Fort Worth MLS

Tarleton State University, a member of the Texas A&M University System, offers the professional year of medical laboratory science training through its Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences in Fort Worth, Texas.

The Professional year of the 3 + 1 year university-based program begins at the Richard C. Schaffer Educational Building in Fort Worth. This ten month intensive study in lecture courses and basic laboratory techniques includes Clinical Chemistry, Hematology, Immunology, Urinalysis, Immunohematology, Medical Microbiology, Parasitology, Molecular Pathology, and Laboratory Management. These courses are reinforced with clinical practice during the next six months at the affiliated hospital labs. The professional program consists of a total of 54 credit hours of coursework (48 undergraduate, 6 graduate).

Employment

The Department actively collects information regarding potential jobs and makes this information available to all students. Services of the University Placement Offices are also available. Graduates of the program are employed through the North Central Texas area as well as the state and the nation.

American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Certified Medical Laboratory Scientists will find employment in a variety of fields including but not limited to hospital and reference labs, veterinary labs, instrument sales and service, research and forensic labs.

Admission Requirements

Students seeking to complete their fourth year of undergraduate study or those who have completed a baccalaureate degree program are eligible to apply to the Program if they meet the standards established by the University (in conjunction with those set forth by NAACLS).

The Tarleton MLS program has a minimum requirement of 73 semester hours applicable toward a baccalaureate degree (including general education requirements) that must be completed prior to admission with 16 semester hours in Biology (including Microbiology); 16 hours in Chemistry (including either Organic or Biochemistry); and 3 hours of college-level mathematics.

Candidates with degrees must meet the minimum requirements listed above of 16 semester hours in Biology (including Microbiology); 16 hours in Chemistry (including either Organic or Biochemistry); and 3 hours of college-level mathematics. In addition, if a degreed applicant has prerequisite coursework in the area of Microbiology, Immunology, and Organic or Biochemistry which is greater than seven years of age, that coursework must be updated by repeating those or more advanced courses within that content area.

Tuition and Scholarships

Tuition and fees are charged in accordance with the fee structure for the University. Typical costs for Texas residents are approximately $3300 for Fall and Spring semesters and $1900 for Summer semesters. Additional expenses incurred include those for room and board, books, health and liability insurance, course manuals and immunizations. As an enrolled student of the University, the MLS student is eligible for scholarships and loans through the Financial Aid office of the University. Additionally, some local scholarships are available for Medical Laboratory Science students.