Medical Laboratory Science

The Bachelor of Science degree in medical laboratory science at the University of Mount Union combines three years of on-campus study with a final year of professional training in medical technology and laboratory science at one of our affiliated hospital-based schools. This clinical year amounts to 2,000 hours of intense study and lab experience, culminating in a comprehensive examination.

Ultimately, the medical laboratory science degree prepares students for a rewarding career in a high-demand field through the extensive teaching and practice of modern medicine.

Medical Laboratory Science Quick Facts

The four-year medical laboratory science program requires 72 total credit hours of coursework in the first three years, and a clinical training period during the final year. The medical laboratory science major provides ample experiential learning opportunities that prepare students for a variety of careers:

Mount Union’s medical laboratory science majors are exposed to independent research, research with faculty or student peers, laboratory experience, internships, and professional training at the Cleveland Clinic
Common careers include positions in pathology, hematology, immunology and microbiology

Clinical Year

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Curriculum

During your first three years as a medical laboratory science major at the University of Mount Union, you will explore concepts in chemistry, genetics, microbiology and the unity and diversity of life. These courses will help prepare you for clinical training, which takes place in a hospital affiliate.

In addition to your classroom studies, you will be required to take a “clinical year” of training at one of our affiliated hospital-based schools as part of the medical laboratory science major requirements. This clinical year amounts to 2,000 hours of intense study and laboratory experience culminating in a comprehensive examination, all parts of which must be passed in order to graduate. The clinical training begins in the July immediately following your third year on campus, and lasts until July of the following year.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Students will demonstrate scientific inquiry in course and lab assignments.
Students will demonstrate effective verbal and written communication skills appropriate to the scientific community.
Students will demonstrate critical thinking skills in examining current issues in the natural sciences.
Students will demonstrate effective analysis of scientific issues through the use of case studies, laboratory and field research work.
Students will be academically prepared for their fourth-year professional training.

Experiential Learning

Students who choose to major in medical laboratory science at the University Mount Union will have endless opportunities to get “real-world” experience outside of the classroom. By getting involved in extracurricular opportunities and field experiences, you can strengthen your skills and knowledge in modern medicine, both of which are critical to career success in medical laboratory science and technology. These hands-on learning opportunities include:

Independent research
Research with faculty or student peers
Laboratory experience
Internships
Professional training at the Cleveland Clinic

Careers

The forecast for job opportunities in the field of medical laboratory science and technology is excellent in the coming years. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that such employment is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations. The majority of growth will occur in the hospital setting, yet employment is also expected to grow rapidly in medical and diagnostic laboratories, offices of physicians and other healthcare services.

As a medical laboratory science major, you can play a vital role in making the practice of modern medicine possible. In order to fulfill the requirements for the medical laboratory science major, you will spend three years of study on campus and your final year in professional training at the Cleveland Clinic in preparation for a career in a number of fields.

Graduates with a medical laboratory science degree from the University of Mount Union have the classroom and laboratory essentials required for functional learning and have gained the competence that is critical to high-quality health care.