How to Apply

Applications for the 2027-2028 Medical Laboratory Science program are accepted starting May 1, 2026, through Feb. 1, 2027, or until all seats are filled. Interviews are scheduled to begin in approximately September. Admissions is on a rolling basis and offers will be made starting in approximately October. In order to be admitted to the Medical Laboratory Science program, the ideal candidate should have:

• Minimum GPA in chemistry and biological sciences of 2.75 or higher

• Minimum overall GPA of 2.75 or higher

• Personal interview, where applicant will be evaluated as to accountability, teamwork, time and resource management, self-confidence, communication and interpersonal skills, maturity and motivation for the field of medical laboratory science

• Transcript evaluation (performed by university/college program liaison/adviser and/or by the MLS program director)

In addition, applicants with a degree from a foreign university must have their transcripts evaluated for U.S. equivalency by World Education Services and must have completed at least 10 credits of coursework with English as the language of instruction.

The MLS program is unable to sponsor students requiring a VISA.

The following curriculum prerequisites are required for admission into the Medical Laboratory Science Program at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

• A minimum of 90 semester hours of study in an accredited college or university and completing college-specified courses to receive a bachelor’s degree.

• Completion of all courses prerequisite to the clinical rotation year as required, including:

  • Chemistry: Minimum 16 semester hours of courses acceptable to the major that encompass areas such as general chemistry, analytical chemistry and organic or biochemistry. Courses must include labs. Survey courses do not qualify as fulfillment of the chemistry prerequisites. Organic and/or biochemistry must be included. The content of the chemistry course must be acceptable toward a major in chemistry or medical laboratory science, or be certified by the college/university as equivalent.

  • Biological sciences: Minimum 16 semester hours of courses acceptable to the major that encompass areas such as microbiology, immunology, anatomy/physiology and genetics. Highly recommended courses are applied/pathogenic microbiology and molecular biology. Cellular biology and biology seminar are suggested electives. Courses must include labs. Survey courses do not qualify as fulfillment of the biology prerequisites. At least one microbiology course is required, and immunology must be included as a part of a biology or microbiology course, or as a separate course. The content of the biological science course must be acceptable toward a major in biology, biotechnology or in medical laboratory science, or be certified by the college/university as equivalent.

  • Mathematics: One course in college-level mathematics is required. Statistics is recommended.

  • Other: An introductory course in computer literacy is recommended.

• Applicants with a baccalaureate degree who completed minimum course requirements seven or more years before application must update their academic preparation by enrolling and completing courses, at the discretion of the program director, in microbiology, immunology, biochemistry and/or genetics with a grade B or better to ensure academic preparedness.

• Applicants with a degree from a foreign university must have an official transcript evaluated for U.S. equivalency (e.g., by World Education Services Inc., New York, NY). This evaluation will determine the applicant’s eligibility by assessing academic preparedness by verifying that they have completed at least 12 semester credits in science classes related to medical laboratory science from an American college or university. The ability to communicate readily in English orally and in writing is an essential requirement for the program.

• All required pre-clinical medical laboratory science courses must be completed and the student must be eligible for a baccalaureate degree from a college/university upon program completition or must currently hold a baccalaureate degree.

Credit for Prior Learning

Courses that are prerequisites for the program cannot be used to substitute for courses required for program completion that are offered at Hershey Medical Center.

All previous training and education will be evaluated as appropriate. Students who have been certified in a laboratory discipline can have their qualifications in that area evaluated by the program director and supervisors at Hershey Medical Center. Records of certification and work experience (including competency checklists) must be provided to the program director. If an individual’s certification and work experience show that the student has been trained in a laboratory area, the program director and supervisors may agree to shorten or modify the individual’s training plan to reflect the student’s competency.