Medical Laboratory Science

The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Medical Laboratory Science degree provides education and training for employment in various medical, clinical and bioscience laboratories. Medical Laboratory Technicians (MLT's) perform technically precise laboratory procedures using quality assurance and process improvement knowledge in compliance with appropriate regulatory guidelines to ensure quality patient care, work safety, and medico-legal standards by conducting a variety of tests on various specimens submitted to medical and clinical laboratories. Students in the Medical Laboratory Science program may be exposed to potentially infectious blood tissues and body fluids. A Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Medical Laboratory Science is also available.

Details

Field of Interest

Health Sciences

Degree Type

Associate in Applied Science (AAS)

Academic Plan

Medical Laboratory Science (DEG)

Academic Plan Code

3028

Total credits required

71-83

Catalog Year

2024-2025

Effective Term

Fall 2023

Admissions criteria

High school diploma or GED equivalent.
Completion of Program Prerequisites.
Proof of current immunization: Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR), tuberculosis skin test (TB), varicella, tetanus, diphtheria, Hepatitis B vaccine (HEB), and Seasonal Flu vaccine.
Submit current CPR card for Health Care Provider and maintain current status throughout the practicum(s).
Complete and submit health declaration form signed by a licensed health care provider.
Submit to a drug screening and demonstrate negative results.
Ability to fully participate in classroom, laboratory, or clinical setting program activities.
A formal application and admission or readmission to the Medical Laboratory Science Program is required.
Application to the Medical Laboratory Science program can be obtained from a Health Professions Advisor, the Program Director, or via the Phoenix College Health Professions, Fitness and Wellness web site.

Background Check Requirements
Admission to an Allied Health program requires that students be in compliance with the Maricopa County Community College District Supplemental Background Check policy. Program applications will not be accepted without a copy of an Arizona Department of Public Safety Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card. Upon conditional program admission, the student must comply with all requirements of the current MCCCD background check policy.

Notes

Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.
Please note the additional GPA requirements in the Program Prerequisites area.

Completion of Anatomy and Physiology, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Phlebotomy courses within the last eight (8) years is required. Courses must be completed within eight (8) years as part of the degree completion for admission or readmission to the Medical Laboratory Science Program.

ASU courses may be taken concurrently.

What You'll Learn

This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:

Application of safety and government standards and compliance to the clinical/medical laboratory setting.
Demonstrate professional and ethical conduct in all medical laboratory practices.
Implement quality assurance and quality control principles to the clinical/medical laboratory.
Application of methodologies and techniques including problem solving and troubleshooting for the clinical/medical laboratory.
Application of proper collection, processing, and analysis of biological specimens and other substances including reporting of results.
Utilize computer applications of laboratory information systems and laboratory instrumentation in performing medical laboratory techniques.
Communicate utilizing sufficient medical terminology to serve the public, patients and members of the healthcare team.

Successful completion of this degree may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based annual median wages* for this program. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information.

Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians

$46,600 Show expanded career information for Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians

* Wage information sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics Program. Updated May 2022.

Course Sequence by Term

The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:

Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Pathway Planner tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.
Consult with your faculty mentor or academic advisor to determine educational requirements, including possible university transfer options, for your chosen career field.

Full-time

Full-time Sequence

Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.

Fall Semester (Term 1)

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Fall Semester (Term 1)
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
ENG101 or ENG107	First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL	Prerequisites: Appropriate writing placement test score, or a grade of C or better in ENG091 or ESL097 or WAC101, or a grade of B or better in ALT100, or (a grade of C in ALT100 AND Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL OR WAC101 OR ENG100A+). or Prerequisites: Appropriate writing placement test score, or a grade of C or better in ENG091 or ESL097 or WAC101, or a grade of B or better in ALT100, or (a grade of C in ALT100 AND Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL OR WAC101 OR ENG100A+).	Critical course	PP or PP	3
MAT140 or MAT141 or MAT142 or MAT145 or MAT146	College Mathematics or College Mathematics or College Mathematics or College Mathematics with Review or College Mathematics with Review	Prerequisites: An appropriate District placement, or a grade of C or better in (MAT052, MAT053, and MAT055), or (MAT055, MAT056, and MAT057), or MAT085, or MAT09+, or MAT103 or MAT114 or MAT115. or Prerequisites: An appropriate District placement, or a grade of C or better in (MAT052, MAT053, and MAT055), or (MAT055, MAT056, and MAT057), or MAT085, or MAT09+, or MAT103, or MAT114, or MAT115, or MAT12+. or Prerequisites: An appropriate District placement, or a grade of C or better in (MAT052, MAT053, and MAT055), or (MAT055, MAT056, and MAT057), or MAT085, or MAT09+, or MAT103 or MAT114 or MAT115. or No requisites or No requisites	Critical course Critical course MAT142 carries the MA Value. Higher level Math course may be completed.	PP or PP or PP or PP or PP	3–6
BIO181 or BIO181XT	General Biology (Majors) I or General Biology (Majors) I	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in RDG100, or RDG100LL, or higher, or eligibility for CRE101. One year of high school or one semester of college-level biology and chemistry is strongly recommended. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in RDG100 or higher or eligibility for CRE101. One year of high school or one semester of college-level biology and chemistry is strongly recommended.		PP or PP	4
CRE101	College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking	Prerequisites: (A grade of C or better in ENG101 or ENG107) and (appropriate reading placement test score or a grade of C or better in RDG095 or RDG100 or RDG111 or RDG112 or RDG113 or permission of Instructor).	OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment	PP	0–3
FYE101 or FYE103	Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success				1–3

Spring Semester (Term 2)

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Spring Semester (Term 2)
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
ENG102 or ENG108	First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL	Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in ENG101. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG107.		PP or PP	3
PLB109 and PLB111	Phlebotomy: Basic Skills and Specimen Processing and Advanced Techniques in Phlebotomy Procedures	Prerequisites: (Acceptance into the Laboratory Assisting or Medical Assisting or Phlebotomy program), (a grade of C or better in HCC130 and HCC145AA), and permission of Program Director. and Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in PLB109 and permission of Program Director.	OR Verification of two years of employment as a clinical lab assistant, specimen processer, or phlebotomist	PP	0–4
BIO160 or BIO201 or BIO201XT	Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology or Human Anatomy and Physiology I or Human Anatomy and Physiology I	No requisites or Prerequisites: C or better in (BIO156, or BIO156XT, or BIO181, or BIO181XT, or 1 yr of high school biology) and (RDG100, or RDG100LL, or higher, or eligibility for CRE101). CHM130 or higher or one year of high school chemistry suggested but not required. or Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in (BIO156 or BIO156XT or BIO181 or BIO181XT or one year of high school biology) and RDG100 or higher or eligibility for CRE101. CHM130 or higher or one year of high school chemistry suggested but not required.		PP or PP or PP	4
CHM130 and CHM130LL	Fundamental Chemistry and Fundamental Chemistry Laboratory	Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in [(CHM100 or high school algebra or MAT140 or hghr or EdReady score of 70 or higher) and (RDG100 or RDG100LL or hghr or eligibility for CRE101 as indicated by appropriate reading placemnt)] or permission of the dept. and Prerequisites or Corequisites: CHM130.	OR Satisfactory completion of higher-level chemistry course	SQ in combo w/ CHM130LL and SQ in combo w/ CHM130	4

Summer Semester (Term 3)

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Summer Semester (Term 3)
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
BIO205	Microbiology	Prerequisites: C or better in (BIO156, or BIO156XT, or BIO181, or BIO181XT, or 1 yr of high school biology) and (RDG100, or RDG100LL, or higher, or eligibility for CRE101). CHM130 or higher or one year of high school chemistry suggested but not required.		PP	4
COM100 or COM110 or COM225 or COM230	Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication	No requisites or No requisites or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG101, or ENG107, or equivalent. or No requisites	COM225 recommended for transfer [L]	PP or PP or PP or PP	3

Fall Semester (Term 4)

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Fall Semester (Term 4)
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
MDL190	Clinical Laboratory Operations	Prerequisites: Acceptance into the Medical Laboratory Science program and permission of Program Director.	Program prerequisites are to be completed before application to program. Must be accepted into Program before MDL courses are taken.		2
HU	Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design		Recommend selecting a course that simultaneously satisfies one or more awareness area requirements of the AGEC-A	PP	3
SB	Social-Behavioral Sciences		Recommend selecting a course that simultaneously satisfies one or more awareness area requirements of the AGEC-A	PP	3

Spring Semester (Term 5)

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Spring Semester (Term 5)
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Credits
MDL240	Clinical Urinalysis and Body Fluid Analysis	Prerequisites: A grade of "C" or better in MDL190, acceptance into the Medical Laboratory Science program, and permission of the Program Director.	3
MDL242	Clinical Hematology and Hemostasis	Prerequisites: A grade of "C" or better in MDL240, acceptance into the Medical Laboratory Science program, and permission of the Program Director.	6
MDL244	Clinical Immunohematology and Immunology	Prerequisites: A grade of "C" or better in MDL242, acceptance into the Medical Laboratory Science program, and permission of the Program Director.	6

Summer Semester (Term 6)

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Summer Semester (Term 6)
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Credits
MDL241	Practicum: Clinical Urinalysis and Body Fluid Analysis	Prerequisites: A grade of "C" or better in MDL240, acceptance into the Medical Laboratory Science program, and permission of the Program Director.	1
MDL243	Practicum: Clinical Hematology and Hemostasis	Prerequisites: A grade of "C" or better in MDL242, acceptance into the Medical Laboratory Science program, and permission of the Program Director.	1
MDL245	Practicum: Clinical Immunohematology and Immunology	Prerequisites: A grade of "C" or better in MDL244, acceptance into the Medical Laboratory Science program, and permission of the Program Director.	1
MDL252	Clinical Preparation I	Prerequisites: A grade of "C" or better in MDL244, acceptance into the Medical Laboratory Science program, and permission of Program Director.	0.5

Fall Semester (Term 7)

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Fall Semester (Term 7)
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Credits
MDL246	Clinical Microbiology	Prerequisites: A grade of "C" or better in MDL244, acceptance into the Medical Laboratory Science program, and permission of the Program Director.	6
MDL248	Clinical Chemistry	Prerequisites: A grade of "C" or better in MDL246, acceptance into the Medical Laboratory Science program, and permission of the Program Director.	6
MDL263	Clinical Preparation II	Prerequisites: A grade of "C" or better in MDL248, acceptance into the Medical Laboratory Science program, and permission of Program Director.	0.5

Term 8

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 8
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Credits
MDL247	Practicum: Clinical Microbiology		1
MDL249	Practicum: Clinical Chemistry	Prerequisites: A grade of "C" or better in MDL248, acceptance into the Medical Laboratory Science program, and permission of Program Director.	1
MDL291	Medical Laboratory Science Program Capstone	Prerequisites: (A grade of "C" or better in MDL247 and MDL249), acceptance into the Medical Laboratory Science program and permission of Program Director.	1

Course Area Key

Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.

PP = Program Prerequisite

Disclaimer

Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.

Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.

View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm13?id=178560).

At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.