Clinical Laboratory Science program
Use your lab skills to help physicians diagnose and treat patients.
A clinical laboratory scientist, also called a medical technologist or medical laboratory scientist, is a vital and in-demand member of the healthcare team. These professionals perform tests on patient samples to determine the presence or absence of disease, as well as its severity and the effectiveness of treatment.
UWL's Clinical Laboratory Science program has a track record of success. In each of the past three years, 100% of program graduates passed the national certification exam and the program had a 100% job placement rate for those entering the profession. Admission to the clinical laboratory science major is on a competitive basis.
Clinical Laboratory Science
Medical technologists, medical laboratory scientists, or clinical laboratory scientists are different titles to describe the same profession. These professionals examine and analyze body fluids, tissues and cells. They detect and identify bacteria, parasites, or other microorganisms; analyze the chemical content of fluids; select blood for transfusion; and run tests to see how patients are responding to treatment.
Undergrad major View a sample plan for Clinical Laboratory Science Catalogfor Clinical Laboratory Science Learn more for Clinical Laboratory ScienceUndergrad + graduate dual degree
Clinical Laboratory Science and Clinical Microbiology Dual Degree program enables a UWL student to earn both a bachelor’s degree in clinical laboratory science (CLS) and a master's degree in microbiology with emphasis in clinical microbiology in six years.
Undergrad major Graduate degree View a sample plan for Undergrad + graduate dual degree Catalogfor Undergrad + graduate dual degree
What is a medical technologist?
Medical technologists, medical laboratory scientists, or clinical laboratory scientists are different titles to describe the same profession. These professionals examine and analyze body fluids, tissues and cells. They detect and identify bacteria, parasites, or other microorganisms; analyze the chemical content of fluids; select blood for transfusion; and run tests to see how patients are responding to treatment.
Not only is the job outlook incredibly favorable for Clinical Laboratory Science graduates, but the program does a great job setting one up for success in a challenging yet rewarding way. All of the students in my internship class had accepted job offers before we graduated.
Haley Plachinski
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Medical technologist jobs
As molecular diagnostics expand in the clinical setting, the healthcare industry is experiencing greater demand for highly-educated and skilled individuals in clinical laboratory science. Nationwide the vacancy rate is 12%. CLS training is also excellent background for continuing education in graduate or medical school.
Positions
- Clinical laboratory scientist/medical laboratory scientist
- Laboratory supervisor/manager/director
- Quality assurance coordinator
- Infection control practitioner
- Laboratory information systems specialist tech
- Health educator
- Fertility/transplant/bone marrow scientist
- Laboratory equipment/pharmaceutical sales and development
- Research scientist
- Forensic laboratory technologist
Further education
- Physician assistant school
- Medical school
- Veterinary school
- Dental school
- Pathologist assistant school
- Clinical laboratory science
- Microbiology
- Biochemistry
- Hematology
- Immunology
- Business
- Management
- Education
What distinguishes UWL's Clinical Laboratory Science program?
Over the past three years, the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) certification exam pass rate for UWL students has been 100%, with a 100% job placement for those entering the profession. ASCP certification is widely accepted as the most influential leader in the field of certification of medical laboratory professionals.
Students learn methods and procedures on equipment and instruments similar to what is found in the clinical setting. Once in the clinical setting, students will apply the theoretical knowledge gained on campus and advance to competencies required for entry into the profession.
Students spend three years on campus and their fourth working alongside professionals in lab settings located throughout the Upper Midwest:
- Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Rochester, MN)
- Hennepin Healthcare Laboratories (Minneapolis, MN)
- Marshfield Laboratories (Marshfield, WI)
- Aspirus Wausau Hospital Laboratories (Wausau, WI)
- Ascension/St. Elizabeth Healthcare Laboratories (Appleton, WI)
- University of North Dakota Medical Laboratory Science Program
The program education is so broad that the required courses to enter the program are similar to medical, dental and veterinary schools. This allows program graduates to easily transition into careers requiring additional education such as physician assistant, medical doctor, veterinarian, dentist and more.
Once the CLS degree is obtained, the graduate is eligible to sit for the national certification examination through the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP).
Program majors receive instruction from outstanding professors during both the pre-professional and professional phases of their education. The faculty share current clinical, research and publication experiences with students.
The demand for clinical laboratory scientists/medical technologists continues to increase. As molecular diagnostics expand in the clinical setting, there is a greater demand for highly educated and skilled individuals in this field. Nationwide the vacancy rate is 12%.
Students can either earn their bachelor's degree in clinical laboratory science or, if they are planning to pursue an advanced degree, they can select the dual degree option, which enables them to earn both a bachelor of science degree in clinical laboratory science (CLS) and a master of science degree in microbiology with emphasis in clinical microbiology in six years.
Sample courses
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