Program Overview
The Clinical Laboratory Science program prepares students to become licensed technologists who analyze samples to detect diseases and assist physicians in patient treatment. The program includes three years of coursework followed by a clinical internship year at regional hospitals. Graduates are qualified for careers in hospital-based laboratories, biotechnology, research, and education, with excellent employment opportunities due to the shortage of trained professionals in the field.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
Overview:
The Clinical Laboratory Science (CLS) program prepares students to become licensed clinical laboratory technologists. Technologists discover the presence or absence of disease in collected samples and provide data that helps physicians determine the best treatment for a patient.
Objectives:
- Master the requisite core concepts and competencies necessary to achieve entry-level proficiency in clinical laboratory science
- Comprehend, analyze, and synthesize and/or clinical information to guide clinical, professional and scientific decision-making
- Perform diagnostic laboratory analysis in accordance with established laboratory procedures while collaborating with all members of the healthcare team
- Enter the workforce and employ professional and ethical conduct while working in a clinical setting
- Demonstrate a commitment to the development of the medical laboratory profession and the significance of continuing professional development.
Program Description:
CLS students take three years of general education, basic and advanced science courses, followed by a clinical year that combines professional internships at regional hospital clinical laboratories with coursework.
Outline:
- Curriculum Overview
- General Education Requirements: 60 Credits
- Natural Science: 27 Credits
- Clinical Laboratory Science: 42 Credits
- Total: 129 Credits
- Progression to the clinical internship year is conditional upon performance and space availability. Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 overall and a C or higher in all Clinical Laboratory Science courses to be eligible for a clinical rotation.
- Clinical Laboratory Science Program Structure
- The first three years of the program consist of courses that prepare the students for the fourth and final clinical internship year.
- The fourth year of the CLS program consists of a combination of clinical courses on campus and full-day hospital-based clinical rotations.
- The Clinical Internships will consist of a minimum of thirty hours per week for 24-30 weeks of laboratory instruction during the twelve-month clinical period.
- Students who have a completed Bachelor of Science degree in a biological or chemical science who want to pursue a clinical laboratory career can be admitted directly to the clinical year of the program provided they have the required pre-requisite courses. These students are able to complete the program in 12 months (3 semesters).
Careers:
Career Opportunities:
Representative career opportunities for graduates of the Clinical Laboratory Science bachelor's degree are:
- Hospital-based and private diagnostic clinical laboratory scientists
- Biotechnology
- Laboratory research technicians (academia, industry, or government)
- Pharmaceutical research (Research and Development)
- Education
- Laboratory Informatics
- Because there is currently a shortage of trained medical clinical laboratory scientists available to staff clinical diagnostic laboratories, the employment opportunities in this field are excellent.
Career Outcomes:
- 11% Growth - Career Outcomes
- Salary expected to rise 11% through 2028 Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Average Pay
- $62K Salary For clinical technologists in the New York region
