Biology Programs
Medical Laboratory Sciences Major
Medical laboratory sciences (sometimes called medical technology or clinical laboratory sciences) is one of the Allied Health professions. When a physician orders a test on a patient's blood, urine, sputum, etc., it is the medical laboratory professionals who process the sample, perform the test and get the results back to the physician. They may specialize in hematology, chemical analysis, microbiology, genetic testing, blood banking or other sub-fields. While they do not have regular contact with patients, they are an essential part of the patient care team.
Xavier's medical laboratory sciences majors, upon graduation, are equipped with an aptitude for scientific work. They know how to deal with routine as well as unexpected work demands. They are dependable, methodical, precise, self-sufficient individuals. Graduates receive a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in medical laboratory sciences and are headed for one of the highest-demand professions in health care, a career that is satisfying, challenging and rewarding.
Students majoring in medical laboratory sciences complete 24 semester hours of biology, 17 semester hours of chemistry and 4 elective hours in one of the three natural sciences during their three years at Xavier. This is not a technical program; MLS professionals receive broad training in the basic sciences. MLS professionals make complex decisions, frequently with ethical dimensions, and should be equipped to rise up to supervisory positions. Thus, a liberal arts core curriculum is also a part of the program. If students' career plans change, students can easily change majors to biology, chemistry, chemical science, physics, or natural sciences. With the right elective choices, the program can be adapted to include a "pre-med" curriculum as well.
Medical laboratory sciences is a 3+1 program, meaning three years of undergraduate study here and 12 months away from campus gaining clinical experience at a hospital. In the third year, students must apply and be accepted at a hospital accredited by the National Accrediting Agency of Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) and approved by the University. Xavier is affiliated with two area hospitals: St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Edgewood, KY and the Medical Technology Program of the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. It is also possible to attend other hospital programs, in consultation with the program director. During the clinical year, students pay tuition to the hospital program instead of to Xavier.
Freshman Year
| First Semester | Semester Hours | Second Semester | Semester Hours |
| BIOLOGY 160 General Biology I |
3 | BIOLOGY 162 General Biology II |
3 |
| BIOLOGY 161 General Biology I Lab |
2 | BIOLOGY 163 General Biology II Lab |
2 |
| CHEMISTRY 160 General Chemistry I |
3 | CHEMISTRY 162 General Chemistry II |
3 |
| CHEMISTRY 161 General Chemistry I Lab |
1 | CHEMISTRY 163 General Chemistry II Lab |
2 |
| FOREIGN LANGUAGE Elective | 3 | FOREIGN LANGUAGE Elective | 3 |
| ENGLISH 101 or 115 English Composition or Rhetoric |
3 | PHILOSOPHY 100 Ethics as Intro to Philosophy |
3 |
| Diversity Course Requirement** | 3 | ||
| Total | 18 | Total | 16 |
Sophomore Year
| First Semester | Semester Hours | Second Semester | Semester Hours |
| BIOLOGY 230 Genetics |
3 | BIOLOGY 410 Vertebrate Physiology |
3 |
| BIOLOGY 231 Genetics Lab |
1 | BIOLOGY 411 Vertebrate Physiology Lab |
1 |
| CHEMISTRY 240 Organic Chemistry l |
3 | CHEMISTRY 242 Organic Chemistry II |
3 |
| CHEMISTRY 241 Organic Chemistry I Lab |
1 | CHEMISTRY 243 Organic Chemistry II Lab |
1 |
| MATH 120 Elementary Functions |
3 | MATH 156 General Statistics |
3 |
| History Elective I | 3 | History Elective II | 3 |
| THEOLOGY 111 Theological Foundations |
3 | LITERATURE Elective | 3 |
| Total | 17 | Total | 17 |
Junior Year
| First Semester | Semester Hours | Second Semester | Semester Hours |
| Nov - Jan: Apply to Clinical Programs | |||
| BIOLOGY 222 Immunology |
2 | BIOLOGY 200 Microbiology |
3 |
| CHEMISTRY 221 Analytical Chemistry |
1 | BIOLOGY 201 Microbiology Lab |
1 |
| Approved science electives*** | 2 | Social Science Elective | 3 |
| PHILOSOPHY 290 Theory of Knowledge |
3 | Approved science electives*** | 2 |
| Social Science Elective | 3 | THEO 200-level Elective | 3 |
| Diversity Course Requirement** | 3 | Fine Arts Elective | 3 |
| ENGL/CLAS/SPAN 205 Lit & Moral Imagination |
3 | E/RS Focus Elective | 3 |
| Total | 17 | Total | 18 |
| Clinical Program. Enroll at XU in MEDT100, MEDT200, MEDT300 (36 hours total); take classes elsewhere | |||
Senior Year
Students must have a 2.8 GPA or higher in the sciences to apply for the clinical year. The B.S. degree in medical laboratory sciences will be awarded upon satisfactory completion of the fourth year (12 months) of study at an accredited NAACLS School of Medical Technology administered by a hospital and approved by Xavier University. After passing an examination administered by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP), the graduate becomes a Registered Medical Technologist.
A student may also elect to complete the Bachelor of Science degree in biology or natural sciences, then apply to any hospital-based program in medical technology accredited by NAACLS.
Scheduling Notes:
- Consult the Undergraduate Core Curriculum description for added details.
- This curriculum was updated for Fall, 2012. See online catalog for pre-2012 requirements. Students enrolled prior to 2012-2013 may graduate under either requirements
- E/R&S Focus Elective and Diversity Curriculum requirements may be used to satisfy another element of the Core or the major, reducing the number of hours listed above.
- A minimum of 131 credit hours is required for the degree upon 36 hours completion of a fourth year at an approved hospital.
***Pre-approved science electives include Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Histology, Parasitology, Physics I, Vertebrate Anatomy, Virology