Clinical Laboratory Science (BS)
Combine your love of science with technical laboratory skills to help doctors and patients find the answers they’re looking for.
- Available as
- Major
- Degrees/Options
- Bachelor of Science
- Length
- 4 years
- Locations
- Fort Wayne
Why Study Clinical Laboratory Science?
The professionals working behind the scenes play a vital role in our healthcare system; after all, doctors can’t make a diagnosis without the scientific knowledge and analytical skills of a clinical laboratory scientist.
Medical laboratory technicians and technologists are in high demand; they can serve multiple hospital departments, work at diagnostic labs and blood banks, or find positions in physician’s offices or outpatient centers. U.S. News & World Report ranked clinical lab tech #19 on its Top 100 healthcare support careers list for 2020.
13%
Expected job growth rate for Clinical Laboratory Scientists by 2026
$60,780
Median wage for Clinical Laboratory Technologists & Technicians in 2023
BLS.gov
Why Saint Francis’ 3+1 Degree for Clinical Laboratory Science?
Personal attention and hands-on experience from your first semester.
Clinical lab science is an exciting, fulfilling field encompassing a range of roles, from phlebotomist and entry-level technicians to supervisory and research positions. If you’re wondering how to become a medical technologist, you should know that many employers prefer or require professional certification for these in-demand roles.
We designed our 3+1 program specifically to prepare you for the technologist (also called clinical laboratory scientist) national certification exam, which requires a bachelor’s degree and one year of clinical experience:
During your first three years at Saint Francis, you will gain a strong foundation in biology and chemistry through intensive coursework, build career-specific skills in interactive labs, and grow personally and professionally with a values-driven education.
All of this experience leads to the +1: putting what you’ve learned into action during a year-long clinical experience with one of our healthcare education partners. This placement might even become your springboard to a full-time position!
Hands-On Learning: A Full Year of Clinical Experience
Working alongside researchers and healthcare professionals in a hospital lab, you will observe, collect, analyze, study, research, and report. You’ll practice compassionate patient care, develop communication skills, and gain an understanding of overall healthcare operations.
Your clinical rotations will give you experience in more than a dozen specialty areas, including:
- Clinical microbiology
- Clinical chemistry
- Serology
- Blood Bank
- Urinalysis
- Parasitology
- Histology
This breadth of skills and knowledge opens you up to generalist or specialist clinical laboratory scientist careers.
“In my experience, Saint Francis students have the discipline and mental toughness needed to succeed. They are also very well prepared. We regularly hire Saint Francis students into full-time positions when they graduate.”
Brian Goff Retired Laboratory Education and Safety Specialist
Parkview Hospital
“The field of Clinical Lab Science is exciting, fast paced and growing; there is a high demand for certified Clinical Lab Scientists in hospitals and medical centers. If you’ve ever considered working in healthcare, enjoy lab work, and like collaborating with healthcare professionals, Saint Francis will prepare students in our rigorous program to apply to a Clinical Lab Science program where they will continue their education to become a certified Clinical Lab Scientist.”
Jenny Maldonado ’04, ’10 Assistant Professor of Biology at Saint Francis, Clinical Lab Sciences Program Director
“Because of the Clinical Lab Science Program here, I have been able to find a career that is true to who I am. There are boundless research opportunities, professors who support and guide you, and lab classes that will solidify your love for the lab! This program is flexible and opens many doors for all types of researchers, whether you prefer to work in a research lab or a hospital lab. These classes helped me figure out what makes me passionate, and my professors have helped me discover what type of scientist I want to be.”
Jacie Ritchie ’24 Clinical Laboratory Science major
Faculty and Facilities
You’ll spend a lot of time in our Achatz Hall of Science, where you will learn by doing in state-of-the-art facilities equipped with professional instrumentation and equipment:
- Biotechnology Lab
- Microbiology Lab
- Chemistry Lab
- Anatomy/Cadaver Lab
- Genetics Lab
Your clinical experience will take you to regional healthcare organizations such as Parkview Health System, which offer you opportunities to learn and serve in a range of settings and with a variety of systems, tools, and technology.
A knowledgeable, caring faculty leads our on-campus classes, and you’ll engage with and learn from a team of seasoned professionals on-site at the lab.
Campus and Community Involvement
As you prepare to enter a helping profession, you’ll be glad to know Saint Francis offers plenty of opportunities for you to serve others through campus ministries, student groups, and service-learning projects.
What Can You Do With a Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science?
The Saint Francis lab science program prepares you to:
- Conduct and supervise medical tests, clinical trials, and research experiments
- Manage clinical laboratories
- Consult with physicians and clinical researchers on diagnosis, disease causation and spread, and research outcomes.
With this range of skills, you’ll find plenty of variety in the positions available to you as a medical laboratory technician and technologist or a clinical laboratory scientist.
Where You’ll Find Our Graduates
The University of Saint Francis is a recognized leader in health sciences education, and our graduates find positions at places such as:
- Adams Health Network
- Lutheran Health Network
- DeKalb Health
- Methodist Hospitals
- Parkview Health
- St. Vincent Health
Grad School and Other Opportunities
A bachelor’s degree in clinical laboratory science from Saint Francis can also prepare you for life sciences and research-related graduate or professional school programs. In fact, our health professions majors represent the largest group of Saint Francis graduates who continue their education.