Requirements and Details

To be eligible for employment in a clinical laboratory to run diagnostic tests, you must complete a bachelor's level degree including a clinical internship program and pass a national certification exam administered by American Society for Clinical Pathology. 

St. Cloud State offers two options for students wishing to pursue a degree in Medical Laboratory Science.  Each option has a specific curriculum that a student would need to follow. The granting of the B.S. degree in MLS is not contingent upon passing the national certification exam.

3 + 1 Degree curriculums

Students may complete three years of courses at St. Cloud State, followed by a year of internship at a clinical affiliate. Current clinical affiliates are Hennepin County Medical Center, University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, North Dakota, the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Note: The Mayo Clinic is also a possible clinical rotation site, students need to work with the MLS advisor to ensure prerequisite classes are fulfilled.

• Required courses for the major program.

2 + 2 Degree curriculum 

(Must be a certified Medical Laboratory Technician and employed in the field to apply to this route.)

St. Cloud State and North Hennepin Community College (NHCC) are collaborating on a 2 + 2 program that will result in a Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) BS degree from St. Cloud State. Certified Medical Laboratory Technicians (MLTs) can complete the program in two years (full-time). The program also encourages part-time students who are currently employed as MLTs to participate in the program.

Distance immersive learning options available. Contact program director for details.

• MLS Student Handbook
• MLS Program Application Documents

Students are encouraged to meet with an adviser to design an appropriate program to meet the requirements of the clinical internship site chosen by the student as soon as possible.

Students may not register for 300-level MLS courses prior to admission to the major. Clinical experience at an affiliated clinical program is required. Admission to the major does not imply automatic acceptance into a clinical program. Students may not register for 400-level MLS courses prior to acceptance into a clinical program.

Applications are made approximately one year prior to the starting date of the clinical program.

It is the responsibility of the student to ensure requirements of the clinical internship have been met and to be aware if different clinical sites have chosen additional required courses.