MLS Cohort Program at Mayo Clinic
This unique program blends an online MLS curriculum delivered by UND faculty with on-site intensive lab training sessions and clinical rotations at Mayo Clinic.
The program allows working laboratory professionals, employed at the Mayo Clinic, to complete an MLS program that allows graduates to be eligible for board certification as a medical laboratory scientist. The program can be completed around work hours, with no outside travel required.
Mayo Clinic Cohort Program
- Cohort students may be eligible for tuition reimbursement/Career Investment Program (CIP) opportunities through Mayo Clinic. Students should contact their administrators or human resources department to check on current tuition reimbursement policies and guidelines.
- Each student's program of study is tailored to meet their specific needs.
- Lectures are available online, 24/7, student's listen to lectures when it is convenient for them.
- Laboratory sessions take place in Stabile 3-50, Mayo Clinic's MLS program teaching laboratory.
- The MLS Cohort Program at Mayo Clinic is accredited by NAACLS as part of UND's MLS programs' accreditation.
- Cohort students generally score higher than the national average on the ASCP BOC MLS examination.
- Over 170 Mayo Clinic students have graduated with either a BS in MLS or MLS certificate since the cohort program started.
- Cohort graduates have enhanced marketability, leading to new career opportunities within the Mayo Clinic laboratory system.
- The cohort program has been strongly endorsed and supported by the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic.
- The UND MLS cohort program allows Mayo Clinic employees to continue working while pursuing a BS in MLS.
- Currently over 50 Mayo Clinic employees are active in the program ensuring it will be supported by both the Mayo Clinic and UND for years to come.
MLS Academic Advising
Schedule an onsite academic advising session at Mayo Clinic with Bob Porter or Samantha Peterson. During your academic advising session we will answer any questions you have and review your unofficial transcripts. To receive an email flyer about upcoming advising sessions that will be held on-site at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, please contact Bob or Samantha to be added to the MLS Cohort email listing.
Alternatively, fax or email your questions along with unofficial college transcript(s) to Bob Porter for an unofficial transcript review.
Apply to UND
Visit the transfer student admissions page.
- Non-refundable Fee of ~$35.00
- Be sure to indicate your Academic Major as Medical Laboratory Science (B.S. MLS)
- Official Transcripts must be sent directly from all previous colleges to the UND Admissions Office
- Your admission data will not be available to the MLS program until you have been completely matriculated (processed) into the UND system (takes approximately 4-6 weeks).
- Once assigned an EMPL ID# (UND Student ID#), please email it to Bob Porter so he can be assigned as your academic advisor in UND Campus Connection and have access to your transfer credit data
Routes of Study
Option 1: 2+2 Route
Option 2: MLT/CLT to Bachelor of Science in MLS
- Same as 2+2 Route with modified plan of study.
- Interpersonal Communications (COMM 212) and Preanalytical Testing (MLS 472) are waived.
- Certified (ASCP)MLT's/CLT's with at least three years generalist experience may also
be eligible to complete a three credit review course (MLS 464) their last semester
instead of the traditional eleven-credit study guide format provided the following
criteria have been met:
- Generalist experience
- Generalist experience must including working in all four major areas of MLS (Immunohematology, Microbiology, Hematology, and Clinical Chemistry)
- Final eligibility will be determined by review of the student's competency checklist and past work experience; as well as, approval by the Mayo Cohort Coordinator and/or MLS committee decision.
- MLT's/CLT's that are not ASCP certified or equivalent will be required to complete the traditional eleven-credit study guide format
Option 3: 4+1 Route (2nd B.S. degree or Post-Baccalaureate Certificate)
Enrolling in MLS Courses
Special MLS Cohort Program course enrollment numbers must be obtained before the start of every semester from Bob Porter or Samantha Peterson, as they are NOT listed or searchable in UND's Campus Connection.
To enroll in MLS courses once the MLS Cohort Program course enrollment numbers are obtained from Bob or Samantha, you will need to login to Campus Connection.
Things to Consider
- You will need a Campus Connection User ID and Password, which will be sent to you by the UND's Admissions Office when you apply.
- MLS course numbers (i.e. MLS 332) searchable in Campus Connection are not the same as the cohort specific course enrollment numbers that you must obtain from Bob Porter or Samantha Peterson.
- You will need to review the UND MLS Undergraduate Handbook and return the Student Signature Page to Bob or Samantha.
General Course Information
- MLS courses are delivered using Blackboard.
- MLS courses are made available in Blackboard the first full day of classes each semester at UND.
- Review your current grades for the course under My Grades in Blackboard.
- Instructors will email course information, updates, and other correspondence solely through your UND issued email account. More information on how to access your UND issued email can be found at University IT.
- Review the textbook requirements for your MLS course.
Senior Semesters (MLS 400 Level Courses)
Guidelines for the final 39 credits of study.
- The checklist is required by all students prior to starting their senior (last 39 credits) semesters.
- The checklist is used to indicate the level of performance a cohort student has already
achieved for each of the following major areas of the laboratory:
- Body Fluids
- Chemistry
- Hematology
- Hemostasis (Coag)
- Immunohematology (Blood Bank)
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Phlebotomy
- A clinical supervisor must complete the checklist form by checking the appropriate column (highest level attained) following an assessment of the cohort student's past work history.
- Senior courses (MLS 400-level courses) are divided into five semester blocks.
- Semester blocks are independent of each other, so a student may start senior courses in either the fall, spring or summer terms.
- At least one summer semester is required.
- "Reduced Load" - a student may choose to enroll in fewer courses per semester, and extend their senior program of study beyond five semesters.
- There are three mandatory senior intensive laboratory sessions in which all students must attend.
- Intensive laboratory sessions are designed to take place over a one to two-week period.
- Intensive laboratory sessions are offered only one time per semester at set dates and start times.
- Intensive laboratory start times are usually scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m; however times may vary.
- Intensive laboratory sessions are taught by UND faculty in the Mayo Clinic MLS student laboratory in the Stabile building.
- Students must make their own arrangements with departmental supervisors for time off to attend mandatory laboratory sessions.
- There are four mandatory core clinical rotations that corresponds to a specific MLS course (MLS 491, 492, 495, 498).
- Clinical intensive rotations are taught by Mayo Clinic Education Specialists using a combination of the student laboratory and other Mayo Clinical Laboratories.
- CIR's for MLS 491, 495, and 498 take place over a one to two week period.
- CIR for MLS 492 takes place over a period of 2-6 weeks.
- All CIR's are only offered on designated dates and starting times.
- Students must make their own arrangements with departmental supervisors for time off to attend all CIR's.
- Two mandatory, abbreviated rotations are required in phlebotomy and special coagulation.
- Abbreviated clinical rotations are taught by Mayo Clinic education specialists in their respective laboratories.
- Abbreviated clinical rotations have designated dates and starting times.
- Students must make their own arrangements with departmental supervisors for time off to attend abbreviated clinical rotations.
- Mandatory didactic coursework is required for MLS 480, 481, 483, 484, 485, 488, and 494. These courses are always taken in a students' final semester.
- Completion of course materials in the study guide courses help prepare students for taking their national board certification exam.
- Upon completion of study guide courses, MLS students are required to take the UND MLS Program Final Comprehensive Examination.
- A student will not be eligible for the ASCP Board of Certification MLS exam until the UND MLS Program Final Comprehensive Examination has been completed.
Contact Us
Bob Porter, M.S., MLS (ASCP)CM
Assistant Professor
Mayo Clinic Cohort Coordinator
Department of Medical Laboratory Science
1301 N Columbia Rd Stop 9037
Room E378
Grand Forks, ND 58202-9037
P: 701.777.2647
F: 701.777.2404
robert.porter@UND.edu