The BS in Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics has two tracks: Medical Laboratory Science (formerly Clinical Laboratory Science) and Histotechnology. Medical laboratory scientists are healthcare professionals educated in all aspects of clinical laboratory analysis, including test development, performance, and evaluation. Medical laboratory scientists may work in many areas, including clinical chemistry, hematology, immunohematology, immunology, clinical microbiology, and molecular diagnostics.
Histotechnologists are healthcare professionals who are qualified through academic and applied science education and training to provide service, research, and management in histotechnology and areas related to anatomic pathology. Histotechnologists are integral to the success of the anatomic pathology department by performing routine and complex procedures to preserve and process tissue specimens for examination and diagnosis by a pathologist.
Practice settings for both medical laboratory scientists and histotechnologists include hospital, clinic, public health, or private clinical laboratories; research, cytogenetic, pharmaceutical, or in-vitro fertilization laboratories; technical or sales representatives for medical manufacturers and suppliers; biotechnology; and state or federal forensics laboratories.
Students may be admitted into either the medical laboratory science or the histotechnology track within the biomedical laboratory diagnostics major after completing the pre-requisite courses at an accredited college or university. As students complete the pre-requisite courses, they may apply to the biomedical laboratory diagnostics major, typically during the sophomore year.
Within both tracks, the junior year (the first year of the professional curriculum) includes core and area-specific courses to introduce the student to the biomedical sciences and to prepare for the senior year curriculum. During the senior year (the second year of the professional curriculum), the student receives didactic instruction, as well as practical experience at one or more of the affiliated hospital laboratories. Students must provide their own transportation and housing during the clinical rotations.