This is the first version of the 2025–26 General Catalog. Please check back regularly for changes. The final edition and the historical PDF will be published during the fall semester.
The Carver College of Medicine partners with various programs to offer the Bachelor of Science in medical laboratory science. The Kirkwood medical laboratory science program is currently seeking accreditation by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences. The Mercy program is fully accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences.
Undergraduate study in medical laboratory science is guided by the academic rules and procedures outlined in the Carver College of Medicine section of the catalog.
The Carver College of Medicine partners with affiliated institutions that provide the medical laboratory science professional training programs; students in this major are not held to the University of Iowa in-residence requirement.
Affiliated Programs
Expenses
Students are responsible for all tuition, textbooks, and other associated expenses during their time in one of the affiliated programs. Tuition is assessed by the affiliated learning institution or program.
The Bachelor of Science with a major in medical laboratory science requires a minimum of 124 s.h., including preparatory study at the University of Iowa and the professional (clinical) program. Acceptance into the affiliated programs is competitive; see specific program websites for admission requirements.
Students who plan to pursue a BS degree in medical laboratory science at the University of Iowa enter the university as students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, where they complete the preparatory coursework that is prerequisite to entering the major. Students then begin the professional program, which consists of both didactic lectures and clinical rotations. Students who successfully complete the professional requirements through one of the affiliated medical laboratory science programs graduate with a BS in medical laboratory science awarded by the University of Iowa.
To learn more about the professional programs, visit the medical laboratory science pages on the Mercy College of Health Sciences website or the medical laboratory technology page on the Kirkwood Community College website.
General Education Requirement
All students pursuing the BS in medical laboratory science complete at least 3 s.h. in each of these areas:
- Understanding Cultural Perspectives
- Historical Perspectives
- International and Global Issues (may be taken concurrently while at Kirkwood if attending UI first)
- Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts
- Rhetoric (minimum 4 s.h.)
- Natural Sciences, with lab component (minimum 4 s.h.)
- Natural Sciences, with or without lab component
- Quantitative or Formal Reasoning
- Social Sciences
See GE CLAS Core (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences) in the catalog for approved courses in the areas listed. GPA and individual course grade minimums may apply based on the clinical program students complete; see the following sections for more information.
Kirkwood Community College
Students in the Kirkwood program must maintain a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of at least 2.00 in all courses for the major and in all University of Iowa courses. They must earn a grade of C (not C-minus) or higher in every course.
Students complete the prerequisite coursework in the first two years at the University of Iowa. Alternatively, students may choose to attend the Kirkwood program first and continue their studies at the University of Iowa. Some general education courses may be taken concurrently at the University of Iowa while completing coursework at Kirkwood.
Required Courses
Students take the following required courses at the University of Iowa. Students who begin at UI must complete all of the following before they may be admitted to the major in medical laboratory science, with the exception of five courses that may be taken concurrently with Kirkwood coursework. Enrollment in chemistry and mathematics courses requires completion of a placement exam. Courses may require prerequisites.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| All of these: | ||
| BIOL:1411 | Foundations of Biology | 4 |
| BIOL:1412 | Diversity of Form and Function | 4 |
| BMB:3110 | Biochemistry (may be taken concurrently while at Kirkwood if attending UI first) | 3 |
| CHEM:1110 | Principles of Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHEM:1120 | Principles of Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHEM:2210 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| HHP:2400 | Fundamentals of Human Physiology | 3 |
| MATH:1005 | College Algebra (or a math course [prefix MATH] numbered above 1005) | 4 |
| MICR:3147 | Immunology and Human Disease (may be taken concurrently while at Kirkwood if attending UI first) | 3 |
| PATH:4201 | Laboratory Management (may be taken concurrently while at Kirkwood if attending UI first) | 3 |
| SOC:1010 | Introduction to Sociology | 3-4 |
| One of these: | ||
| BAIS:1500 | Business Computing Essentials | 2 |
| CS:1020 | Principles of Computing (may be taken concurrently while at Kirkwood if attending UI first) | 3 |
| One of these: | ||
| STAT:1020 | Elementary Statistics and Inference | 3 |
| STAT:1030 | Statistics for Business (preferred) | 4 |
Students who begin at the University of Iowa must complete the following courses before admission to the major. Students who begin at Kirkwood Community College must satisfy the following but may be able to transfer equivalent courses.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HHP:1400 | Human Anatomy and Physiology | 3 |
| MICR:3164 | Microbiology and Human Health | 4 |
Mercy College of Health Sciences
Students in the Mercy College of Health Sciences (MCHS) program in Des Moines must maintain a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of at least 2.50 in all courses for the major and in all University of Iowa courses.
Students in the Mercy College program complete the prerequisite coursework in the first three years at the University of Iowa and must pursue admission into the MCHS program for the fourth year.
Prerequisites for Admission to the Major–Mercy College
Students must:
- achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 2.50 on a 4.00 scale in all college-level coursework;
- achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 2.50 on a 4.00 scale in all college-level coursework in science, which includes biology, microbiology, zoology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, statistics, and related courses; and
- earn a grade of C (not C-minus) or higher in all required courses.
Students must complete the following coursework and be accepted into the program at MCHS before they may be admitted to the major in medical laboratory science.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| All of these: | ||
| BIOL:1411 & BIOL:1412 | Foundations of Biology and Diversity of Form and Function | 8 |
| CHEM:1110 & CHEM:1120 | Principles of Chemistry I and Principles of Chemistry II | 8 |
| CHEM:2210 & CHEM:2220 | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry II | 6 |
| CHEM:2410 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 3 |
| MATH:1005 | College Algebra | 4 |
| MICR:2157 & MICR:2158 | General Microbiology and General Microbiology Laboratory | 5 |
| One of these: | ||
| HHP:1400 | Human Anatomy and Physiology | 3 |
| HHP:2100 & HHP:2110 | Human Anatomy and Human Anatomy Laboratory | 4 |
| HHP:2400 & HHP:2410 | Fundamentals of Human Physiology and Human Physiology Laboratory | 4 |
| HHP:3105 | Anatomy for Human Physiology | 3 |
| HHP:3115 | Anatomy for Human Physiology With Lab | 5 |
| HHP:3500 | Human Physiology | 3 |
| HHP:3550 | Human Physiology With Laboratory | 5 |
| MICR:3147 | Immunology and Human Disease | 3 |
Coursework taken to meet the biology and chemistry requirements completed seven or more years before application may require updating. This is determined by the MCHS program chair.
Questions about the requirements should be directed to the Mercy College of Health Sciences.
Admission to the medical laboratory science professional programs is competitive; enrollment may be limited. Students must apply to the medical laboratory science program directly. Students interested in the Mercy College of Health Sciences program apply during the fall of their third year and begin the professional program following that year; students interested in the Kirkwood Community College program would typically apply during the second year to begin the professional program the following year.
Before beginning the professional program, students must complete all prerequisites and must have earned at least 58 s.h. of college credit for the Kirkwood Community College program or at least 88 s.h. of college credit for the Mercy College of Health Sciences program. Students satisfy the English and public speaking prerequisites by fulfilling the GE CLAS Core Rhetoric requirement. They must satisfy any English as a Second Language (ESL) requirements specified by the University of Iowa before beginning the professional program.
Students should consult with a Medical Laboratory Science Program advisor as early as possible to plan preclinical studies that meet all requirements.
The demand for medical laboratory scientists is much greater than the number of people qualified to fill the positions, and graduates have numerous employment opportunities nationwide. They consistently find employment before or very soon after graduation.
Opportunities for advancement include positions such as lab manager, computer specialist, technical specialist, or sales/instrument representative. An advanced degree in basic sciences, medicine, hospital administration, or business can expand earning potential.
Graduates often enjoy diverse work environments, including labs in hospitals, research institutions, public health facilities, forensic units, pharmaceutical companies, or the armed forces. They have an impact in the field as integral members of health care teams, providing information essential for the treatment and prevention of disease.
The Pomerantz Career Center offers multiple resources to help students find internships and jobs.