Clinical Laboratory Science Degree

If you want to become a medical and clinical laboratory technologist or technician, you need to study clinical laboratory science. A clinical laboratory science degree can help you pursue a career in this field.

Clinical laboratory science is sometimes referred to as medical technology. Medical technologists provide a very important service in the health care field; they provide laboratory services needed for the treatment of diseases and their diagnosis. The importance of clinical laboratory scientists can be gauged from the following facts:

• They detect DNA markers for genetic diseases
• They identify types of bacteria causing infections
• They analyze cardiac enzyme activity released during a heart attack
• They detect abnormal cells that cause leukemia

As mentioned earlier, you will need to be academically qualified for both positions. If you’re interested in becoming a medical laboratory technologist, you’d need to hold a bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory technology. However, if you are interested in becoming a clinical laboratory technician, you would need to hold an associate degree in clinical laboratory science. In addition to completing your required educational credentials, your state may further require you to be licensed or registered.

It is a 2-year undergraduate degree for those looking to become a clinical laboratory technician. High school students with a strong academic background in biology, chemistry and mathematics, are ideally suited for this degree as well as career.

The degree provides its students with fundamental overview of the field and prepares them:

• To work with technicians, technologists and pathologists
• To ensure that the treatment will benefit the patient
• To provide information to enable treatment
• To analyze patient samples to detect illnesses

Associate degree students would be exposed to the following courses:

• Immunohematology
• Hematology
• Clinical microbiology
• Clinical chemistry
• Human physiology
• Introduction to microbiology

This is a 4-year undergraduate degree whose curriculum is based on classroom learning, clinical training and research, and coursework. Upon graduation, graduates may apply for jobs in clinical laboratories or hospitals. Others may pursue advanced level studies in graduate or professional schools.
Typical admission requirements may include:

• A high school diploma or GED
• High school level courses in biology, chemistry and mathematics
• SAT/ACT scores
• Letters of recommendation
• TOEFL/IELTS scores (for international, non-native English speaking applicants only)

Some of the courses offered in this program may include:

• Body Fluid Analysis
• Fundamental Biomedical Laboratory Methods
• Diagnostic Hematology
• Fundamentals in Hematology and Hemostasis
• Concepts of Diagnostic Microbiology

This is a post-graduate degree that can be completed in 1.5 to 2 years. The emphasis is on specialization in a particular area of clinical laboratory science, such as:

• Neuroscience
• Molecular Genetics and Genomics
• Molecular and Biochemical Basis of Disease
• Immunology
• Development and Stem Cell Biology
• Cell Biology and Physiology
• Cancer Biology and Epidemiology

Typical admission requirements for the degree are:

•  A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• Previous research or laboratory experience (if applicable)
• GRE scores
• Overall minimum 3.0 GPA
• TOEFL/IELTS scores (for international, non-native English speaking applicants only)

Some post-graduate degrees in the field may require Biochemistry as a prerequisite. The core courses may be titled as:

• Laboratory Management Seminar
• Selected Topics in Pathology
• Public Health Biostatistical Methods
• Problem Based Research Bioethics
• Advanced Cell Biology
• Advanced Molecular Biology

 Students’ choice of electives will depend on their area of specialty.  

This degree is for those medical technology scientists who are interested in pursuing a career in academia or research.

With full-time enrollment, this degree can be completed in 4 years, while part-time students may finish the degree in 6 to 7 years after completing their undergraduate studies. A master’s degree may not be necessary for an admission into this program. Some of the other admission requirements may include:

• Overall minimum GPA (to be determined by the school and program)
• Minimum clinical laboratory experience
• GRE scores
• Official transcripts of undergraduate and graduate studies
• Resume
• Letters of recommendation
• Personal interview
• Personal statement

Some of the courses offered in this degree program may be titled as:

• Clinical Practicum
• Evidence-based Literature Review
• Research Methods in the Health Sciences
• Clinical Laboratory Data Analysis
• Clinical & Laboratory Diagnosis Correlation
• Overview of Disease Processes & Treatment
• Infectious Disease
• Advanced Topics in Clinical Chemistry

Clinical laboratory science programs are also available online. However, due to emphasis on hands-on, research oriented work in the field, it is highly unlikely that you’ll find a 100% online program. Online students may be allowed to complete theoretical aspects of a degree in clinical laboratory sciences at home, while practical components of the program will have to be completed in laboratory settings.
A clinical laboratory science degree online is much more flexible than its traditional counterpart. Online students can make their own study schedule and study from the comfort of home. They may further save money by spending less on commute. Most of the material is available online, including lectures and coursework, etc.

• Did you know that Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians earned a median annual salary of $47,820 in 2012.
• Did you also know that the demand for these professionals is expected to be around 22% - faster than all other professions - over the next few years.

Source: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-and-clinical-laboratory-technologists-and-technicians.htm