A Clinical Laboratory Scientist or Medical Technologist is capable of performing, under the supervision of a pathologist or other qualified physician or laboratory director, the various chemical, microscopic, bacteriologic and other medical laboratory procedures used in the diagnosis, study and treatment of disease.

According to the US Department of Labor, Job opportunities are expected to be excellent, because the number of job openings is expected to continue to exceed the number of job seekers.

Employment of clinical laboratory workers is expected to grow faster than average for all occupations through the year 2014, as the volume of laboratory tests continue to increase with both population growth and the development of new types of tests.

Interested in what a Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Medical Technologist) does? Then please visit the lint provided by the Michigan Association of Laboratory Science Educators to view a video entitled Diagnostic Detectives.

Requirements for a CLS Degree

Students pursuing the Clinical Laboratory Science (or Medical Technology) major complete approximately 100 semester hours at UE (six semesters) and then complete 12 months of study at a hospital endorsed by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) and the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) of the American Medical Association. The first three years provide a solid foundation based on the natural sciences with an emphasis on biological sciences and chemistry. The fourth year consists of combined classroom and laboratory studies that provide experience in clinical chemistry, hematology, immunohematology (blood banking), microbiology, serology/immunology/virology, parasitology/mycology, urinalysis and instrumentation. If accepted to a clinical program, the student registers for EXSS 478 in the fall, spring and summer sessions.

Completion of prerequisite courses at UE does not guarantee admission to a hospital program. Acceptance is based on academic performance, letters of recommendation, motivation, aptitude, work experience, and interviews.

Some students complete a four-year B.S. degree before entering the clinical year of training. An option for those students interested in a career in Clinical Laboratory Science is to complete the four-year combined Exercise Science – Clinical Laboratory Science degree then enter the clinical experience during the fifth year.

Specific Requirements (132 hours)

General Education (43 hours)
Including: Health and Wellness- EXSS 111; Mathematical Thought- Math 134; Science and Technology- Chem 118 and Physics 121; Senior Seminar- EXSS 493.

Major (89 hours)
Biology 107, 108, 331, 430, 434, 442 and 445; Chemistry 118, 240, 341, 360 and 370; EXSS 112 and 113, 150, 478; PT 100, Physics 121 and 122; Soc 344 (or other statistics course).