Medical Laboratory Science (MLS)

Prepare for a vital role in diagnosing and preventing disease through laboratory testing and analysis.

Degree: Bachelor of Science

Timeline:

2.5 years at LSU
1.5 years at LSU Health New Orleans

Cardiopulmonary Science (Respiratory Therapy – RT)

Train to become a respiratory therapist and provide life-saving care for patients with heart and lung conditions.

Degree: Bachelor of Science

Timeline:

2 years at LSU
2 years at LSU Health New Orleans
Start Term at LSUHSC: May (annual cohort)

1. Enroll at LSU in a pre-professional major aligned with LSUHSC New Orleans prerequisites.
   1. Pre-Medical Laboratory Science
   2. Pre-Cardiopulmonary Science
2. Receive early guidance. Starting in your second semester, LSU advisors connect you with LSUHSC faculty
3. Participate in joint advising from both campuses
4. Apply to LSUHSC New Orleans when prerequisites will be completed by the anticipated start date. Students interested in the Respiratory Therapy Track will typically apply during the spring semester of their sophomore year, while students interested in the Medical Lab Science track will typically apply during the summer semester of their sophomore and junior years, pending on-time completion of prerequisite coursework.

• Guaranteed admission opportunity for qualified students
• Joint advising and mentoring from both institutions
• Clear academic roadmap from freshman year to graduation
• Fast-track into healthcare careers in Louisiana and beyond

To stay on track, students must participate in mandatory advising and workshops each semester, covering academic progression, transfer readiness, application preparation, faculty engagement with LSU Health New Orleans

Note: A letter of recommendation from your LSU advisor is required for your LSUHSC application for consideration of guaranteed admission.

Students who meet the following criteria are eligible for guaranteed admission into their LSUHSC program:

• Completion of all required prerequisite coursework
• Meeting GPA and program-specific standards
• Submission of all application materials by deadlines
  
  • Medical Laboratory Science: August 1st
  • Cardiopulmonary Science – Respiratory Therapy: February 1st
• A letter of recommendation from your pre-professional healthcare advisor. Letters of recommendation will be earned by fulfilling the following criteria:
  
  • Documented advising meetings with a pre-professional healthcare advisor in LSU’s University College once per semester, during each semester of enrollment of the pre-professional program.
  • Continued academic progress made towards the completion of the appropriate pre-requisite coursework each semester. Students must be actively working towards program prerequisites each semester and advancing in coursework (i.e. BIOL 1201 to BIOL 1202).
  • Completion of all required prerequisite coursework with a grade of “C-“ or higher. Students who earn a “D+” or lower may still apply for regular admission after repeating a required course and earning a grade of “C-“ or higher.
  • No more than 3 “W” grades in Science or Math prerequisite coursework
  • Maintain minimum GPA progression each semester:
    
    • Semester 1: 2.5 LSU GPA. 2.5 Cumulative GPA.
    • Semester 2: 2.75 LSU GPA. 2.75 Overall GPA
    • Semester 3: 3.00 LSU GPA. 3.00 Overall GPA
    • Semester 4 or beyond – maintenance of 3.0 LSU and Overall GPA

*Admission is contingent upon final transcript verification and standard health/immunization clearance.

** Guaranteed admission pathway is applicable only towards program offerings at LSUHSC New Orleans campus. Students interested in LSUHSC Shreveport programs may complete prerequisite coursework at LSU, but will apply through traditional means.

Students who do not meet guarantee criteria may still apply through the standard LSUHSC admissions process.

Prerequisite Hours: 65-67 (completed by end of fall semester prior to January start)

• English (composition) (6)
  
  • ENGL 1001 English Composition I (3)
  • ENGL 2000 English Composition II (3)
• General Chemistry & Lab (8)
  
  • CHEM 1201 General Chemistry I (3)
  • CHEM 1202 General Chemistry II (3)
  • CHEM 1212 General Chemistry Laboratory (2)
• Analytical Reasoning (6-8)
  
  • MATH 1021 College Algebra (3)
  • MATH 1022 Plane Trigonometry (3) or MATH 1550 Differential and Integral Calculus (5)
• General Biology & Lab (8)
  
  • BIOL 1201 Biology for Science Majors I (3)
  • BIOL 1208 Biology Laboratory for Science Majors I (1)
  • BIOL 1202 Biology for Science Majors II (3)
  • BIOL 1209 Biology Laboratory for Science Majors II (1)
• General Microbiology & Lab (4)
  
  • BIOL 2051 General Microbiology (4)
• Science Electives (6) Recommendations include:
  
  • BIOL 2153 Principles of Genetics (4)
  • BIOL 2160 Human Physiology (3)
  • CHEM 2261 Organic Chemistry I (3)
  • CHEM 2262 Organic Chemistry II (3)
  • KIN 2500 Human Anatomy (3)
  • NFS 1110 Introduction to Nutritional Sciences (3)
  • PHYS 2001 General Physics I (3)
• Integrated Learning Core – General Education Humanities (9)
  
  • Recommendations include: Communication Studies, English Literature, Foreign Languages, History, Religion, Philosophy
• Integrated Learning Core - General Education Social/Behavioral Sciences (6)
  
  • Recommendations include: Psychology, Sociology
• Integrated Learning Core - General Education Arts (3)
  • Recommendations include; Art, Art History, Music, Theater 
• General Electives (9)
  • Students are encouraged to utilize these 9 hours of academic electives that may align with an undergraduate degree program offered at the LSU A&M Baton Rouge Campus or that may prepare them for additional advanced degrees, including but not limited to coursework from Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Kinesiology, Psychology or Physics. 
• Minimum GPA:
  
  • 3.0 overall
  • 2.5 in science and math courses
• Application Materials:
  
  • Official transcript
  • Personal statement
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Possible interview

Prerequisite Hours: 51–55 (completed by end of spring semester prior to May start)

• English (composition) (6)
  
  • ENGL 1001 English Composition I (3)
  • ENGL 2000 English Composition II (3)
• General Chemistry (3)
  
  • CHEM 1201 General Chemistry I (3) or CHEM 1005 General Chemistry for Pre-Nursing and Pre-Allied Health (3)
• Analytical Reasoning (6-8)
  
  • MATH 1021 College Algebra (3)
  • MATH 1022 Plane Trigonometry (3) or MATH 1550 Differential and Integral Calculus (5)
• General Biology & Lab (8)
  
  • BIOL 1201 Biology for Science Majors I (3)
  • BIOL 1208 Biology Laboratory for Science Majors I (1)
  • BIOL 1202 Biology for Science Majors II (3)
  • BIOL 1209 Biology Laboratory for Science Majors II (1)
• General Microbiology & Lab (3-4)
  
  • BIOL 1011 Microorganisms and Man (3) or BIOL 2051 General Microbiology (4)
    
    • BIOL 2051 requires completion of CHEM 1202 General Chemistry II (3) which is not directly required for the LSUHSC New Orleans program. Not available to students who take CHEM 1005.
• Physics (3)
  
  • PHYS 2001 General Physics I (3)
• Human Physiology (3)
  
  • BIOL 2160 Human Physiology (3)
• Science Lab (1-2) Recommendations include:
  
  • BIOL 1012 Microorganisms and Man Laboratory (1)
  • BIOL 2051 General Microbiology (4)
    
    • The built-in lab component from the BIOL 2051 lecture will fulfill this requirement. BIOL 2051 requires completion of CHEM 1202 General Chemistry II (3) which is not directly required for the LSUHSC New Orleans program. Not available to students who take CHEM 1005.
  • BIOL 2161 Human Physiology Laboratory (1)
  • CHEM 1212 General Chemistry Laboratory (2)
    
    • Requires completion of CHEM 1202 General Chemistry II (3) which is not directly required for the LSUHSC New Orleans program. Not available to students who take CHEM 1005.
  • PHYS 2108 Introductory Physics Laboratory (1)
• Integrated Learning Core – General Education Humanities (9)
  
  • Approved subjects include: Communication Studies, English Literature, Foreign Languages, History, Religion, Philosophy only
  • English and Foreign Language coursework is preferred
• Integrated Learning Core - General Education Social/Behavioral Sciences – Psychology & Sociology (6)
  
  • PSYC 2000 Introduction to Psychology (3)
  • SOCL 2001 Introductory Sociology (3)
• Integrated Learning Core - General Education Arts (3)
  
  • Approved subjects include Art, Art History, Music, Theater 
• Minimum GPA:
  
  • 3.0 overall
  • 3.0 in prerequisite coursework
• Application Materials:
  
  • Transcript(s)
  • Personal statement
  • Possible interview

Prerequisite requirements and requirements for earning a letter of recommendation are subject to change. Students are encouraged to meet with a Pre-Professional Healthcare Advisor at LSU and the program directors at LSUHSC New Orleans for up to date information. Requirements for programs at LSUHSC Shreveport may vary. Coursework listed in the LSU General Catalog includes coursework needed for both LSUHSC New Orleans and Shreveport programs.

The Guaranteed Admission Pathway is ideal for:

• LSU students interested in healthcare careers
• High school students planning a clear path into allied health
• Students seeking hands-on, in-demand healthcare professions
• Students wanting to experience both LSU’s historic main campus before transitioning to LSUHSC’s state of the art campus.