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Medical Laboratory Sciences

The degree that leads to a fast paced, impactful career in the medical field!

Medical Laboratory Science is the “hidden profession” that saves lives every day! Over 75% of clinical decisions are based on the laboratory tests performed by Medical Laboratory Scientists. If you love working in a laboratory setting and want to have a direct impact on patient care, the MLS major is a great fit for you!

Medical Laboratory Scientists work behind-the-scenes, processing laboratory tests that doctors count on to correctly diagnose, monitor and treat patients. The Medical Laboratory Scientist is responsible for interpreting and communicating critical patient results to the physician.

Your B.S. in Medical Laboratory Sciences will provide you with an extensive background in the basic biological sciences, including anatomy and physiology, immunology, microbiology, biochemistry and parasitology.

Faculty at Lakeland Regional Health (LRH)

The faculty at LRH include:
  • Maridaliz Rodriguez Rosado, Ph.D, MLS(ASCP)CM - Program Director
  • Darnal Smith, MT MSM - Instructional Faculty
  • Theresa Ohrmund, Clinical Liaison between FSC and LRH
  • Emilia Marrero-Greene, M Ed, MT(AAB), M(ASCP) - Supervisor, Microbiology

Top Reasons

Earn your Certification

Our curriculum follows the strict guidelines set by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). This provides you with exceptional preparation for the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) national certification exam and licensure within the state of Florida.

LRH Partnership

A major part of your curriculum includes taking classes at our local hospital with professionals at LRH. In your final year, you will be full time at LRH where you will spend time in each clinical lab for extensive training.

Hands on Experience

Beginning in the first semester, students gain valuable laboratory, skills-based and critical thinking experiences at FSC. In advanced courses, students work with MLS professionals in state-of-the-art clinical labs at LRH, where 5 million lab tests are performed each year.

Unique experiences

The MLS program provides unique experiences at LRH and other affiliated health care facilities, with bedside testing, molecular pathology and microbiology testing, and working with various patient populations, including at their cancer center.

Employment and career opportunities

Many of our current students are employed at LRH as laboratory assistants. MLS Ranks #3 among health professions, and the national median salary is $62,737 annually. There is a current shortage everywhere in the US, especially Florida, and the field has a projected 25% job growth. All of this means job security, guaranteed employment and higher salaries! There is rapid advancement within the field to administrative positions, specializations, and educational opportunities.

Meet Drew Mundy '24

A current student talks about career journey

Drew Mundy is a current student from Clearwater, FL. She discovered the MLS program during her freshman year at a STEM career fair held at FSC.

Drew Mundy - RUG - Medical Laboratory Sciences thumbnail

Drew Mundy

“I chose MLS because I have always loved working in the laboratory,” Drew said. “I use to be in a veterinary program [in high school], and I would always be near the microscopes, running all the urine and blood tests. I loved it so much! I also think it would be such a rewarding career to be able to help people behind the scenes.”

MLS allows for a lot of different career opportunities and advancements. If you know you want to go into the healthcare field and you love being in the laboratory then I would definitely consider joining the MLS program.

Drew is looking forward to her upcoming experiences. “My favorite thing about the MLS program is starting your junior year you get to take classes at Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center, and you get hands-on experience,” she said.

As she thinks about her future, Drew is very optimistic and sees many opportunities. “MLS allows for a lot of different career opportunities and advancements,” she said. “If you know you want to go into the healthcare field and you love being in the laboratory then I would definitely consider joining the MLS program. Also, MLS can be a great stepping stone to other career paths as well, such as pathologist assistant, or specializing in parasitology, hematology, etc.”

National Accreditation

Florida Southern College Medical Laboratory Sciences (MLS), is fully accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), with Five Years of Initial Accreditation. In addition, our Medical Laboratory Sciences Program is a licensed training program by the State of Florida.

Contact information for NAACLS

NAACLS
5600 N. River Rd,
Suite 720 Rosemont IL 60018-5119

Phone: 773.714.8880
Fax: 773.714.8886
Email: info@naacls.org

Outcomes Measures

We graduated our first class in the spring of 2021. Information on certification, graduation and attrition rates for the program are listed below.

ASCP Certification BOC Rate
(within first year of graduation)

Class YearRateNumber of Student Pass/FailOverall Certification Rate (%) Within First Year of GraduationNAACLS Benchmark Definition
202175%3/175%Last three active years of graduate certification rates demonstrating an average of at least 75% certification rates from all examinations, for graduates who take the exam within the first year of graduation.
2022100%4/0100%
202350%1/150%
202475%3/1100%

AMT Certification Rate
(within first year of graduation)

Class YearRateNumber of Student Pass/FailOverall Certification Rate (%) Within First Year of GraduationNAACLS Benchmark Definition
2021NA0/075%Last three active years of graduate certification rates demonstrating an average of at least 75% certification rates from all examinations, for graduates who take the exam within the first year of graduation.
2022NA0/0100%
2023NA0/050%
2024100%1/0100%

Graduation Rates

Class YearRateNumber of Students Started/Graduated
NAACLS Benchmark Definition
2021100%4/4Last three active years of graduation rates demonstrating an average of at least 70% of students who have begun the final half of the program go on to successfully graduate from the program as calculated by the most recent three-year period.
2022100%4/4
202366%3/2
2024100%4/4

Attrition Rates

Class YearRateNumber of Students Started/Did not GraduateNAACLS Benchmark Definition
20210%4/0Supply last three active years of Attrition Rates.
20220%4/0
202333%3/1
20240%4/0

Placement Rates

Class YearRateStudents that found employment after graduation/Unemployed after graduationNAACLS Benchmark Definition
2021100%4/0Last three active years of results of graduate placement rates demonstrating that an average of at least 70% of the respondent graduates either find employment in the field or a closely related field (for those who seek employment) or continue their education within one year of graduation as calculated by the most three-year period.
2022100%4/0
202350%1/1
2024100%4/4
Last three active yearsASCP Certification BOC Rate (within first year of graduation)Graduation RatesAttrition RatesPlacement Rates
2022100%100%0%100%
202350%66%33%50%
202475%100%0%100%
Average75%89%11%83%
Nancy Morvillo, Ph.D.

Featured Faculty

Nancy Morvillo

Read and think. Then read some more and think some more. Then do. Learning is not something that just takes place in the classroom and ends when you obtain a degree. It is something you do throughout your entire life, in all aspects of your daily existence. All you need is curiosity, passion, and enthusiasm. Let yourself be that young child again: allow everything to be fun, to be an adventure. Don’t be afraid to explore and dig deeper. You will be rewarded in ways you cannot possibly imagine.

Medical Laboratory Sciences

The MLS degree is an allied health career opportunity for students interested in working in a clinical laboratory.

Medical Laboratory Scientists are healthcare professionals who perform chemical, hematological, immunological, histopathological, cytopathological, microscopic, and bacteriological diagnostic analyses on patient samples. Medical Laboratory Scientists commonly work in hospital clinical laboratories, commercial laboratories, for pharmaceutical, chemical, or biotechnology companies, and in research and teaching institutions.

This four year degree includes experience working in the clinical laboratories of Lakeland Regional Health, a major health care provider in central Florida. Students will begin taking courses at the Medical Center hospital beginning in their third year, before transitioning into a full time internship at Lakeland Regional Health during their fourth year.

Second Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences

Florida Southern College accepts applications from students seeking a Second Bachelor’s degree in select academic majors. Graduates from other 4-year accredited institutions of higher education (meeting university transfer eligibility requirements) in the United States who apply for admission to work toward a second bachelor’s degree must meet the regular requirements of the university and would apply as a Transfer student. Students must meet all transfer GPA requirements. A baccalaureate degree or higher from another 4-year accredited institution of higher education (meeting university transfer eligibility requirements) in the United States satisfies the General Education requirements for graduation.

Second Bachelor’s degree seeking students are great candidates for the Medical Laboratory Sciences program. Florida Southern College offers 2 year and 3 year paths to an MLS degree. To apply for admission to the MLS program, a second bachelor’s degree student must be admitted to Florida Southern College and meet academic criteria for admission to the program.

MLS Second Degree - 2 Year PlanMLS Second Degree - 3 Year Plan

Clubs And More

The Biology department sponsors Beta Beta Beta, the society for biology students affiliated with the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Alpha Epsilon Delta, (AED) the national Health Preprofessional Honor Society, and Rho Rho Rho Marine and Atmospheric Honor Society.

Program Details

AVAILABLE IN:

BS

Admission Requirements

All pre-certified MLS students are required to participate in clinical laboratory experiences at off-site locations. Each student is responsible for obtaining reliable transportation to the clinical laboratory sites. Students may be assigned laboratory rotations on weekends.

First-Years

All freshman applicants to Florida Southern Colleges full-time degree programs must submit the following information:

  • A completed application form
  • An official high school transcript
  • Must have an SAT score of 1180 or ACT score of 24
  • Academic recommendation
  •  Admission to the program is competitive, and a comprehensive review of application materials will determine admittance.

Transfers

Applying to Florida Southern as a transfer student is easy.

  • A completed application form
  • Personal statement
  • All official college transcripts
  • Overall college GPA of 3.0 for completed courses received as transfer credits.
  • Completion of at least three prerequisite courses including BIO 1500, CHE 1111, and CHE 1112 all with a grade of C or higher.
  • Social standing form 

If transferring less than 19 credits, we also need your:

  • Official high school transcript
  • Must have an SAT score of 1180 or ACT score of 24.

Related Materials

MLS Student Handbook thumbnail
LRH MLS Brochure thumbnail
MLS Program Slick thumbnail

Program Contact

Office of Admissions Office of Admissions

France Admissions Center

 863.680.4131

Nancy Morvillo Nancy Morvillo, Ph.D.

Professor of Biology

Department Chair

Nelson C. White Chair in the Life Sciences

Polk Science - 126

 863.680.6240

 863.680.3970

Maridaliz Rodriguez Rosado Maridaliz Rodriguez Rosado, MLS(ASCP)CM

Program Director

 863.687.1100

Theresa Ohrmund Theresa Ohrmund

Clinical Liaison Between FSC and LRH