Health Sciences Major

Medical Laboratory Sciences

In the Medical Laboratory Sciences, students complete three years of coursework at MCLA and a clinical year at Berkshire Medical Center’s Medical Technology program. Students who complete this concentration can become certified medical technologists and immediately work in the field.

Requirements

• HLTH 105 Medical Terminology (1 cr)
• BIOL 101 Seminar for Entering Majors (1 cr)
• BIOL 150 Introduction to Biology I: Cells (4 cr)
• BIOL 240 Genetics (4 cr)
• BIOL 302 Applied Statistics in Biology (1 cr)
• BIOL 320 Microbiology (4 cr)
• BIOL 342 Anatomy & Physiology I (4 cr)
• BIOL 343 Anatomy & Physiology II (4 cr)
• BIOL 305 Immunology (3 cr)
• CHEM 150 Introduction to Chemistry I (4 cr)
• CHEM 152 Introduction to Chemistry II (4 cr)
• CHEM 201 Organic Chemistry I (4 cr)
• CHEM 202 Organic Chemistry II (4 cr)
• MATH 232/232H Introduction to Statistics (3 cr)

At Berkshire Medical Center, following acceptance into the training program:

• BIOL 491 Clinical Chemistry (8 cr)
• BIOL 492 Clinical Molecular Biology (1 cr)
• BIOL 493 Clinical Immunology (1 cr)
• BIOL 494 Clinical Hematology (8 cr)
• BIOL 495 Clinical Urinalysis & Body Fluids (1 cr)
• BIOL 496 Clinical Microbiology (8 cr)
• BIOL 497 Clinical Immunohematology (5 cr)

Different states have different sets of courses that must be completed if a student wishes to be eligible for certification as a medical technologist. The courses listed in the MCLA Medical Technology concentration allow for certification in most states, including Massachusetts. To allow for certification in the remaining states, students are advised to take the following courses: BIOL 360 Biochemistry, BIOL 395 Bioethics, CHEM 310 Analytical Chemistry, CSCI 243 Database Development, PHYS 131 General Physics I and PHYS 132 General Physics II.

MCLA in 4

A sample 4-year plan showing a possible sequence of courses in this concentration.

Articulation

Strong students who have met the requirements outlined in the articulation agreement gain preferred admission to the School of Medical Technology at the Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, MA. Students that complete the program at BMC earn a certificate in Medical Technology. The Articulation (3+1) has students complete the required course work for general education and biology program requirements in 3 years at MCLA, and then in their final year coursework in in the Medical Technology program at BMC.

Professional Experience

Students should become familiar with the medical technology profession prior to applying to the training program at Berkshire Medical Center. Students accepted into the medical technology program at Berkshire Medical Center will gain professional experience and training for the certification exam during their clinical year.

Application Tests

Upon completion of their coursework at MCLA and Berkshire Medical Center students are eligible to take the national registry exam, administered by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification

Advising

A faculty advisor will meet with each student at least once per semester and will provide information about the application procedure for the training program at Berkshire Medical Center. Information about upcoming courses, and other topics is provided to enrolled students on the Biology Department’s Canvas page.

Careers & Outcomes

Berkshire Medical Center’s Medical Technology Program consistently reports a 100% pass rate on the certification exam, and all of our recent Medical Technology graduates gained employment as medical technologists. Three MCLA students are currently completing their clinical year at Berkshire Medical Center. In the Medical Technology concentration, students complete three years of coursework at MCLA and a clinical year at Berkshire Medical Center’s Medical Technology program. Students who complete this concentration can become certified medical technologists and immediately work in the field.