Program Overview
This optional concentration for biology majors will provide you with a strong background in the basic sciences and give you the clinical preparation you need to gain licensure for a career in medical laboratory science. Medical laboratory scientists are healthcare professionals who collect and analyze bodily fluids, tissues and other samples from patients, either in a hospital setting or a clinical laboratory.
Note that in this concentration, your fourth year of study takes place at a hospital-based, NAACLS-certified clinical program partner. However, if at that point you would rather continue at AU, you can choose to remain a biology major.
Is This Concentration Right for You?
This concentration is ideal for anyone who:
- Wants the flexibility to move anywhere in the country with the assurance of career opportunities
- Is interested in a medical or health profession without waiting years for the education and clinical training that is often needed in those fields
- Aims to learn about acquiring and analyzing biological specimens
Learning Experiences
When you choose a concentration in medical laboratory science, you can look forward to taking the same basic science courses as other AU Biology majors and clinical courses that are taught to standards set by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences.
Curriculum
The curriculum includes six semesters (three years) of coursework at Ashland University and a fourth year at a hospital-based, NAACLS-certified clinical program partner. Students must apply for the fourth year at each partner program and are not guaranteed admission, but our program is designed to give students the background that is required for admission.
For curriculum details, review the Four-Year Curriculum Guide.
Graduate Outcomes
Students who graduate from our medical laboratory science program are immediately eligible for Medical Laboratory Science licensure testing rather than having to wait several years to gain the necessary experience to be ready for it.
Career Opportunities
With a Bachelor of Science degree and Medical Laboratory Science licensure, you can take advantage of career opportunities across the nation. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, positions in this field are expected to grow by 11 percent from 2020 to 2030, which is faster than average. In 2021, the median annual pay for professionals licensed to work in this field was $57,800.
Contact Information
Paul Hyman, Ph.D.
Chair, Biology and Toxicology Department
Professor of Biology
319 Kettering Science Center
phyman@ashland.edu
419-207-6309
Brenda Rodeback
Administrative Assistant
221 Kettering Science Center
brodebac@ashland.edu
419-289-5261