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Laboratory Animal Science MLAS

Major: Laboratory Animal Science
Degree Awarded: Master of Laboratory Animal Science (MLAS)
Calendar Type: Semester
Minimum Required Credits: 48.0
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 01.8102
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 19-1011

About the Program

The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies offers the Master of Laboratory Animal Science (MLAS) degree. The MLAS program is designed for individuals who have a bachelor’s degree in animal science or a related field and are seeking advanced career positions in laboratory animal science and laboratory animal facility management. Alternatively, the MLAS degree is a powerful means to enhance students' credentials for admission to veterinary medical school.

The MLAS program is a full-time, two-year program that begins in August of each year. The first two years of the program consists primarily of classroom instruction, while the last semester is reserved for experiential learning. The program is flexible for traditional and nontraditional students alike due to the availability of evening courses.

Available Online

For individuals who are currently working in the laboratory animal science field, the MLAS program is available 100% online. Students can work full-time while completing the program part-time (6 semesters). The majority of courses are completely asynchronous, thus allowing maximum flexibility for the working professional. Please review our website for specific details about the online program.

Curriculum

The MLAS curriculum consists of basic science courses, laboratory animal science courses and a practicum. The basic science courses were designed to build a solid foundation required for a successful career in laboratory animal science. The laboratory animal science courses focus on all aspects of laboratory animal science, including facility management. The practicum provides the student with the opportunity to apply the theoretical knowledge they have learned to the field of laboratory animal science. The outcome is a highly trained laboratory animal science professional with a solid foundation in the sciences.

Pre-veterinary Graduate Minor

Students desiring to attend veterinary medical school may elect to complete a pre-vet minor within the Master of Laboratory Animal Science (MLAS) program. The addition of these courses to the MLAS program will help to further enhance the student's application to veterinary medical school by providing additional rigorous and relevant graduate-level coursework.

Practicum

MLAS faculty and administration assist the students in identifying and securing practicum placements at universities, biotechnology organizations and pharmaceutical companies. Practicum sites are available in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina and Texas. The list expands every year. In many instances, the practicum sites have offered our students a permanent position within their organization upon completion of the MLAS degree.

Career Opportunities

MLAS graduates hold positions in laboratory animal facilities of universities, biotechnology companies, government agencies and pharmaceutical companies. There they serve as veterinarians, supervisors, managers, IACUC administrators, trainers, educators, consultants and sales representatives.

Veterinary Medical School

Successful completion of the MLAS program can also significantly improve a student’s academic credentials for application to veterinary medical school. Please review our website for a comprehensive list of veterinary medical schools that have been attended by MLAS alumni.

Additional Information

Erin Vogelsong
Program Director, MLAS
Assistant Professor
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies
60 N. 36th Street, Room 10W16
Health Sciences Building
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Tel. 267.359.2329 | Fax: 215.762.7961
eev25 @drexel.edu | drexel.edu/medicine

Admission Requirements

Students will be selected on the basis of adequate educational background and veterinary/ research/ animal care experience.

Prerequisite coursework includes chemistry, biology, organic chemistry, and physics.

Candidates for admission must provide the following credentials:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. college or university
Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
General Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores at or above the 50th percentile in all areas obtained within the last 5 years
Official transcript from all post-secondary institutions attended
Three letters of reference, two must be from science professors
Personal statement stating the applicant's academic and professional goals

The deadline for submission of applications is the second Friday in July of the year the student seeks admission.

Additional Information

For more information, please contact:

Erin Vogelsong
Program Director, MLAS
Assistant Professor
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies
College of Medicine
Drexel University
245 N. 15th St., Room 15305
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Tel. 215.762.7968 | Fax: 215-762-7961
Erin.Vogelsong@Drexel.edu | drexel.edu/medicine

Degree Requirements

The MLAS degree can be completed full-time in two years and one summer practicum, or part-time in three or less years. Students must successfully complete a minimum of 49.0 credit hours for graduation. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 is required for graduation as well as grades of "C" or better.

Required Courses
MLAS 501S	Laboratory Animal Seminar	2.0
MLAS 503S	The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee’s (IACUC) Role in Animal Research	3.0
MLAS 504S	Public Outreach for Animal Research	3.0
MLAS 510S	Clinical Orientation In Laboratory Animal Facilities	1.0
MLAS 520S	Financial Mgmt In Lab Anim Sci	3.0
MLAS 521S	Arch Eng & Plan For Anim Fac	4.0
MLAS 523S	Organizational Management	3.0
MLAS 525S	Animal Anatomy	2.0
MLAS 535S	Biology & Care Of Lab Animals	4.0
MLAS 536S	Animal Models for Biomedical Research	1.0
MLAS 606S	Clinical Laboratory Techniques and Concepts	1.0
MLAS 610S	Diseases of Laboratory Animals	3.0
MLAS 801S	Laboratory Animal Practicum	12.0
Electives
Students must select a minimum of 6.0 credits from the following:		6.0
MLAS 500S	Animal Nutrition
MLAS 502S	Occupational Safety and Health in Laboratory Animal Care and Use Programs
MLAS 514S	Hematopoiesis (Upenn)
MLAS 529S	Molecular Genetics
IHS 514S	Molecular Biology & Biochemistry of the Cell
MSPA 520S	Medical Terminology
MSPA 580S	Medical Microbiology I
MLAS 530S	Biostats In Vet Science
MLAS 531S	Embryology
MLAS 545S	Fundamentals of Histology
MSPP 511S	Concepts in Biochemistry and Cell Biology
PHGY 503S	Graduate Physiology
PHRM 512S	Graduate Pharmacology
Total Credits		48.0

Sample Plan of Study

Online MLAS Plan of Study

First Year (Part-Time)
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
MLAS 510S	1.0	MLAS 520S	3.0
MLAS 801S^*	12.0	MLAS 523S	3.0
MLAS Elective	3.0-4.0
	16-17		6
Second Year (Part-Time)
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
MLAS 525S	2.0	MLAS 535S	4.0
MLAS 503S	3.0	MLAS 504S	3.0
	5		7
Third Year (Part-Time)
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
MLAS 606S	1.0	MLAS 501S	2.0
MLAS 610S	3.0	MLAS 521S	4.0
MLAS Elective	3.0	MLAS 536S	1.0
	7		7
Total Credits 48-49

*: Students will be able to satisfy this requirement with relevant laboratory animal science experience.

On Campus (Face-to-Face) MLAS Plan of Study

First Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
MLAS 510S	1.0	MLAS 520S	3.0
MLAS 523S	3.0	MLAS 535S	4.0
MLAS 536S	1.0	MLAS 504S	3.0
MSPA 580S	4.0
	9		10
Second Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
MLAS 525S	2.0	MLAS 501S	2.0
MLAS 606S	1.0	MLAS 521S	4.0
MLAS 610S	3.0	MLAS 503S	3.0
MLAS Elective	3.0	MLAS 801S^**	12.0
	9		21
Total Credits 49