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Medical Laboratory Scientists perform diagnostic tests that provide important information to determine the presence, extent, or absence of disease as well as data to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment. They work with all types of body tissues and fluids, from blood and urine to cell samples. Major areas of specialization within the laboratory include hematology, clinical chemistry, microbiology, serology, urinalysis, immunohematology (blood bank) and molecular diagnostics.
Students may apply for specialization standing in MLS after completing the CDS core curriculum, generally at the end of the sophomore year. The junior and senior years consist of the prescribed professional course requirements at Oakland University. A clinical internship is required for national certification as a medical laboratory scientist (certification required for most hospital and private laboratory employment positions). Oakland University is affiliated with the following accredited MLS clinical programs: Detroit Medical Center University Laboratories; Ascension St. John Hospital; and Beaumont Health.
Admission to clinical specialization internship
To be accepted in a clinical specialization internship, students must submit a formal application for each program for which they seek consideration. Applications for the MLS internships are processed during the summer prior to the senior year. Internships are between six and ten months in length (depending on the clinical site), and are done post-graduate. It is recommended that students have at least a 3.00 overall GPA. Students with lower grade point averages may be admitted provisionally pending satisfactory completion of appropriate fall semester, junior-year course work. Students should check the clinical program’s website for specific application dates. Acceptance into the internship program is competitive and based on grade point average, personal interview, and letters of recommendation.
Grade point policy
Students in the professional medical laboratory science specialization whose cumulative grade point average falls below a 2.80 are not able to graduate with the professional specialization designation. In these cases, students are eligible to graduate with a Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences Pre-clinical professions specialization.
In order to remove program probationary status, students must raise their cumulative major grade point average to 2.80 or higher.