Morgan State University Medical Laboratory Science Program Re-Accredited Through 2031

NAACLS Accreditation Ensures Highest Quality, Value, and Innovation of Academic Program in Alignment With National Standards

BALTIMORE —  Morgan State University’s Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) program has been re-accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), the premier agency for international accreditation of educational programs in the clinical laboratory sciences and related health care disciplines. Housed within the School of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences (SCMNS), Morgan’s MLS major is one of only five such statewide academic degree programs, approved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC), to have received accreditation from the NAACLS. The term of the MLS program's accreditation will run through October 2031.

Medical Laboratory Science is the health profession that provides laboratory information and services needed for the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Those that choose a career in Medical Laboratory Science perform complex tests on patient samples such as blood, body fluids, tissues, and cells using sophisticated equipment like microscopes and cell counters. The data they find is relayed to physicians and plays a major role in identifying and treating cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and other medical conditions. It is estimated that 60 to 70 percent of all decisions regarding a patient's diagnosis, treatment, hospital admission, and discharge are based on the results of the tests medical laboratory scientists perform.

The NAACLS accreditation is a voluntary process led by university program administrators. It involves engaging in several comprehensive steps including, a self-study report, followed by a NAACLS-led site visit to campus for an evaluation and an in-person assessment. The purpose of the accreditation is to ensure the highest standards of educational quality and conformity with national standards in the medical laboratory sciences field. It also informs the public, students and potential employers that graduates possess the entry level competencies required to function effectively in the occupation. Department faculty and leadership are required to submit annual reports, including significant program changes and data which will be measured against approved benchmarks.

“NAACLS’ recertification for the maximum length of 10 years is an affirmation of the strong and excellent MLS program at Morgan State University,” said William Anong, Ph.D., associate professor and program director of the Medical Laboratory Science program. “An MLS degree, unlike any other bachelor’s degree outside of Nursing, is a golden ticket to receiving a great and rewarding career in laboratory medicine and healthcare. Our graduates are highly sought and enjoy one hundred percent employment, most before graduation, with great pay and signing bonuses.”

NAACLS is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), a national and international authority on accreditation and quality assurance for higher education accreditation and quality assurance. Recognition by CHEA affirms that standards and processes of accrediting organizations are consistent with quality improvement, and accountability expectations.

About Morgan

Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering more than 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland’s Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.

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Media Contacts:

Dell Jackson or Cheryl Stewart, University Public Relations
443-885-3022