Major: Clinical Laboratory Science
Do you enjoy solving puzzles and problems? Do you like the idea of working with a team of people trained in different specialties but all focused on one question? Are you interested in medicine but don't want to work with patients? Clinical laboratory science could be the major for you.
If you choose this major, you’ll take on the combined challenges and rewards of medicine and science. And when you graduate, you’ll be prepared to work in hospitals, research labs, blood banks, and industry labs.
Students of clinical laboratory science learn to examine body fluids, such as blood, for clues in the diagnosis of diseases. They are trained to conduct and supervise complex medical tests and to manage clinical labs.
Did You Know?
- If you have type O blood, you’re a universal donor -- your blood can be given to anyone.
Are You Ready To...?
- Learn by doing, so you can connect the theory and clinical meaning of tests with lab procedures
- Join a study group and solve problems as a team
- Spend most of senior year in clinical rotations, working in different types of laboratories
- Spend long hours on your feet
It Helps to Be...
Good at solving problems, analytical, detail-oriented, and curious about why and how things work. Good communication skills are important, as is the ability to work with your hands and with sophisticated lab equipment.
College Checklist
- Is the program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences?
- Are classes small enough to ensure individual attention?
- Are the labs reserved for classes and students in clinical lab science?
- Which types of clinical rotations will you be able to choose from?
- If the program is a two-year program, is there an agreement with a four-year college to accept transfer credit?
Did You Know?
- If your blood is AB, you’re one of only 4 percent of the population with this rarest of all blood types.
Course Spotlight
Microbiology is generally a required course, consisting of lectures, discussions, and lab work. You’ll study bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi that can invade the body. You’ll also learn how the body protects itself against these organisms. You’ll use new types of lab equipment and write up detailed lab reports. Besides studying on your own, you’ll also be part of a team in the lab -- good preparation for the working world.
