Earning a Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) degree is one of the best ways to prepare for a diverse range of health career careers— from public health and forensics to biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. The combination of theoretical training and practical experience you’ll receive in an MLS program will give you a solid foundation to continue building your academic and professional career.
When you’re comparing MLS degree programs, there are many factors to consider to make sure that you choose the right option for you. In addition to tuition rates, location and faculty experience, you should learn all you can about what your experience will be like as a student in the program.
For example, will you get hands-on experience with the latest medical technology? Does the university offer continuing education courses so that you can gain expertise in specific areas of your field to advance your career? And finally, what kinds of interdisciplinary collaboration experiences does the MLS program offer to prepare you for working with your peers in other departments or fields?
In this article, we’ll look at why you should consider these questions when searching for the right MLS program, as well as why AdventHealth University may be the ideal school for you to earn an MLS degree
Medical Technology in the MLS Program
Medical laboratory scientists must have a broad set of medical skills to excel as researchers in such diverse fields as hematology, urinalysis and hemostasis, among many others. No matter what they are studying or testing, medical laboratory scientists rely on state-of-the-art medical technology to provide detailed and accurate patient information to help providers deliver the highest-quality care they can.
Many health care careers require experience working with medical technology such as microscopes, cell counters and specialized software to report data results. That’s why the MLS program you choose should prioritize practical experience using professional-grade medical technology under the supervision of experienced faculty mentors.
AdventHealth University’s MLS Program offers students invaluable experience conducting their practical rotations in the 25 clinical laboratory sites within AdventHealth’s Central Florida Division — labs used by professionals every day. MLS degree students immerse themselves in the medical technology and research methods to study topics such as clinical chemistry, clinical microbiology, biology, anatomy, urinalysis and immunodiagnostics.
Learn more about our labs and cutting-edge medical technology.
Continuing Education Courses at AdventHealth University
Medical laboratory scientists in all health care careers must stay on top of the most recent technological breakthroughs and policy changes in the health care system. Consequently, many professionals in the medical laboratory sciences look to continuing education courses to learn about important developments in the field and dive into specific topics to increase their expertise.
In your journey to find the right MLS program for you and your goals, keep in mind the vital role that continuing education courses could play in your future in health care. Consider whether your university program can provide you with the continuous training needed to succeed as a researcher and leader.
AdventHealth University offers many Workforce Development Certificates to enhance your career and help you stand out from your peers. We are dedicated to helping professionals in nearly all health care careers expand their skills in topics that include:
- Project management
- Electronic health records
- Administration
- Sterile Processing
- Medical billing
- Health unit coordination
- Cyber security
- Health care IT
Interdisciplinary Collaboration in the MLS Program
An MLS degree is inherently an interdisciplinary endeavor. The program’s curriculum should include diverse fields such as clinical microbiology, immunology, serology, parasitology and mycology, and hemostasis. Furthermore, thanks to the varied health care providers, professionals and laboratory specialists that medical laboratory scientists work with on a daily basis, they need to be skilled in communication, collaboration and understanding the innerworkings of a vast amount of medical technology.
The MLS program that you choose should emphasize interdisciplinary collaboration both in classes and in research projects that you conduct on your own. The faculty should also represent the wide world of health care careers available for MLS degree graduates.
At AdventHealth University, both our curriculum and our highly respected faculty bring an interdisciplinary focus to our MLS program. To help you become a well-rounded professional, we offer courses not only in the sciences, but also in philosophy, mathematics, religion, and the humanities.
Our MLS program faculty come from the fields of bioethics, English, sociology, epidemiology, chemistry and biochemistry. As you complete your MLS degree, you’ll gain valuable experience working with your professors on assignments and research to grow as a professional skilled in interdisciplinary collaboration.
Join the MLS Program at AdventHealth University
Now that you know what kinds of experiences and opportunities you should look for when comparing MLS programs, it’s time to take the next step on your journey to preparing for health care careers: choosing the ideal MLS degree program for you and your goals.
As you’ve seen, AdventHealth University’s MLS program emphasizes experiential learning using the latest medical technologies — all with the close guidance of faculty. In addition to continuing education courses and collaborative experiences, there are many other features of our MLS program that set us apart from others around the country, including:
- Excellent career outcomes: We maintain an affiliation with the AdventHealth system of care to help our MLS degree students enter health care careers sooner after graduation. In fact, over 80% of our graduates go on to work in the AdventHealth system of care. Some locations will even offer signing bonuses to MLS program graduates.
- Small class sizes: We intentionally keep our MLS program classes to fewer than 30 students to ensure that our faculty members can mentor each student both in the classroom and the lab.
- Accreditation: AdventHealth is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Additionally, the Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences program has been approved by the Adventist Accrediting Association (AAA) and is applying for National Accrediting Agency. This means that your MLS degree will be nationally recognized for meeting the highest standards for academic excellence and professional preparation.
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Earn your Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences from AdventHealth University and experience a truly unique program that will prepare you for many rewarding health care careers.
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