The Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) degree program at Marshall Univesity in Huntington, West Virginia, is an online program that enables students who have already completed their A.A.S. in Medical Laboratory Technology to pursue a bachelor’s degree, often while working full-time in a clinical laboratory. Our online MLS program is fully accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS).
Medical laboratory scientists perform specialized tests in areas such as flow cytometry, blood bank analysis, serology, immunology, clinical chemistry, molecular diagnostics and parasitology. Most medical laboratory scientists are employed in hospital laboratories, physician’s offices, state and federal health agencies, and the armed forces. Upon successful completion, students are eligible for national American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification. Our Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science graduates are also well prepared for graduate programs such as medicine, physical therapy and forensics.
The Clinical Laboratory Sciences Department at Marshall provides continuing clinical medical education for the region. It is an ongoing mission of the department to implement innovative programs to meet the dynamic needs of the medical community.
Why study Medical Laboratory Science at Marshall?
Marshall University offers a convenient and affordable Medical Laboratory Science bachelor’s degree program. Our +2 online degree completion plan for the Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science is specially designed for those who already have an associate’s degree in Medical Laboratory Technology.
Tuition rates for our online MLS program are very affordable compared to other programs across the country.
Our fully accredited laboratory science program does not require you to do a full clinical rotation, but rather, advanced clinical tasks that can be managed and completed while working either part-time or full-time in a medical laboratory setting.
Career Outlook for Medical Laboratory Science Majors
As the field of medicine continues to rapidly expand, so will the need for those whose services make the practice of modern healthcare possible. Given the present national shortage of laboratory professionals, degrees in this area ensure you future employment and career security. The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor and Statistics, predicts a 13% growth in clinical laboratory science professions between 2016 and 2026.
The 2017 ASCP wage and vacancy survey showed that the national hourly wage for a non-supervisory medical laboratory scientist was close to $30 / hour. Wages continue to rise as the need to fill vacant positions in the field increases.
Locally, students from the online Medical Laboratory Science program at Marshall University have a 100% job placement rate; most are already employed as medical laboratory technicians either full-time or part-time while working on their MLS degree online.
As a clinical laboratory scientist, you can expect to perform a wide variety of testing in locations including:
Within the clinical laboratory, there are many opportunities for career advancement for the MLS graduate, some of which include:
Graduate Study
Our Medical Laboratory Science graduates are well prepared to go into graduate programs such as forensic science, pathology, pharmacy, public health, physician assistant and medicine.
Related graduate programs at Marshall University include: