Healthcare is one of the fastest-growing career fields in the United States. At the heart of this growing field are the medical laboratory science professionals who analyze patient samples and provide life-saving information to physicians and care givers, as well as research and develop new drugs and treatments.
If you are a highly detailed problem solver who is as comfortable working solo as you are working with a team, pursuing a career in medical laboratory science may be the ideal path for you.
If you’re considering earning a Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences, you’re probably wondering, “What is medical laboratory sciences and what kinds of MLS careers could I look forward to with a degree in it?” In this article, we’ll answer those questions and look at the diversity of medical laboratory jobs available, as well as the exceptional job security you could enjoy in an MLS career.
You’ll learn whether earning a Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences is right for you, and why AdventHealth may be the ideal university to start your healthcare journey.
What is Medical Laboratory Sciences?
There are few roles in the healthcare system as important as medical laboratory sciences — also known as medical technology or clinical laboratory science. From identifying and treating cancer before it can grow to monitoring the effectiveness of patient therapy, medical laboratory scientists are like healthcare detectives who help providers care for patients at nearly every step of the healthcare process.
In fact, it is estimated that 60-70 percent of all medical decisions about a patient’s diagnosis, care, hospitalization and discharge are based on the results from tests performed by medical laboratory science researchers (source).
Performing all of these tests requires a broad knowledge of the sciences. That’s why when you earn a Bachelor of Science in Medical laboratory Sciences, your studies will probably include chemistry, microbiology, immunology, toxicology, hemostasis, urinalysis and the latest research methods to combine these topics using cutting-edge technology.
Diverse Careers in Medical Laboratory Sciences
The vast skill set that you’ll gain while studying medical laboratory sciences can lead to a wide variety of medical laboratory jobs in almost every major industry. Whether you are a current lab tech looking to expand your career options or are just starting out in your professional career, earning a Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science can lead to many roles within an in-demand field.
Do you plan on attending medical school? Do you want to earn a Physician Assistant degree? Maybe you want to start your MLS career immediately? Whatever your healthcare career goals are, a medical laboratory science degree will give you a strong foundation to continue building on throughout your academic and professional life.
Medical laboratory jobs across every industry offer great job security and the potential to grow your career. Here are just some of the many MLS careers you could pursue when you earn your Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science.
Medical Laboratory Management
If you dream of overseeing a team of dedicated researchers, you may be considering medical laboratory jobs that involve management or collaboration with other healthcare fields. Medical laboratory management is a great MLS career for students who enjoy planning, implementing, and improving on strategies to increase efficiency and deliver ever-higher quality care for patients.
Whether you plan on working your way up to a management role or enrolling in advanced medical laboratory science degree programs to fast-track the process, the broad skills you’ll develop and strengthen in a Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science program will prepare you to excel as an inspiring leader and team member.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment opportunities for medical laboratory science managers is expected to grow up to 28% by 2032 — more than quadruple the national average for all other occupations. As a medical laboratory science manager, you could expect an average salary of about $105,000.
Forensic Analyst / Science Technician
Put your medical laboratory science detective skills to work in forensics and help collect and analyze evidence from crime scenes. Forensic analysts collaborate closely with local and federal law enforcement agencies to identify suspects through careful examination and analysis of crime scene evidence — including fingerprints, hair and blood samples, and bodily fluids.
If you are interested in medical laboratory jobs that let you step outside the lab, forensic analysis is a great path that could require you to visit crime scenes to document and collect samples to build a detailed report to give to law enforcement officers.
Career growth for forensic analysts is expected to grow up to 13% by 2023, much faster than the national average — According to the BLS. On average, forensic analysts earn a salary of around $64,000.
Research and Development Specialist
Thanks to creative and tireless medical laboratory science researchers, the healthcare field is constantly innovating and improving the quality of diagnosis and treatments for patients. If you see yourself at the vanguard of these scientific and technological breakthroughs, you should consider a career in research and development, or R&D.
R&D is an MLS career that lets you work with the latest technology to push healthcare further into the future and find new solutions to some of the most important issues facing patients and providers. From creating new drugs and studying novel viruses to testing out treatments, R&D is a great career path for those who want to make long-lasting impacts on healthcare for generations to come.
Medical scientists and researchers in R&D earn an average salary of $100,000 and can look forward to a job growth rate of 10% by 2023.
Start Your Medical Laboratory Science Journey at AdventHealth University
Now you know the answer to the question, “What is medical laboratory science?” You also learned about the diverse MLS careers available and phenomenal job security that you can enjoy after earning your BS in Medical Laboratory Sciences.
Your next step is finding the right medical laboratory science program for you and your career goals. AdventHealth University’s Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences will provide you with state-of-the-art labs and classrooms where you can gain hands-on experience and work closely with our esteemed medical laboratory science faculty.
As a student in our MLS program, you’ll also be on the fast-track toward rewarding medical laboratory jobs, thanks to our affiliation with the AdventHealth system of care. Over 80% of our graduates go on to work in the AdventHealth system — with some locations across the state offering attractive signing bonuses.
With engaging courses in topics such as Hematology, advanced clinical microbiology, management and research, our medical laboratory science program will prepare you for the exciting and diverse MLS careers that await you after graduation.
Take the First Step. Start Your Application.
Earn your Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science at AdventHealth University and be on the frontlines of medical research — helping providers become more efficient and improving the lives of patients.
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