Medical Laboratory Science B.S.
General Degree Requirements
To earn a baccalaureate degree, all students must complete successfully, in addition to any other requirements, the University of Montana General Education Requirements. Please refer to the General Education Requirements page for more information.
Additional requirements for graduation can be found on the Degree/Certificate Requirements for Graduation page.
Unless otherwise noted in individual program requirements, a minimum grade point average of 2.00 in all work attempted at the University of Montana-Missoula is required for graduation. Please see the Academic Policies and Procedures page for information on how your GPA is calculated.
Courses taken to satisfy the requirements of a major, minor, or certificate program must be completed with a grade of C- or better unless a higher grade is noted in the program requirements.
Bachelor of Science - Medical Laboratory Science
A degree in Medical Laboratory Science prepares students to perform various chemical, histological, and microbial laboratory procedures used in the diagnosis, study, and treatment of disease. Students with this degree seek employment in hospital laboratories, physicians' offices, and health departments. For clinical practice, a student must be certified through the Board of Registry by completing a one-year clinical practicum.
Course Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Lower-Division Biology Courses | ||
| Complete all of the following courses: | ||
| BIOB 260 | Cellular and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| BIOB 272 | Genetics and Evolution | 4 |
| Upper-Division Required Courses | ||
| Complete all of the following courses: | ||
| BCH 380 | Biochemistry | 4 |
| or BCH 480 & BCH 482 | Advanced Biochemistry I and Advanced Biochemistry II | |
| BIOB 410 | Immunology | 3 |
| BIOH 365 & BIOH 366 | Human Anatomy and Physiology for Health Professions I and Human Anatomy and Physiology for Health Professions I Laboratory | 4 |
| BIOH 405 | Hematology | 3 |
| BIOM 360 & BIOM 361 | General Microbiology and General Microbiology Lab | 5 |
| BIOM 402 & BIOM 403 | Pathogenic Microbes and Pathogenic Microbes Laboratory | 5 |
| BIOM 427 & BIOM 428 | General Parasitology and General Parasitology Lab | 4 |
| BIOM 435 | Virology | 3 |
| Mathematics | ||
| Complete all of the following courses: | ||
| M 162 | Applied Calculus | 4 |
| or M 171 | Calculus I | |
| STAT 216 | Introduction to Statistics | 4 |
| Chemistry | ||
| Complete all of the following courses: | ||
| CHMY 141N & CHMY 142N | College Chemistry I and College Chemistry I Lab | 5 |
| CHMY 143N & CHMY 144N | College Chemistry II and College Chemistry II Lab | 5 |
| CHMY 221 & CHMY 222 | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Lab | 5 |
| Writing in the Disciplines Requirement | ||
Complete the equivalent of a full writing course (either three 1/3 writing courses or one 2/3 writing course + one 1/3 writing course or one complete writing course). | ||
| 4+1 or 3+1 Tracks | ||
| Complete one of the following tracks: | 24-37 | |
4+1 Track 1 | ||
Complete all of the following courses (24 credits): | ||
| Immunology Laboratory | ||
| Clinical Diagnosis | ||
| Clinical Diagnosis Lab | ||
| Organic Chemistry II | ||
| Organic Chemistry II Lab | ||
| Analytical Chemistry-Quantitative Analysis | ||
| College Physics I and College Physics I Laboratory | ||
| College Physics II and College Physics II Laboratory | ||
3+1 Track 2 | ||
Complete all of the following courses (37 credits): | ||
| Summer Clinical Laboratory | ||
| Professional Training I | ||
| Professional Training II | ||
| Total Hours | 86-99 | |
- 1
The 4+1 track is the more flexible option. Students complete the four years of the Bachelor's degree on the UM campus. They may then apply to a clinical practicum program anywhere in the country.
- 2
The 3+1 track is the faster option as the clinical practicum year is part of the degree. Three years are spent on the UM campus, and then the clinical practicum year with the Montana University System Medical Laboratory Training program (or with one of our affiliated programs) is the fourth year of the Bachelor's degree.
The student must apply for the professional practicum to one of our affiliated programs during the autumn prior to enrollment. To be competitive for this practicum, a student must be in good academic standing with a minimum GPA of ~3.0 and demonstrate a commitment to the clinical laboratory profession. For more information, visit the Medical Laboratory Sciences website.
Writing in the Disciplines Distributed Model Courses for Biological Sciences
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 1/3 Writing in the Disciplines Courses | ||
| BCH 482 | Advanced Biochemistry II | 3 |
| BIOB 410 | Immunology | 3 |
| BIOB 425 | Advanced Cellular & Molecular Biology | 3 |
| BIOB 483 | Phylogenics and Evolution | 3 |
| BIOE 371 | General Ecology Lab (equivalent to 271) | 2 |
| BIOE 403 | Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy | 4 |
| BIOE 428 | Freshwater Ecology | 5 |
| BIOH 447 | Genes and Development Lab | 3 |
| BIOM 327 | Vector-Borne Diseases: Public Health Perspectives | 3 |
| BIOM 435 | Virology | 3 |
| BIOO 470 | Ornithology | 4 |
| BIOO 475 | Mammalogy | 4 |
| WILD 470 | Conservation of Wildlife Populations | 4 |
| 2/3 Writing in the Disciplines Courses | ||
| BCH 486 | Biochemistry Research Lab | 3 |
| BCH 499 | Senior Thesis/Capstone | 3-6 |
| BIOB 411 | Immunology Laboratory | 2 |
| BIOB 499 | Undergraduate Thesis | 3-6 |
| BIOE 448 | Terrestrial Plant Ecology | 4 |
| BIOE 485 | Plant Evolution | 3 |
| BIOM 499 | Undergraduate Thesis | 3-6 |
| Full Writing in the Disciplines Courses | ||
| BIOH 462 | Principles of Medical Physiology | 3 |
| BIOM 420 | Host-Microbe Interactions | 3 |
Plan for 4+1 Track
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Autumn | Hours | |
| BIOB 160 | Principles of Living Systems | 3 |
| CHMY 141N & CHMY 142N |
College Chemistry I and College Chemistry I Lab |
5 |
| M 162 | Applied Calculus | 4 |
| General Education Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHMY 143N & CHMY 144N |
College Chemistry II and College Chemistry II Lab |
5 |
| WRIT 101 | College Writing I | 4 |
| General Education Requirement | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Autumn | ||
| BIOB 260 | Cellular and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| CHMY 221 & CHMY 222 |
Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Lab |
5 |
| BIOM 360 & BIOM 361 |
General Microbiology and General Microbiology Lab |
5 |
| Elective | 1 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOB 272 | Genetics and Evolution | 4 |
| CHMY 223 & CHMY 224 |
Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry II Lab |
5 |
| STAT 216 | Introduction to Statistics | 4 |
| Intermediate Writing Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Junior | ||
| Autumn | ||
| BIOM 427 & BIOM 428 |
General Parasitology and General Parasitology Lab |
4 |
| BIOB 410 & BIOB 411 |
Immunology and Immunology Laboratory |
5 |
| BIOH 365 & BIOH 366 |
Human Anatomy and Physiology for Health Professions I and Human Anatomy and Physiology for Health Professions I Laboratory |
4 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOM 402 & BIOM 403 |
Pathogenic Microbes and Pathogenic Microbes Laboratory |
5 |
| BCH 380 | Biochemistry | 4 |
| BIOH 405 | Hematology | 3 |
| General Education Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Senior | ||
| Autumn | ||
| PHSX 205N & PHSX 206N |
College Physics I and College Physics I Laboratory |
5 |
| CHMY 311 | Analytical Chemistry-Quantitative Analysis | 4 |
| General Education Requirement | 6 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOM 407 & BIOM 408 |
Clinical Diagnosis and Clinical Diagnosis Lab |
3 |
| BIOM 435 | Virology | 3 |
| PHSX 207N & PHSX 208N |
College Physics II and College Physics II Laboratory |
5 |
| General Education Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Total Hours | 121 | |
Last updated Autumn 2025
Plan for 3+1 Track
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Autumn | Hours | |
| BIOB 160 | Principles of Living Systems | 3 |
| CHMY 141N & CHMY 142N |
College Chemistry I and College Chemistry I Lab |
5 |
| M 162 | Applied Calculus | 4 |
| General Education Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHMY 143N & CHMY 144N |
College Chemistry II and College Chemistry II Lab |
5 |
| WRIT 101 | College Writing I | 4 |
| General Education Requirement | 6 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Autumn | ||
| BIOB 260 | Cellular and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| CHMY 221 & CHMY 222 |
Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Lab |
5 |
| BIOM 360 & BIOM 361 |
General Microbiology and General Microbiology Lab |
5 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOB 272 | Genetics and Evolution | 4 |
| STAT 216 | Introduction to Statistics | 4 |
| Intermediate Writing / Literary & Artistic Course | 3 | |
| General Education Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Junior | ||
| Autumn | ||
| BIOB 410 & BIOB 411 |
Immunology and Immunology Laboratory |
5 |
| BIOH 365 & BIOH 366 |
Human Anatomy and Physiology for Health Professions I and Human Anatomy and Physiology for Health Professions I Laboratory |
4 |
| BIOM 427 & BIOM 428 |
General Parasitology and General Parasitology Lab |
4 |
| General Education Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOM 402 & BIOM 403 |
Pathogenic Microbes and Pathogenic Microbes Laboratory |
5 |
| BIOM 435 | Virology | 3 |
| BCH 380 | Biochemistry | 4 |
| BIOH 405 | Hematology | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Summer | ||
| BIOH 470 | Summer Clinical Laboratory | 12 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Senior | ||
| Autumn | ||
| BIOH 471 | Professional Training I 1 | 13 |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOH 472 | Professional Training II 1 | 12 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 126 | |
Last updated Autumn 2025
- 1
Year 4 Practicum / Internship at one of our affiliated programs. MUST apply to programs the prior fall.