PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The online MLT to MLS Bachelor of Science is designed for certified MLTs to become eligible through Route 2 eligibility for the MLS certification exam. 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 years of clinical lab experience within the last five years. Experience must cover all areas of the lab. Ohio State’s online degree completion program allows students to complete the bachelor’s degree requirement in as little as two years, depending on the amount of general education (GE) and prerequisite courses completed before enrolling.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

GPA of 2.50 or higher

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

Prerequisite Courses

All prerequisite courses or equivalents must be completed with a C – or higher by the start of the professional program. Ohio State course numbers are shown below. 

Biochemistry (BIOCHEM) 2210
Biology 1113
Chemistry (CHEM) 1210
Chemistry (CHEM) 1220
Mathematics (MATH) 1148 or higher
Medical Terminology for the Health Professions Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (HTHRHSC) Health and Rehabilitation Sciences 2500
Statistics (STAT) 1350.01

Although completing courses strengthens an application, students may be admitted before completing BIOCHEM 2210. The course must be completed before the Autumn semester of the second year in the professional program.

Proof of Certification

A copy of the applicant’s MLT certification in good standing with the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) must be uploaded to the application.

APPLICATION

The Medical Laboratory Science application for the online MLT to MLS bachelor of science program is available online. It must be completed and submitted with all required supplemental documents. 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.

Deadline

The Medical Laboratory Science program admits students program in both the Autumn and Spring semesters.

Coming Soon: Summer 2026 admission term

Autumn 2025
Preferred Deadline: January 31, 2025
Domestic Deadline: May 1, 2025
International Deadline: April 1, 2025

Spring 2026
Domestic Deadline: October 1, 2025
International Deadline: September 1, 2025

Summer 2026
Domestic Deadline: February 1, 2026
International Deadline: January 1, 2026

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

The minimum credit hours to graduate from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences are 120. The Medical Laboratory Science online MLT to MLS bachelor of science track requires 120 credit hours, not including HTHRHSC 1100, to graduate from the program. English 1109; Education Teaching and Learning (EDUTL) 1001, 1002, 1003, 1004, 1005, 1006, 1007, 1010, and Mathematics 1040, 1050, 1073, 1074, 1075 do not count toward the 120-credit minimum requirement for the degree. Please be advised that the credit hours for the professional coursework will not meet the residency requirement.

Other graduation requirements include a minimum of thirty semester hours of credit earned through regular course enrollment at Ohio State, regular course enrollment in the last semester in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (HRS), a cumulative Ohio State GPA of at least 2.0 on all coursework complete at Ohio State as well as at least a 2.0 GPA in the major and an application for degree must be submitted online at least one semester before the intended graduation term. The graduation application and instructions are on the HRS Academic Support Services Site.  Students should reference their degree audit to understand the course and credit requirements and to ensure they complete all required degree components, including general education (GE), program prerequisites, and professional curriculum.

The plan demonstrates how students may complete the track in four 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. Please be advised that only the professional curriculum is available online. Program prerequisites and general education courses are not guaranteed to be available online at The Ohio State University.

The number of GE requirements listed above is an estimate. These requirements depend on each individual student’s academic record. Undergraduate students who enter Ohio State having completed an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree from a regionally accredited institution or Ohio Transfer 36 (OT-36) before their first degree-seeking term at Ohio State will have specific GE requirements marked as satisfied, including the bookends. Please speak with an HRS advisor for more information. Students who intend to transfer credit to Ohio State may view how credit is accepted on Transferology.com.

Ohio State academic programs are designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure and certification and state licensing board contact information for online programs and professional licensure & certification disclosures for on-campus programs.

International applicants should be aware that countries may or may not regulate distance education provided to students in their jurisdiction or require foreign higher education institutions to comply with distance education regulations. The Ohio State University cannot guarantee that an academic program meets curriculum requirements in a different country.

Begin Professional Coursework in Medical Laboratory Science (MEDLBS)

Autumn, Year 1

General Education (GENED) 2601 GE Connection Seminar (1 credit)
GE Foundation (0-9 credits)
MEDLBS 4050 Medical Laboratory Hematology (5 credits)
MEDLBS 4100 Medical Laboratory Special Microbiology I (3 credits)
9-18 Credits Total 

Spring, Year 1

GE Foundation (0-9 credits)
HTHRHSC 4200 Analytical Scientific Writing in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (3 credits)
MEDLBS 4000 Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Bacteriology (3 credits)
MEDLBS 4200 Medical Laboratory Immunology (3 credits)
9-18 Credits Total 

Autumn, Year 2

GE Theme (0-4 credits)
MEDLBS 4250 Medical Laboratory Immunohematology (4 credits)
MEDLBS 4300 Medical Laboratory Clinical Chemistry (5 credits)
MEDLBS 4700 Molecular Techniques in Medical Laboratory Science (3 credits)
12-16 Credits Total

Spring, Year 2

GE Theme (0-4 credits)
HTHRHSC 5300 Management Principles and Human Resources for Health Care Professionals (3 credits)
MEDLBS 4350 Professional Issues in Medical Laboratory Science (3 credits)
MEDLBS 4600 Interdisciplinary Studies in Medical Laboratory Science (1 credit)
7-11 Credits Total

Questions?

Contact the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at 614-292-1706 or HRSStudentServices@osumc.edu
Degree requirements and course offerings are subject to changes.
Last updated on: July 1, 2024