Medicine
Undergraduate Programs
Student Learning Outcomes
Medical Laboratory Science, B.S.
The mission of IU School of Medicine’s Medical Laboratory Science Program is to provide a high quality education in the knowledge, skills, and professional attitudes in medical laboratory science in order to prepare graduates who have entry-level competency to practice in the medical laboratory.
The goal of the MLS program is to prepare graduates who:
- Have the knowledge and skills needed to provide health care professionals with accurate and timely diagnostic and therapeutic laboratory data and participate as effective members of the health care team.
- Demonstrate professionalism through honesty and integrity in reporting results, respect for patient confidentiality, and a desire for life-long learning through continuing education, scholarship, service, and participation in professional organizations.
- Successfully complete the national certification examination.
Medical Laboratory Science Program Competencies
Upon successful MLS program completion, the medical laboratory scientist will be able to demonstrate the behaviors described in the entry-level competencies as shown:
- Knowledge: Demonstrate an understanding of the underlying scientific principles of laboratory testing, including technical, procedural, and problem solving aspects. Recognize the importance of proper test selection, causes of discrepant test results, deviations of test results, and correlation of abnormal data with pathologic states.
- Technical Skills: Perform proficiently in the full range of clinical laboratory tests in areas such as hematology/hemostasis, clinical chemistry, immunohematology/transfusion medicine, microbiology, serology/immunology, urine and body fluid analysis, and molecular and other emerging diagnostics. Identify and troubleshoot pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical components of the testing process. Play a role in the development and evaluation of new test systems and interpretative algorithms.
- Communication: Communicate effectively, orally and in writing, at a level sufficient to serve the needs of patients, the public, and members of the healthcare team. Demonstrate scientific literacy by finding, interpreting, critically analyzing, scientific literature to inform decision making for the benefit of the profession and the patient community.
- Clinical Studies: Engage in the scientific process by understanding the principles and practices of clinical study design, implementation, and dissemination of results.
- Educational Methodologies and Training Responsibilities: Effectively apply educational methodologies and terminology at a level to train/educate users and providers of laboratory services.
- Supervision, Management, Administration: Apply safety and governmental regulations and standards in medical laboratory science. Apply knowledge of principles and practices of administration and supervision as applied to medical laboratory science to improve the efficiency of the workplace as well as contribute to quality assurance/quality improvement plans and collaborative healthcare teams to ensure quality healthcare delivery to the community.
- Professional and Ethical Conduct and Continuing Professional Development: Apply the principles and practices of professional and ethical conduct to ensure the safe and ethical treatment of all patients. Recognize the significance of continuing professional development and development of a professional community.
Updated: March 2024
