Clinical Laboratory Science

Do you enjoy solving puzzles and problems? Are you interested in medicine but don't want to work with patients?

A clinical laboratory scientist is an individual who performs and evaluates laboratory tests using a variety of methods. The results of these tests provide the information needed to diagnose disease or monitor treatment. The clinical laboratory science program at ECU consists of two years of pre-professional study. During your sophomore year, you will apply to the professional program, which begins in the fall semester of your junior year.

The professional program explores the areas of hematology, clinical chemistry, microbiology, and immuno-hematology. During your senior year, you will spend part of your time in a clinical setting practicing what you have learned in the classroom.

With a BS in clinical laboratory science, you can pursue a multitude of options for additional education. The CLSC curriculum meets requirements to apply to medical or dental school. A BS in clinical laboratory science is one of the recommended majors for applying to a master's program in physician assistant studies. If you are interested in pursuing advancement as a clinical laboratory or health services administrator, you can enter a MBA program or graduate program in health services administration. Graduate work in a field of public health is also an option for those who wish to advance in this arena. For those who wish to become a researcher, you are prepared to enter a doctoral program in the biological, biomedical, and chemical sciences.

• Department Website
• College Website
• How Do I Apply
• Apply Now

Program Coordinator: Guyla Evans (3410-B Health Sciences Building; 252-744-6063; [email protected])

Clinical laboratory scientists, also known as medical laboratory scientists or medical technologists, are hands-on scientists who provide accurate, timely diagnostic test results that directly impact patient care. These professionals perform biochemical testing of blood and body fluids, culture microbial pathogens, operate high-tech instrumentation, and prepare blood products for transfusion.

Admission into the professional phase of the program is competitive. A minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA in biology and chemistry courses is required, and majors must maintain a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA in all clinical laboratory science (CLSC) courses during the professional phase of the curriculum. A student earning a D (1.0) in any of the CLSC courses must petition the Department of Clinical Laboratory Science for probationary continuation. Graduates are eligible for national certification.

The degree requires a minimum of 120 s.h. as follows:

(For information about courses that carry general education credit view the General Education Program section.)

• CHEM 1150 - General Chemistry I
• CHEM 1151 - General Chemistry Laboratory I
• CHEM 1160 - General Chemistry II
• MATH 1065 - College Algebra


• MATH 2228 - Elementary Statistical Methods I
OR
• PSYC 2101 - Psychological Statistics

• CLSC 3410 - Hematology I
• CLSC 3411 - Hematology I Laboratory
• CLSC 3420 - Hematology II
• CLSC 3421 - Hematology II Laboratory
• CLSC 3430 - Clinical Immunology
• CLSC 3440 - Clinical Microscopy and Serology
• CLSC 3441 - Clinical Microscopy and Serology Laboratory
• CLSC 4210 - Immunohematology
• CLSC 4211 - Immunohematology Laboratory
• CLSC 4430 - Clinical Chemistry I
• CLSC 4431 - Clinical Chemistry I Laboratory
• CLSC 4440 - Clinical Chemistry II
• CLSC 4441 - Clinical Chemistry II Laboratory
• CLSC 4460 - Clinical Bacteriology
• CLSC 4461 - Clinical Bacteriology Laboratory
• CLSC 4470 - Clinical Mycology, Parasitology, and Other Microorganisms
• CLSC 4471 - Clinical Mycology, Parasitology, and Other Microorganisms Laboratory
• CLSC 4491 - Molecular Diagnostics in Clinical Laboratory Science I
• CLSC 4492 - Molecular Diagnostics in Clinical Laboratory Science II
• CLSC 4801 - Professional Practice Issues I
• CLSC 4802 - Professional Practice Issues II
• CLSC 4992 - Clinical Education: Hematology, Coagulation, Urinalysis
• CLSC 4993 - Clinical Education: Chemistry
• CLSC 4994 - Clinical Education: Blood Bank and Serology
• CLSC 4997 - Clinical Education: Microbiology

• BIOL 1150 - Principles of Biology: A Human Approach
• BIOL 1151 - Principles of Biology: A Human Approach Discussion
• BIOL 2110 - Fundamentals of Microbiology
• BIOL 2111 - Fundamentals of Microbiology Laboratory
• BIOL 2130 - Survey of Human Physiology and Anatomy
• CHEM 1130 - Organic and Biochemistry for the Allied Health Sciences
• CHEM 1161 - General Chemistry Laboratory II

For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.

Graduates with this degree are successful in many fields and careers, including the following:

• Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology/Technologist
• Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists
• Health and Human Services
• Education and Training

Career Opportunities

ECU has developed resources to help you learn more about career opportunities and job market outlook. In addition, the websites below provide specific information on careers in the various majors from which students may choose:

NC Tower

This website provides graphs and tables of in-depth information on employment rates, wages and ongoing higher education enrollment of graduates from the North Carolina Community College System and from the University of North Carolina system schools. NC Tower includes data on former UNC students who are working in roughly 90% of all jobs in North Carolina. This database excludes information for graduates who are:

• Self-employed;
• Work for the federal government, including the military: or
• Work outside of North Carolina.

US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook

This website also provides in-depth information regarding pay, projected new jobs, required education, growth rate and on-the-job training information on various occupations.

Degree-specific internships

For information on internship information for specific majors, go to the home page of the department in which the major is located and, as available, find the link to the information on internships in that major.