with a grade of “B” or better at other accredited institutions of higher learning.
• A maximum of 12 credits of work taken at the University of Rhode Island in non-degree status may be applied toward degree requirements if the student is later admitted to a degree program.
• A maximum of 6 credits may be allowed for competency based on experience gained outside the traditional academic setting and demonstrated by examination or equivalent.

Program Requirements

• A total of 33 credits (or 39 for cytopathology).
• A core of four courses (12 credits).
• A scientific specialty area in biotechnology, cytopathology, medical laboratory science or public health laboratory science(9 to 24 credits).
• Related electives, either courses in the scientific specialty areas or in a professional area such as management or education (up to 12 credits). Profesional electives may be developed in cooperation with the College of Business Administration or the College of Human Science and Services’ Department of Education. Students may earn a certificate in adult education upon completion of specified education courses.
• A major research paper that is developed, designed, and implemented by the student with the assistance of a major professor and presented in MLS 512.
• A written, comprehensive examination taken near completion of the program

The Curriculum

The Medical Laboratory Science curriculum is flexible and allows students to design programs to meet their own professional needs. The program is offered on a part-time basis to accommodate the working professional. Courses are arranged in a three-year cycle, with two or three courses offered in each of the fall, spring, and summer semesters. Classes are scheduled in the late afternoons or evenings and meet once a week for three hours. Most of the classes are held at URI’s Feinstein College of Continuing Education in Providence, while others are held at the Rhode Island Blood Center, the Rhode Island Department of Health Laboratories, and at other academic medical centers in the Providence area.

Goals and Outcomes

Program Goals:

1. Produce graduates with advanced-level knowledge and skills along with professional abilities to successfully conduct biomedical laboratory sciences related work that serve the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical laboratory, and related industries, agencies, and institutions.
2. Prepare graduates with the ability to conduct appropriate research and scholarly endeavors, and contribute to the discipline of biomedical laboratory sciences.

Student Learning Outcomes (Competencies) by Goal:

Goal 1

1.1 Graduates will have the ability to apply knowledge of advanced immunology, biochemistry
and biomedical laboratory methods for the solution of problems in the fields of interest.
1.2 Graduates will have acquired advanced level skills in their area of specialization:
Biotechnology, Cytotechnology, Medical Laboratory Sciences, or Public Health Laboratory
Sciences.
1.3 Graduates will understand the principles of leadership and management.

Goal 2

2.1 Graduates must demonstrate that they know the background and principal works of their
research area.
2.2 Graduates have properly conducted appropriate research.
2.3 Graduates have developed reasonable conclusions based on their findings.

Additional Cytopathology Graduate Program Outcomes (2013-17):

1. 2013-2017; 5 year pass rate for Board of Certification of American Society of Clinical Pathology is 94.3%
2. 2015-2017; 3 year positive placement is 88.9%