What is Medical Laboratory Science?
Medical laboratory scientists (MLS) are the healthcare professionals behind the scenes of nearly every diagnosis. Working in hospital, reference, and physician-office laboratories, they perform and interpret complex testing in hematology, microbiology, chemistry, immunology, and molecular diagnostics. An MLS provides information that guides an estimated 70% of medical decisions, from confirming an infection to monitoring a chronic disease to matching blood for a transfusion.
Why Study Medical Laboratory Science at Grand Valley?
- Rigorous, Hands-On Training. Graduates learn from experienced MLS faculty and complete hands-on laboratory training alongside experienced MLS professionals.
- Strong Clinical Partnerships. GVSU's Medical Laboratory Science program partners with a wide variety of clinical laboratories across Michigan, giving students real clinical experience and a direct connection to future employers.
- A High-Demand, High-Impact Career. Medical laboratory science is a high-demand profession with strong job security. Graduates are eligible to sit for national certification (ASCP) and step directly into a career that keeps hospitals and clinics running.
Program Overview
Grand Valley's Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science is offered through two tracks. Both lead to the same GVSU degree and the same eligibility for national certification, the difference is where and how the program is delivered, so you can choose the path that fits where you live and how you learn best.
1. Full-Time, In-Person Track — Grand Rapids Health Campus
On the Grand Rapids Health Campus, students complete both lecture and laboratory coursework in person, learning alongside GVSU's MLS faculty and clinical partners throughout the program. This traditional, on-campus experience is offered exclusively as a full-time course of study.
2. Hybrid Track — Traverse City Regional Center (Northern Michigan)
The hybrid pathway through the Traverse City Regional Center has one goal: to bring the medical laboratory science profession to Northern Michigan for the people who already live and work here. Lecture coursework is delivered fully online, and in-person laboratory skills training takes place in Traverse City through Grand Valley's partnership with Northwestern Michigan College. Clinical rotations are completed at Munson Healthcare and other clinical affiliates across Northern Michigan.
Unlike the full-time, in-person track in Grand Rapids, the hybrid pathway is offered both full time and part time, making it a strong option for traditional students moving directly from Northwestern Michigan College as well as non-traditional learners balancing work, family, or other commitments while they train close to home.
In rural and regional hospitals, a medical laboratory scientist's role is especially critical: a single MLS professional may be the only person staffing overnight testing that a patient's care depends on. Northern Michigan's hospitals and clinics need more of these professionals close to home, and this pathway is designed to grow them from the community itself, educating Northern Michigan residents so they can stay in the north, build a career here, and fuel the communities that raised them.
If you're drawn to practicing in a rural or small-community setting and want to know whether the hybrid track is the right fit for you, we encourage you to reach out so our advising team can help you think through your options.
Admissions Process
Application Deadline: March 15
Application opens October 1st — priority deadline March 15th, with rolling admission accepted until all seats are filled. Apply to the track that fits where you want to study:
Applications to the hybrid track also take into account an applicant's previous or current residence in Northern Michigan, and previous or current connections to or experience in the region. Applicants to the hybrid track may have the opportunity to answer a custom application question describing their connection to the Northern Lower Peninsula or Upper Peninsula.