Biology Medical Laboratory Science

Bachelor of Science in Biology Medical Laboratory Science

Students interested in a career working in a clinical laboratory can pursue the Biology Medical Laboratory Science degree. This 3+1 program offers instructional courses at Alvernia’s campus for the first 3 years, and a fourth year of clinical study in a school of medical technology approved by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratories Sciences (NAACLS).

Alvernia has an affiliation agreement with Reading Hospital and Medical Center who assists the application process for admission to the clinical program. Admission is determined solely by the hospital. Upon acceptance and completion of required coursework, graduates become eligible to take the certification examination for medical technologists and after successful completion, are entitled to use the designation Medical Technologist.

For students who do not obtain a position in the NAACLS accredited program, their fourth and final year at Alvernia would be spent completing the requirements for a Bachelor of Science in Biology.

Majors

Getting Started

Where You Can Get A Degree

The Bachelor of Science in Biology Medical Laboratory Science program is available at the following Alvernia University campus:

Reading

General Notes

A minimum of 123 credits are required for graduation.
Credits earned for COM 100 and MAT 100 do not count toward the 123 credits required for graduation; however, COM 100 students may petition for elective credit.
Where appropriate, courses required for the major can be used to satisfy General Education requirements. However, the credits earned for these courses are applied to either Gen Ed requirements or the major, not both.
Paths of Knowledge coursework may count towards major or minor requirements, but may not fulfill a second Mid-Level Liberal Arts Exploration requirement.
Students are expected to follow the catalog requirements for General Education, the major, and additional requirements.
A minor or second major within the areas listed under Paths of Knowledge automatically fulfills that area of the Gen Ed requirements.

Application Instructions

Through a rolling admission process, prospective undergraduate students — including first-year, transfer, and international students — may apply via the Alvernia web portal or The Common Application. To learn more about how to complete your application, please visit our application page.

Financing Your Education

There are options to assist in financing your education and making the tuition affordable. Visit our Student Financial Services page for a detailed overview of the process, including a link to complete the FAFSA application, as well as more information about tuition, the tuition payment plan and the tuition deferment program we offer. Alvernia’s Title IV code for the FAFSA is 003233. The Office of Student Financial Services is available to help with any questions you may have. Call 610-796-8201 or email sfs@alvernia.edu.

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Program Overview

Curriculum: General Education

All Alvernia students must successfully complete a minimum of 123 semester credits to receive a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree. You’ll need to complete 54-56 liberal arts core credits and complete community service hours. In addition, Biology Medical Laboratory Science majors must complete 85-86 credits in the major.

In addition to Alvernia’s curriculum listed below, clinical experience in the hospital facility requires 30-32 credits. Courses include: Immunohematology, Chemistry, Clinical Microscopy, Coagulation, Hematology, Microbiology, Serology and Immunology.

First Year Curriculum: Enduring Questions

SEARCH Seminar-Enduring Questions or Honor Search-Enduring Questions (3 credits: SRH 101 or HNR 160)
COM 101 Composition & Research: Must earn a C or higher (3 credits)
THE 105 Foundations of Theology (3 credits)
PHI 105 Introduction to Philosophy (3 credits)

Mid-Level Liberal Arts Exploration Credits

Exploring the Natural World (6-8 credits)
- Lab Science (Met in related area)
- Math (Met in related area)
Individuals & Communities (6 credits)
- History or Political Science
- PSY 101, HIS, POS, SOC, SSC, or ECON
Culture & Language (9 credits)
- Communication (Not COM 100 or 101)
- World Language – 2 courses in sequence
Creative Expressions (6 credits)
- Literature (ENG)
- Art, Music, or Theatre

Ethical Leaders and Followers Credits

Theology or Philosophy (200-400 level)
Theology or Philosophy (Ethics/Morality @ 200 level)

Curriculum: Paths of Knowledge

Paths of Knowledge may count towards minor or Related Requirements, but not Mid-Level Arts Exploration requirements. Choose one path.

PATH 1: Interdisciplinary Study (IS)

Three courses, at least two from Liberal Arts disciplines, not the major, at the 200-400 level from the interdisciplinary minors of Women & Gender Studies, Digital Media, Community & Environmental Sustainability, Community Engagement, Cultural Studies, Leadership Studies or Pre-Law.

PATH 2: Multi-disciplinary Study (MS)

Three courses, at least two from Liberal Arts disciplines, not the major, at the 200-400 level employing multiple disciplinary perspectives to explore the Enduring Questions in one of the following themes: Cultural & Global Studies, Imagination & Creativity, Peace & Conflict, Poverty & Wealth or Sustainability, Science & Technology.

PATH 3: In-depth Disciplinary Study (DS)

Three courses at the 200-400 level in one Liberal Arts discipline other than one’s major, guided by common ideas and methods of inquiry. Students choose from Art, Biology, Chemistry, Communication, Computer Science, Economics, English, History, Mathematics, Music, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Theology, Theatre or World Languages. This path may be used to give students a firm foundation in a discipline supporting their chosen major, or to pursue an interest in one of the Liberal Arts disciplines.

Curriculum: Major Requirements

Required Courses (61-62 credits)

BIO 103: Principles of Biology I
BIO 104: Principles of Biology II (pre-requisite: BIO 103 or instructor permission)
BIO 107: Anatomy & Physiology I (co-requisite: BIO 117)
BIO 117: Anatomy & Physiology I Lab (co-requisite: BIO 107)
BIO 108: Anatomy & Physiology II (co-requisite: BIO 118)
BIO 118: Anatomy & Physiology II Lab (co-requisite: BIO 108)
BIO 221: General Microbiology (pre-requisite: BIO 103, 104, 107/117 with grade of “C”)
BIO 303: Genetics (pre-requisite: BIO 103 or instructor permission; co-requisite: BIO 309)
BIO 409: Immunology (pre-requisite: BIO 104, 220 or 221, and CHE 105, or instructor permission)
BIO 420: Medical Lab Sci Clinical I
BIO 421: Medical Lab Sci Clinical II (pre-requisite: BIO 420)
One BIO elective

Required Related Courses (24 credits)

CHE 104: General Chemistry I (co-requisite: CHE 110)
CHE 105: General Chemistry II (pre-requisite: CHE 104, 110; co-requisite: CHE 111)
CHE 107: Laboratory Safety
CHE 110: General Chemistry Lab I (co-requisite: CHE 104)
CHE 111: General Chemistry Lab II (pre-requisite: CHE 104, 110; co-requisite: CHE 105)
CHE 201: Organic Chemistry I (pre-requisite: CHE 105, 111; co-requisite: CHE 210)
CHE 202: Organic Chemistry II (pre-requisite: CHE 201, 210; co-requisite: CHE 211)
CHE 210: Organic Chemistry Lab I (pre-requisite: CHE 105, 111; co-requisite: CHE 201)
CHE 211: Organic Chemistry Lab II (pre-requisite: CHE 201, 210; co-requisite: CHE 202)
CHE 212: Analytical Chemistry (pre-requisite: CHE 104, 105, 110, 111)
MAT 209: Probability and Statistics (pre-requisite: High school algebra and satisfactory score on math placement test)

Experiential Learning Opportunities

Students accepted into this program receive hands-on learning through Alvernia's partnership with the Reading Hospital.

Established in 1934, Reading Hospital's School of Medical Laboratory Science is an 11-month long program to prepare qualified 3+1 or 4+1 (post-Baccalaureate) students to prepare for entry-level experience into medical laboratory science and clinical laboratories. Medical laboratory scientists play a crucial role in the diagnosis of disease by testing patient samples and reporting out data for physicians to use when implementing treatment. Students will have classroom style learning for theory and clinical lab rotations for application of theory in Chemistry, Hematology, Blood Bank, Microbiology, Urinalysis, and Coagulation at the Reading Hospital.

Reading Hospital’s laboratory is one of the largest in the state. Student outcomes for completion of the MLS program include transfer credits to be used toward completing their bachelor’s degree, excellent job placement rates, and eligibility for a national board of certification (BOC) exam through the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP). The Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences MLS program has excellent job placement and ASCP MLS BOC pass rates for MLS graduates. The program currently accepts 6 students per year so admission into the program is competitive.

For more information, visit the website or email Program Director Ethan Kentzel at ethan.kentzel@towerhealth.org.

Accreditation Statements

Alvernia is an accredited institution and a member of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. MSCHE is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Career Outlook

After earning the Bachelor of Science in Biology Medical Laboratory Science, you can pursue a variety of careers, including:

Traditional laboratory and research settings
Chemical or pharmaceutical industry
Research assistant
Testing and inspection professional
Quality control technician
Secondary school teacher
Scientific editor
Associate chemist
Analytical chemist
Technical sales or service representative

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, careers in biochemistry are expected to grow 15 percent between 2021 and 2031, much faster than average for all occupations. The median salary for the industry is $102,270.

Opportunities for Majors

Science Association

The object of this club is to afford an opportunity for the students of science to become better acquainted, to secure the intellectual stimulation that arises from professional association, to obtain experiences in preparing and presenting technical material before chemical audiences, to foster a professional spirit among the members, to instill a professional pride in the sciences, and to build an awareness of the responsibilities and challenges facing the modern scientist. Membership of this association is open to students pursuing their study in the area of science and related fields. Contact Rosemarie Chinni (610-568-1492, rosemarie.chinni@alvernia.edu) or Kevin Burns (kevin.burns@alvernia.edu, 610-790-2865) for more information.

Pre-Health Club

The Pre-Health Professions Club includes, but is not limited to, Pre-Medical, Pre-Dental, Physician Assisting, Occupational Therapy, Nursing, and Pre-Veterinary students. It provides a setting in which students who are working toward future careers in the health professions can get together, share information, learn more about the health professions in general, and develop friendships with students who share some of their interests. Members of this organization are composed of students pursuing study in several areas of science and related health fields.

Environmental Club

The purpose of this student organization is to maintain the temperate deciduous forest, riparian, and freshwater ecosystems about Alvernia University and the community it serves. The organization does this by recruiting new members, educating the public, and holding events that draw attention to the environment. Such events are Eco-Fun Day, trail clean-up days, and hosting public speaker seminars.

Beta Kappa Chi

Beta Kappa Chi is the National Science Honor Society composed of chapters which seek to encourage and advance scientific education through original education, the dissemination of scientific knowledge and the stimulation of high scholarship in pure and applied science.

Epsilon Gamma Chapter of the Delta Epsilon Sigma Honor Society

This is a National Scholastic Honor Society for students, faculty, and alumni of colleges and universities with a Catholic tradition.

The Washington Center Experience

Alvernia students have an opportunity to earn college credit by spending a semester or summer in Washington, D.C. where they serve as interns in a congressional office, government agency, major corporation, newspaper or news network, or agencies devoted to legal affairs, international relations, or business and economics. They also may intern with one of several non-profit groups dealing with the environment, women’s issues, the arts, education, science, or labor relations among others. Participants are customarily juniors or seniors who have achieved grade point averages of 2.5 or better and who have the endorsement of the appropriate academic area. In addition to their internship, students select one seminar dealing with the arts and humanities, communication, public policy, the legal system, business, and government. Interested students should see their academic advisor.

Get to Know Your Faculty

For more information about Alvernia’s Biology Medical Laboratory Science program, contact the Admissions Office at 610-796-8269 or admissions@alvernia.edu. Or reach out directly to Science Department Chair Eric Recktenwald at 610-796-8427 or eric.recktenwald@alvernia.edu.