Academic Advising
in the College of Arts & Science
What Can I Do With a Major in Clinical Laboratory Science?
The clinical laboratory science major leads to a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree. Course work required for the major includes an interdisciplinary blend of classes in chemistry, microbiology, and zoology. The required course work includes a twelve month, 38-credit internship (off campus) in a NAAXLA (National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences) hospital clinical laboratory. This internship includes both lecture and laboratory courses in toxicology, hematology, immunohematology, parasitology, virology, clinical chemistry, and medical microbiology. Miami University is affiliated with hospitals throughout Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky, providinig a wide variety of rigorous internship experiences. Miami University's clinical laboratory affiliates include the University Hospitals of Cincinnati, Southwest General Health Center (Cleveland, OH), Wright State University (Dayton, OH), St. Elizabeth Medical Center (Covington, KY), and Parkview Memorial Hospital (Fort Wayne, IN).
Pre-internship course work is completed in either 3 or 4 years at Miami. Thus, a student may be enrolled in the internship either during her or his senior year (following three years of pre-internship course work at Miami) earning a B.S. degree, or as a fifth year (following four years of pre-internship course work at Miami) earning a B.S. degree, or as a fifth year (following four years of pre-internship course work at Miami) with the possibility of earning a double major.
Clinical laboratory scientists, also called medical technologists, apply their scientific background and skills to the design, accurate performance, and evaluation of an everbroadening range of complex laboratory diagnostic and research activities. Examples of these procedures include biochemical tests for cardiac enzymes, detection of abnormal white blood cells in a stained blood smear, and microscopic identification of parasitic protozoa which may provide the earliest clues to respective diagnoses of heart attack (myocardial infarction), leukemia, and giardiasis.
Clinical Laboratory Science majors from Miami University have pursued a wide range of avenues following completion of their degree. Graduates may specialize within the clinical laboratory, public health laboratory, research or industrial laboratory in hematology, chemistry, or microbiology. Additionally, the Clinical Laboratory Science major provides an excellent course foundation for graduate school or dental, medical, or veterinary school.
Interests
Clinical laboratory scientists have an aptitude and wide interest in the physical and biological sciences. Since the work frequently deals with life and death situations, it requires a great deal of precision under pressure. Clinical laboratory scientists/medical technologists must have the understanding and the curiosity to recognize when test results do not correlate with each other or with the clinical condition of the patient and need to be rechecked. In addition to specializing in a particular scientific discipline, clinical laboratory scientists may supervise laboratory departments, perform administrative skills, and become instructors in educational programs.
Competencies
- Clinical Laboratory
- Performing analyses which require a complex network of steps and variables
Recognizing and identifying problems and synthesizing solutions
Troubleshooting and monitoring sophisticated instruments
Supervising a laboratory
Confirming/verifying results of laboratory tests
Establishing and monitoring of quality control programs
Teaching or performing administrative duties - Research
- Gathering and interpreting data
Operating knowledge of scientific equipment
Experimenting with ideas/procedures
Organizing/classifying
Inspecting/examining
Analyzing/dissecting
Diagnosing
Testing hypotheses
Problem solving
Thinking critically
Opportunities - Careers
- Medical Center/Hospital/University
- Clinical laboratory scientist/medical technologist
Laboratory supervisor/director
Specialist in:
— clinical bacteriology
— chemistry
— coagulation
— cytogenetics
— drug analysis (toxicology)
— endocrinology
— hematology
— immunology
— immunohematology
— infection control
— microbiology
— medical mycology
— parasitology
— serology
— tissue typing
— toxicology
— virology
Infection control officer/hospital epidemiologist
Clinical laboratory science program director
Health promotion coordinator - Industry
- Technical representative
Technical sales
Research scientist
Cell culture consultant
Quality control analyst
Health promotion and education specialist - Government Health Care
- Environmental health specialist
Proficiency test consultant
Forensic (crime) clinical laboratory scientist
Laboratory administrator
Peace Corps volunteer
Medical examiner investigator for county coroner - Education
- Higher education administrator
Medical community services program coordinator
Instructor
Note: Some of the listed career options may require additional education and/or training beyond the bachelor's degree.
Opportunities - Graduate/Professional School
Students may choose to continue their education in clinical laboratory science, microbiology, biochemistry, immunohematology, immunology, or virology. Additionally, graduates often choose to go to professional schools in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, law or business.
Opportunities - Experiential
Summer or part-time and volunteer work in a hospital clinical laboratory or industrial research laboratory; independent study or research with a faculty member
Sources of Additional Information
- Department of Microbiology (032 Pearson Hall., 529-5422)
- * Curriculum Requirements
* Career Opportunities - Student Counseling Service (195 Health Services Center, 529-4634)
- * Career Counseling
* Career Assistance Center
* Computerized Career Development Program
* Dictionary of Occupational Titles
* Occupational Outlook Handbook - Arts and Science Academic Advising (146 Upham Hall, 529-3031)
- * Miami Plan & College of Arts and Science Requirements
- * Course Selection
* Career Decision Making - Office of Career Services (241 Hoyt Hall, 529-3831)
- * Career Resource Center
* Dictionary of Occupational Titles
* Occupational Outlook Handbook
Developed by the College of Arts and Science Advising Office and the academic departmental offices with adaptations from Liberal Arts and Sciences - Skills - Career Opportunities, Career Planning and Placement Office, University of Michigan.