A.A.S. in Medical Laboratory Technology
Overview
The Associate of Applied Science degree in Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) will prepare students for a career as a Medical Laboratory Technician. Students are able to apply to our MLT program while finishing their last semester of high school to ensure a smooth and easy transition into university coursework. The MLT program contains two parts; the first part involving taking the basic prerequisite courses at Tarleton State University, or any other approved college, followed by a hands-on technical portion which takes place at the Fort Worth campus. During this 15-month technical portion, students will be trained to collect samples and perform tests to analyze bodily fluids, tissue, and other substances. These courses will comprise the certification portion of the degree plan.
Designed With You in Mind
Our department faculty members are certified Medical Laboratory Technicians with advanced degrees and/or specialty certifications, and have various clinical experiences that offer a broad academic presentation. Additionally, our staff is assisted by pathologists and medical laboratory scientists from several affiliated clinical laboratories.
Preparing You to Make a Difference
Acceptance to the MLT program is on a competitive basis. Students must successfully complete prerequisites prior to entering the technical portion of the program.
Upon successful program completion, students will be eligible for the National Certification Exam provide by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP). After passing the exam, students will then become certified Medical Laboratory Technicians.
Accreditations
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS)
Related Programs
Not what you were looking for? Tarleton State University offers over 100 different degrees and certifications that may be of interest to you, including:
Estimated Completion
60 credit hours (2+ years)
Application Process
- Complete and submit the Medical Laboratory Technology Application
- Print out 3 reference letters to have professors fill out
- Apply to Tarleton State University – Undergraduate Studies Admissions
Cost
Locations Available
Department
College
Plan Your Future
Our Medical Laboratory Technology program prepares you for the American Society for Clinical Pathology Certification Exam. Students who successfully complete this program will be eligible to become a certified Medical Laboratory Technician. Visit the ASCP website.
This program provide students with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience by working in hospitals, which often leads to employment in the area where they complete their training. There is a growing need for certified Medical Laboratory Technicians, which is why our MLT graduates quickly find employment in a variety of fields, including both rural and urban hospital settings, reference laboratories, physicians’ offices, and much more.
Career Services offers students a wide variety of professional development opportunities that can translate into careers. A few of these programs include:
Handshake
Resume assistance
Job fairs
Mock interviews
And much more!
Coursework Outline
Prerequisites
| Class | Number | Class Name |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL | 2402 | Anatomy & Physiology II |
| HPTC | 3350 | Microbiology for Allied Health Professionals |
| CHEM | 1407 | Fundamentals of Chemistry |
| PYSC | 2301 | General Psychology |
| ENGL | 1301 | Composition I |
| MATH | 1314 or 1332 | College Algebra or Contemporary Mathematics |
| Elective Humanities or Fine Arts Elective |
Required Medical Laboratory Technician Courses
| Class | Number | Class Name |
|---|---|---|
| MLAB | 2182 | Introductory Skills for Medical Laboratory Science |
| MLAB | 2193 | MLT Field Practicum III |
| MLAB | 2194 | MLT Field Practicum I |
| MLAB | 2195 | MLT Field Practicum II |
| MLAB | 2214 | Introduction to Urinalysis |
| MLAB | 2228 | Coagulation |
| MLAB | 2285 | Advanced Topics and Capstone Review |
| MLAB | 2292 | MLT Field Practicum IV |
| MLAB | 2364 | Introduction to Immunology-Serology |
| MLAB | 2424 | Introduction to Hematology |
| MLAB | 2444 | Introduction to Immunohematology |
| MLAB | 2474 | Laboratory Operations |
| MLAB | 2534 | Introduction to Medical Microbiology |
| MLAB | 2576 | Introduction to Clinical Chemistry |
For more information on courses, please refer to the university catalog
Please note that all required Medical Laboratory Technology courses (37 credit hours) will be taken at the Fort Worth campus.
Facilities and Features
Students in the Medical Laboratory Science program can get real-world experience through a number of affiliated hospitals that allow students to get clinical practice done within their facilities. Some of the affiliated hospitals include:
Texas Health Resources: Arlington Memorial Hospital
HCA Las Colinas Medical Center
HCA North Texas
Methodist Mansfield Medical Center
Baylor Medical Center at Irving
Palo Pinto Medical Center
Weatherford Regional Medical Center
Glen Rose Medical Center
The Richard C. Schaffer Educational Building, located in the central hospital district in Fort Worth, consists of three lecture rooms, six laboratories, a computer lab, and a library. Laboratories housed in the Schaffer Building include:
Hematology, hemostasis and urinalysis/body fluids
Chemistry
Immunohematology and immunology/serology
Microbiology/parasitology /mycology
Histology
Molecular diagnostics: Amplification, pre-amplification/nucleic acid extraction, NGS
Protein laboratory: Blotting techniques
Colleges from which prerequisite courses are currently being accepted from include, but are not limited to:
Cisco Junior College
Hill College
North Central Texas College
Ranger College
Tarrant County College
Vernon College
Weatherford College