Clinical Laboratory Sciences

Master of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences

Degree Plans & Curriculum

The MSMLS program for ASCP certified Medical Laboratory Scientists is a 30-credit online master's degree for medical laboratory professionals. The curriculum is designed for practicing professionals who want to advance their knowledge and skills in the medical laboratory sciences and develop new proficiencies needed to meet the challenges of a changing profession. Students can choose between a thesis or non-thesis (Capstone) option for completion of this graduate program. Moreover, students can choose electives to complete a concentration in Molecular diagnostics, Leadership or Research.

MS in MLS for certified MLS Graduates

The program is built on the MLS certification foundation and prepares individuals for advanced skills in laboratory medicine. This degree can be taken on-campus or distance and completed either full-time or part-time. Upon completion of this program, the individual would be awarded a degree of Master of Science in Medical Laboratory Science with their chosen concentration from the University of Texas Medical Branch.

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    Note: scroll left to view full table on mobile devices.

    Total Credit Hours: 30

    CourseTitleCredits
    CLLS 5319Biostatistics3
    MSHP 5302Intro to Scientific Writing3
    CLLS 5312Evidence-based Laboratory Medicine3
    CLLS 5329Clinical Laboratory Science Research3
    CLLS 5108MLS Seminar1
    CLLS 5333 or 5334Master's Thesis or CLS Capstone3
    Total Core Credits: 16
    Total Electives Credits: 14

    Concentration Courses

    Students may choose any of the following courses for their electives. A molecular concentration requires 6 hours of molecular electives and CLLS 5334 Capstone. Leadership concentration requires 9 hours of leadership electives and Capstone. Research concentration requires CLLS 5230 Clin Inv Studies and CLLS 5330 Master's Thesis.

    *Research Elective

    CourseTitleCredits
    CLLS 5230Laboratory Investigative Studies 2

    *Required for students completing a thesis option

    Leadership Electives

    CourseTitleCredits
    CLLS 5320Laboratory Management 2
    CLLS 5327Laboratory Validation Studies3
    MSHP 5210Human Resource and Leadership2
    MSHP 5216Community Health2
    MSHP 5217Leadership3
    MSHP 5303Health Care Policy2
    MSHP 5310Human Resource and Leadership3
    MSHP 5311Management of Health Information3
    MSHP 5312Financing Healthcare3
    MSHP 5313Quality Assurance and Risk Management3
    MSHP 5314Management in Health Care3
    MSHP 5315U.S. Health Care System3
    MSHP 5316Introduction to community and public health3
    MSHP 5317Health Care Professions Leadership3

    Molecular Electives


    CourseTitleCredits
    CLLS 6240Molecular Techniques2
    CLLS 6307Molecular Diagnostics*3
    CLLS 6348Advanced Topics in Molecular Diagnostics3

    *Students enrolled in this course will be required to attend an in-person laboratory for approximately 4 days within one week during the semester for hands-on procedures. Students with undergraduate molecular diagnostic coursework are recommended to take CLLS6348 Advanced Topics in Molecular Diagnostics.

    Other Electives

    CourseTitleCredits
    CLLS 5341Topics in Global Health3
MS in MLS for Science Graduates

The MSMLS for Science graduates program is an 80-credit blended learning (online with on-campus laboratory experiences) master's degree for individuals holding a Bachelor of Science in biology, chemistry, or a related science and who are not certified medical technologists / medical laboratory scientists but who desire a career in the medical laboratory sciences. Upon completion of the program, these individuals will be eligible to take a national board of certification as a medical technologist/medical laboratory scientist. 

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    Core MLS Curriculum: 38
    MSMLS Required Courses: 30
    Other (Specify, e.g. internships, clinical work): 12

    Total Credit Hours: 80

    Note: scroll left to view full table on mobile devices.

    SemesterCourseTitleCredits
    Fall ICLLS 5200Laboratory Techniques2
    Fall ICLLS 5319Biostatistics3
    Fall ICLLS 5405Intermediate Pathogenic Microbiology4
    Total: 9
    Spring ICLLS 5417Hematology and Coagulation I4
    Spring ICLLS 6325Advanced Path Microbiology/Mycology3
    Spring ICLLS 5506Clinical Chemistry I5
    Spring IMSHP 5302Intro to Scientific Writing3
    Total: 15
    Summer ICLLS 5310Serology and Blood Banking3
    Summer ICLLS 5331Urinalysis, Body Fluids & Parasitology3
    Summer ICLLS 5335Clinical Practice3
    Summer ICLLS 5312Evidence-based Laboratory Medicine3
    Summer ICLLS 6310Clinical Chemistry II3
    Summer ICLLS 5108MLS Seminar1
    Total: 16
    Fall IICLLS 5336Clinical Practice II3
    Fall IICLLS 6417Coagulation / Hematology II4
    Fall IICLLS 5415Immunology and Immunohematology4
    Fall IICLLS 5329Clinical Laboratory Science Research3
    Total: 14
    Spring IICLLS 6307Molecular Diagnostics3
    Spring IICLLS 5337Clinical Practice III3
    Spring IICLLS 5327Laboratory Validation Studies3
    Spring IICLLS 5313Medical Lab Science Management Skills3
    Spring IICLLS/MSHP XXXXElective3
    Total: 15
    Summer IICLLS 5307Clinical Laboratory Science Seminar3
    Summer IICLLS 5338Clinical Practice IV3
    Summer IICLLS/MSHP XXXXElective2
    Total: 8
    Fall IIICLLS 5333 or 5334Masters' Thesis or MLS Capstone3
    Total: 3
    Total Plan Credits: 80

    Students may choose any of the following sub-plans:

    • Molecular concentration
    • Leadership concentration
    • Research concentration

    Research Elective

    CourseTitleCredits
    CLLS 5320Laboratory Investigative Studies 2

    Leadership Electives

    CourseTitleCredits
    MSHP 5210Human Resource and Leadership2
    MSHP 5216Community Health2
    MSHP 5217Leadership3
    MSHP 5303Health Care Policy2
    MSHP 5310Human Resource and Leadership3
    MSHP 5311Management of Health Information3
    MSHP 5312Financing Healthcare3
    MSHP 5313Quality Assurance and Risk Management3
    MSHP 5314Management in Health Care3
    MSHP 5315U.S. Health Care System3
    MSHP 5316Introduction to community and public health3
    MSHP 5317Health Care Professions Leadership3

    Molecular Electives


    CourseTitleCredits
    CLLS 6240Molecular Techniques2
    CLLS 6307Molecular Diagnostics3
    CLLS 6348Advanced Topics in Molecular Diagnostics3

    Other Electives

    CourseTitleCredits
    CLLS 5341Topics in Global Health3

    Medical Laboratory Basis

    1. At least 35 credits of subjects specific to medical laboratory science will be completed by applicants without a degree in medical laboratory science prior to remainder of the curriculum. This is necessary both for the student to be sufficiently knowledgeable about the profession to practice in a medical laboratory setting and to select a Masters Project.
    2. These courses are predominately laboratory courses. Competency in the various laboratory techniques is necessary to function within the medical science laboratory. This requires that the student be a student on the Galveston campus.

    Clinical Practice (Preceptorships)

    1. Supervised clinical practice will include: clinical chemistry, hematology, microbiology, and immunohematology.
    2. Supervised clinical practice (preceptorship) will involve 40 hours/week for 3 weeks per specialty area specified above for a total of 120 hours.
    Capstone Project or Thesis Research Options

    Concentration Courses

    The Thesis Research option requires CLLS 5230 Clinical Investigative Studies and CLLS 5330 Master's Thesis. The Capstone Project option requires CLLS 5334 CLS Capstone. Students may choose from the following courses for their elective concentration. The Molecular concentration requires 6 hours of molecular electives in addition of the thesis or capstone courses The Leadership concentration requires 9 hours of leadership electives in addition of the thesis or capstone courses.

    *Research Elective

    CourseTitleCredits
    CLLS 5230Laboratory Investigative Studies 2

    *Required for students completing a thesis option

    Leadership Electives

    CourseTitleCredits
    MSHP 5210Human Resource and Leadership2
    MSHP 5216Community Health2
    MSHP 5217Leadership3
    MSHP 5303Health Care Policy2
    MSHP 5310Human Resource and Leadership3
    MSHP 5311Management of Health Information3
    MSHP 5312Financing Healthcare3
    MSHP 5313Quality Assurance and Risk Management3
    MSHP 5314Management in Health Care3
    MSHP 5315U.S. Health Care System3
    MSHP 5316Introduction to community and public health3
    MSHP 5317Health Care Professions Leadership3

    Molecular Electives


    CourseTitleCredits
    CLLS 6240Molecular Techniques2
    CLLS 6307Molecular Diagnostics*3
    CLLS 6348Advanced Topics in Molecular Diagnostics3

    *Students enrolled in this course will be required to attend an in-person laboratory for approximately 4 days within one week during the semester for hands-on procedures. Students with undergraduate molecular diagnostic coursework are recommended to take CLLS6348 Advanced Topics in Molecular Diagnostics.

    Other Electives

    CourseTitleCredits
    CLLS 5341Topics in Global Health3

    *Students who have taken an undergraduate molecular diagnostics course are recommended to take CLLS 6348 Advanced Topics in Molecular Diagnostics


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