Medical Laboratory Science Major

Saint Joseph’s University's medical laboratory science program is one of the few hospital-based programs in the region directed by a certified medical laboratory scientist. And unlike many health sciences programs, our medical laboratory science major requires only four years of study. With a versatile curriculum taught by the Department of Biology’s expert faculty at our University City campus and a year-long internship in a medical or clinical lab, you’ll learn the biological, physiological and pathological basis of disease, gaining an unparalleled understanding of the medical science field.

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What Can I Do With a Medical Laboratory Science Degree?

Medical laboratory scientists (also known as clinical laboratory scientists or medical technologists) are in high demand — it’s a career that’s projected to grow 17% through 2030, much higher than the average for all occupations. A degree in medical lab science provides you with a solid background for advanced training in many health, science and research areas including:

  • Epidemiology
  • Toxicology
  • Molecular and genetic testing
  • Public health
  • Forensics
  • Veterinary medicine
  • Laboratory supervision and management
  • Medical, industrial and pharmaceutical research

What Sets Our Program Apart

  • Your fourth year is spent in clinical rotations at an affiliated hospital. Saint Joseph’s holds formal affiliations with the schools of medical technology or medical laboratory science at hospitals in Philadelphia, the greater Pennsylvania area, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Massachusetts and Tennessee.

    This is where you'll learn diagnostic skills in at least seven clinical laboratory disciplines including clinical hematology, immunohematology, microbiology and immunology. You may also obtain a part-time job in some of these labs as early as your second year.

  • Enhance your course of study with a dual major. You have the opportunity to earn two bachelor’s degrees in five years. Common dual major choices include combining the BS in medical laboratory science with a BS in biology or a BS in biomedical sciences. Other dual major programs outside of these common combinations may take longer than five years to complete.

    Many students who opt to pursue a dual major in Medical Laboratory Science and Biomedical Sciences are interested in attending medical or veterinary school.

  • You’ll be familiar with many of the research instruments and protocols used daily in medicine to diagnose and treat illnesses and gain a firm grasp on the biological and chemical bases of medical study, helping you reach your goal of attending medical school.

  • You’ll get to work with our expert faculty on a research topic of your choice. A current student, for example, is working with a University biologist who studies molecular mechanisms regulating gene expression and gene product function.

Why Study Laboratory Sciences in Philadelphia?

Philadelphia is in the heart of the health science industry and is surrounded by more than 250 medical facilities. You’ll find plenty of research and job opportunities during and after your program. Medical lab science majors have also interned at clinical labs in Pennsylvania Hospital and St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children.

Program Details

  • View required courses for this program in the academic catalog. Please contact us if you have any questions about the program curriculum.

  • Health Professions Pathways

    The medical laboratory science major is a great precursor to medical school. We offer health professions advising for students who are interested in pursuing a science- or health-related career. You can participate in our pre-health professions (pre-med) program, which provides the tools, preparation and foundation to gain admission to medical school, as well as dental, veterinary, optometry or podiatry schools.

    Dual Degrees

    You can earn a dual degree while enrolled in the medical lab science program, allowing you to earn two bachelor’s degrees in just five years. Many medical lab science majors also pursue a degree in biology and biomedical science.

  • The tuition for a medical lab science major entering fall 2022 is $27,500/year for the first three years and $28,320 for your final year, depending on your hospital laboratory placement. *Pricing does not include room and board, health insurance or any professional, clinical or transportation fees. Visit our Tuition & Fees page for a detailed cost breakdown.

    Financial aid in the form of scholarships, federal and state grants, loans and discount eligibility may be available to you to help offset the cost of your degree. Explore your options on our Financial Aid page.

  • Some states will require that you obtain a license. Agencies that certify medical laboratory scientists include:

    Visit the Disclosures website for more information on licensure requirements.

    You may also choose to become certified. Certification is the process by which a nongovernmental agency or association grants recognition of competence to an individual who has met certain predetermined qualifications, as specified by that agency or association. Most hospitals require it. Many states only require a certification and not licensing.

  • View the Technical Standards for the Medical Laboratory Science major on the Department of Biology website.

Medical Laboratory Science Major Admission Information

To apply for the Medical Laboratory Science BS program, complete an application online. SAT and/or ACT scores are optional but you can submit them if you think they will strengthen your application. 

Learn more about admissions requirements and how to apply as a first-year student, transfer student or international student. You can also get a feel for life as a Hawk with our in-person and virtual visit opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  • There are two portions of clinical rotations: didactic and clinical.

    During the didactic portion, student learn from medical lab scientists and pathology experts in a classroom setting. During the clinical portion, students obtain hands-on training from medical lab scientists. Students will get to work on actual patient sample and do such things as:

    • Typing and cross-matching blood for transfusions
    • Chemical analysis of blood
    • Examination and culture of cerebrospinal fluid for meningitis
    • Diagnosis of hemophilia
    • Hundreds of other actual diagnostic tests

Related Programs

Biomedical Sciences Major

As a biomedical sciences major at Saint Joseph’s University, you’ll have the opportunity to design a personalized degree in the health concentration of your choice. A rigorous and flexible curriculum covers every area of biomedical sciences and includes a variety of tracks including biotechnology, clinical science, neuroscience and physician assistant. 

Physician Assistant Studies – Health Science

Get a complete, real-world understanding of what it means to be a physician assistant  at Saint Joseph’s University. Our pre-professional physician assistant program combines foundational coursework with patient contact and shadowing to prepare you for graduate studies and a rewarding career.  

Choose from an accelerated, three-year track or a traditional, four-year undergraduate track to earn a health science degree. If you meet all progression requirements, you’ll be granted an interview for admission to our graduate physician assistant program, known for its renowned faculty and innovative anatomy instruction.

Biology

A biology degree from Saint Joseph’s University exposes you to all levels of biological organization, from the sub-cellular to the broad ecosystem. Our program is built with core courses covering the fundamentals of biology, a distribution of upper-level course across the major areas of biology and free electives.

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