Medical Laboratory Science Degree Program
Medical Laboratory Science Degree Program
journey today.
Medical laboratory science (MLS) is where basic laboratory science meets the practice of medicine. As a student of this Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science program at Grand Canyon University, you will be instructed on how to perform and interpret complex and essential clinical laboratory tests on blood, body fluids and tissue samples. These tests are vital tools for physicians in diagnosing, treating and preventing diseases.
For some patients, an accurate and timely diagnosis and treatment plan can mean the difference between life and death. Therefore, a strong foundation in clinical laboratory testing is critical for medical laboratory scientists to excel in their profession and contribute to patients’ well-being.
If you enjoy studying the biological, chemical and physical sciences, and find personal satisfaction in applying scientific methods in the evaluation of disease, this degree may be right for you. Offered by the College of Natural Sciences, this journey in the field of medical laboratory science can provide you with the knowledge necessary to potentially serve as an essential healthcare detective, contributing to healthcare and making a meaningful impact on patient care.
Medical lab scientists (also called clinical laboratory scientists or medical technologists) are typically drawn to the testing and studying of biological, chemical and physical sciences in efforts to assist in the treatment of diseases. By the end of the program, GCU faculty will have taught you the essential sciences to effectively perform your job duties.
GCU is enrolling Medical Laboratory Technicians (MLTs) for Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 with no clinical placements required. You can complete this degree in 120 credits or use our transfer credit program which may help speed up your time to completion. Contact a university counselor to see how your associate degree and MLT eligibility or certification can fast-track you to the MLS.
If you're not an MLT and are looking to enroll in the MLS program, fill out the form on this page to speak to a university counselor for more information.
Program Mission
GCU prepares graduates to become entry-level medical laboratory science (MLS) professionals who exhibit an innovative mindset that fosters creativity. This MLS program aims to produce active, respectful and caring partners in the healthcare field. These graduates support and demonstrate a diverse and ethical culture welcoming individuality, critical thinking, effective communication, collaboration and leadership while nurturing community and authenticity from a Christian perspective.
If you wish to further advance your education, consider pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree, such as the Master of Science in Health Administration with an Emphasis in Health Care Quality and Patient Safety from GCU.
You will be taught the technical and didactic skills needed for clinical laboratory testing, as well as the ability to analyze ethical decisions through the lens of the Christian worldview. This unique perspective may allow you to approach your work with a holistic understanding of ethical considerations and contribute to the field of healthcare with a faith-based perspective.
You will be taught how to correlate results with disease states and develop problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. Within this program, you are required to gain off-campus clinical experience in laboratory settings under the supervision of experienced professionals.
The Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science degree curriculum is designed to cover a broad range of subjects.
These topics include:
Earning your degree can prepare you for a career with a critical role in disease evaluation, monitoring treatment effectiveness and ensuring patient safety. As a clinical laboratory professional in this degree program, you will be taught how to utilize advanced biomedical instrumentation and technology, alongside expert manual techniques.
These tools can prepare you for a variety of job prospects within many different settings, such as:
Hospitals
Clinics
Research facilities
Public health agencies
Reference labs
Education
5%
Estimated job growth for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians from 2022 to 20321
More on Career Opportunities
Medical laboratory scientists may work as generalists, utilizing their expertise in various scientific disciplines, or they may choose to specialize in a particular area within larger hospitals.3
As a graduate of this program, you may have the ability to pursue the following careers:
Technical specialist
Reference lab technologist
Biomedical technologist
Laboratory supervisor or manager
Sales representative
$60,780
Median annual wage for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians as of May 20232
The medical laboratory science program at GCU is submitting the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) Initial Accreditation Application. Once the program has achieved “serious applicant” status, the students are eligible to take the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification exam. The program should reach serious applicant status in Fall 2025. Visit our College of Natural Sciences accreditation page for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you're considering pursuing a career in medical laboratory science or are already on the path toward this field, we’ve gathered a few frequently asked questions about the degree program to help you make your decision.
Yes. According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, 16,800 new jobs are estimated to open for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians from 2022 to 2032.1 A Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science may be right for you if you are interested in healthcare, laboratory sciences and diagnostics. By completing this degree program, you may gain a solid foundation of knowledge and skills relevant to working in a clinical laboratory setting, enabling you to play a crucial role in the healthcare field.
A medical laboratory science bachelor’s degree is an undergraduate program that can prepare you for careers in clinical laboratory settings. This multidisciplinary field involves the study of various scientific disciplines, including clinical chemistry, microbiology, hematology, transfusion medicine, immunology and molecular diagnostics.4 MLS program graduates may find themselves working in hospitals, laboratory clinics, public health agencies or similar settings.5
A solid understanding of biological, chemical and physical sciences is essential for medical laboratory scientists (also referred to as medical technologists or clinical laboratory scientists) to effectively perform their duties. Therefore, medical laboratory scientists are required to have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree.5
On the other hand, clinical laboratory technicians (also called medical laboratory technicians) often hold associate degrees. Although the laboratory work performed by these professionals may overlap, medical laboratory scientists have advanced theoretical knowledge that enables them to conduct more complex specialized testing.
Take Your Next Step With GCU
Pursuing a BS in Medical Laboratory Science program may help you open doors to various career opportunities, including specialization in a particular area of laboratory science and leadership roles.
1 COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2022 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2023, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians, retrieved May 21, 2024.
2 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians, as of May 2023, retrieved May 22, 2024. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as clinical laboratory technologists and technicians, nor does it reflect the earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.
3 Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science (n.d.). Medical Laboratory Scientist. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
4 Stone, J. (2022, April 28). We’re Facing A Critical Shortage of Medical Laboratory Professionals. Forbes. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
5 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2023, Feb. 16). What Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians Do. Retrieved May 23, 2023.