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 �鶹��ý’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).

�鶹��ý 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 �鶹��ý would be spent completing the requirements for a Bachelor of Science in Biology.

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Biology Medical Laboratory Science

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 9 percent between 2023 and 2033, much faster than average for all occupations. The median salary for the industry in 2024 was $103,650.

Experiential Learning Opportunities

Students accepted into this program receive hands-on learning through �鶹��ý'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, or email Program Director Ethan Kentzel at ethan.kentzel@towerhealth.org.

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 �鶹��ý 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

�鶹��ý 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.

Application Instructions

Through a rolling admission process, prospective undergraduate students — including first-year, transfer, and international students — may apply via the or . 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. �鶹��ý’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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Accreditation Statement

�鶹��ý is an accredited institution and a member of the . MSCHE is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Get to Know Your Faculty

For more information about �鶹��ý’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 Michelle Serapiglia, Ph.D., at 610-796-8427 or michelle.serapiglia@alvernia.edu. To see a list of Science lecturers, click here.