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Major in Clinical Laboratory Science

Clinical Laboratory Science

Clinical laboratory science is a major comprised of five specialties: Clinical Chemistry, Hematology, Microbiology, Immunohematology, and Immunology. Clinical laboratory scientists apply scientific background and skills to the supervision and performance of an ever-broadening range of complex laboratory diagnostic and research activities. The lives and health of patients often depend on specialized tests performed by clinical laboratory scientists. Examples of these procedures include biochemical tests for cardiac enzymes, detection of abnormal 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 scientists play a major role as team members to provide the best health care. These individuals contribute their expertise in public health laboratories, research laboratories, and forensic laboratories. In addition to laboratory work, clinical laboratory scientists frequently perform administrative duties, supervise laboratory departments and become instructors in educational programs.

Majoring in Clinical Laboratory Science

To provide a more comprehensive view of the Clinical Laboratory Science major, we have combined the Miami Plan, College, and Department requirements into one document (available in Room 32 Pearson Hall, or for download), which indicates the semester schedules taken by most of our students to complete these requirements. The required and recommended courses in science are specifically noted because many of them must be taken in sequence, and some of them may be offered only once a year. To fulfill the Miami Plan requirements (MPF) and college requirements (CAS) you will take a certain number of credit hours from several categories of courses. Progress towards fulfillment of the requirements for the B.S. degree in Clinical Laboratory Science is provided online for each student (and their advisor) through their Degree Audit Reporting System (DARS).

Clinical Laboratory Science Double Major

Students frequently earn a double major, i.e. the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in clinical laboratory science (CLS) along with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in microbiology (MBI), zoology (ZOO) or chemistry (CHM). The double major curricula are inherently interconnected, because a majority of the pre-internship chemistry, microbiology, zoology, mathematics and foreign language courses needed for the B.S. degree in CLS also meet requirements for the B.A. degree in MBI, ZOO and CHM. The final year of the double major is the 12-month CLS clinical year (off-campus).

Eligible Departments

• Chemistry and Biochemistry
• Microbiology
• Zoology