Medical laboratory scientists are trained in the theoretical and practical aspects of laboratory medicine, which are critical to the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases. Medical Laboratory Science offers a wide variety of career options, including hospitals, clinics, independent laboratories, public health facilities, business, industry, research, sales, and marketing. Students also may use this major to prepare for medical or graduate school. Students successfully completing this program are eligible to sit for a national certification exam offered by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP-BOC). The UWM Medical Laboratory Science submajor is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), www.naacls.org, located at 5600 N. River Road, Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018-5119.
In addition to completion of all required courses, students will be required to comply with a background check, drug screen, and maintain health insurance during the professional training experience (clinical rotation). More information regarding program requirements and curriculum can be found here.
Program Director – Zac Lunak, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM, HTL(ASCP)
Email: lunak@uwm.edu
Clinical Education Coordinator – Brad De Pons, MLS(ASCP)CM
Email: bkdepons@uwm.edu
Program Advisor – Bill Mueller, MS
Email: muellow@uwm.edu
General Information
Curriculum (required courses by year)
Immunization/Infectious Disease Requirements for Clinical Placement
MLS Student Checklist
Students apply to the MLS submajor during the Junior Year – Fall Semester, and are notified of their acceptance in January prior to the Junior Year – Spring Semester. The following pages include information about classes taken each semester, what to complete during each time frame, and what to expect during clinical rotations.
See the Curriculum page for a detailed listing of required courses by year.
Junior Year Fall Semester (September-December)
Junior Year Spring Semester (January-May)
Students attend clinical site tours (January-March)
Students complete clinical site interviews (March-April)
Determination of Clinical Placements by BMS Department (May)
Senior Year Summer Semester – Professional Training (June-August)
Clinical Placements are finalized and posted for students to view (First day of summer session)
Students complete general on-boarding requirements through Castlebranch (June-August)
Students complete site specific on-boarding requirements (August-September)
Senior Year Fall Semester – Professional Training (September-October)
Weeks 1-8 on campus, then students start rotations and remaining courses convert to online
Students make final preparations for rotations
Page includes information about the start/end dates for clinical rotations, communication from site coordinator, planning vacation time, dress code, tattoos, piercings, and hair color.
Senior Year MLS Clinical Rotations (November-May)
Students complete the Senior Year Spring Semester – Professional Training
Page includes information about the first day of rotations, rotation schedules and bench assignments, competency checklists, professional evaluation forms, comprehensive exams, sick days/unexpected absences/Tardiness, vacation time, closures due to weather, and communication.