The in-person MLT to MLS Bachelor of Science program is designed for certified MLTs to become eligible for the MLS certification exam through Route 2 eligibility. To meet eligibility requirements for the MLS (ASCP) exam, students must be certified as an MLT, obtain a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, and have at least two (2) years of clinical lab experience within the last five (5) years. Experience must cover all areas of the lab. Ohio State’s in-person degree completion program allows students to complete the bachelor’s degree requirements in as little as two (2) years, depending on the amount of general education (GE) and prerequisite courses completed before enrolling.

The Medical Laboratory Science application for the in-person MLT to MLS bachelor of science program is available online and must be completed and submitted with all required supplemental documents, if applicable. Although a personal interview will not be offered, applicants will be asked to outline their knowledge of the profession and personal career goals on the application. The program will consider individual courses taken and applicant experiences in the admission assessment. The Graduate and Professional Admissions Application Guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to start the online application.

The Medical Laboratory Science in-person MLT to MLS bachelor of science program admits students program in each semester.

Spring 2026
October 1, 2025
The program will begin on January 12, 2026.

Summer 2026
February 1, 2026
The program will begin on May 11, 2026.

Autumn 2026
Preferred Deadline: January 31, 2026
Final Deadline: May 1, 2026
The program will begin on August 25, 2026.

GPA of 2.50 or higher

A minimum 2.50 cumulative GPA is required in all coursework taken at any accredited institution.

Prerequisite Courses

Before starting the professional program, all prerequisite courses or their equivalents must be completed with a grade of C- or higher. Ohio State course numbers are shown below.

Biochemistry (BIOCHEM) 2210
Biology 1113.0x
Chemistry (CHEM) 1210
Mathematics (MATH) 1148 or higher
Medical Terminology for the Health Professions Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (HTHRHSC) Health and Rehabilitation Sciences 2500
Statistics (STAT) 1350.0x or higher

Although taking all prerequiste courses strengthens an application, students may be admitted before completing BIOCHEM 2210.  However, admitted students must finish both courses before the start of the Autumn semester in the second year of the professional program.

Proof of Certification

Applicants must upload their current MLT certification in good standing with the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) as part of the application.

To graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at Ohio State, students must meet the following key requirements:

Minimum Credit Hours:
Ohio State requires at least 120 total credit hours to graduate.
The MLS program specifically requires 120 credit hours (excluding HTHRHSC 1100).

Courses That Do Not Count Toward the 120 Credits:
English 1109
EDUTL 1001–1007, 1010
Math 1040, 1050, 1073, 1074, 1075

Additional Graduation Requirements:
At least 30 credit hours must be completed at Ohio State through regular course enrollment.
Students must be enrolled in regular courses during their final semester in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (HRS).
Must have a minimum 2.0 Ohio State GPA overall and in the major.

A graduation application must be submitted by the posted deadline. Instructions and the application are available on the HRS Academic Support Services Site.

Planning Tools and Important Information:
Use your degree audit regularly to track progress and ensure completion of all degree components, including:
General Education (GE)
Program Prerequisites
Professional Curriculum

Students must enroll in courses for the semester in which they are admitted; failure to do so will result in revocation of admission.

The plan demonstrates how students may complete the in-person MLT to MLS bachelor of science program in four (4) semesters and begin professional coursework in the autumn semester. Starting the program off-cycle may increase the time to a degree. The professional curriculum is completed in sequence, and students may complete the program part-time. However, there is no provision for evening-only enrollment.

The number of GE requirements listed below is an estimate. These requirements depend on each individual student’s academic record. Students should reference their degree audit to understand the course and credit requirements and ensure they complete all required degree components, and to ensure they complete all required degree components, including general education (GE), program prerequisites, and professional curriculum. The timeline to degree may vary depending on how many general education courses the student needs to complete. Please speak with an HRS advisor for more information.

The suggested plan of study may vary depending on the type of associate’s degree a student has earned, as prior coursework and academic background can influence the sequencing, and degree requirements. It is assumed that Year 1 and Year 2 are completed with credits earned in the associate degree.

Autumn, Year 1

General Education (GENED) 2601 GE Connection Seminar (1 credit)
GE Foundation (0-6 credits)
MEDLBS 5050 Medical Laboratory Hematology (5 credits)
MEDLBS 5100 Medical Laboratory Microbiology I (3 credits)
9-15 Credits Total 

Spring, Year 1

GE Foundation (0-9 credits)
HTHRHSC 4200 Analytical Scientific Writing in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (3 credits)
MEDLBS 5000 Medical Laboratory Microbiology II (3 credits)
MEDLBS 5200 Medical Laboratory Immunology (3 credits)
9-18 Credits Total 

Autumn, Year 2

GE Theme (0-4 credits)
MEDLBS 5250 Medical Laboratory Immunohematology (4 credits)
MEDLBS 5300 Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Chemistry (5 credits)
MEDLBS 5400 Molecular Techniques in Medical Laboratory Science (2 credits)
11-15 Credits Total

Spring, Year 2

GE Theme (0-4 credits)
HTHRHSC 5300 Management Principles and Human Resources for Health Care Professionals (3 credits)
MEDLBS 5350 Professional Issues in Medical Laboratory Science (3 credits)
MEDLBS 5600 Interdisciplinary Studies in Medical Laboratory Science (1 credit)
7-11 Credits Total