Why This Program?

Preparing you for healthcare

The medical laboratory science program enables students to graduate with an accredited bachelor's degree. You'll also have a well-rounded liberal arts degree, meaning you'll have the credentials and the real-world experience to stand out from the rest of the field. It's one of the most crucial, in-demand jobs in healthcare today!

Get the college experience: Does working in a laboratory setting sound interesting to you? Spend your first three years taking on-campus courses focused on chemistry and biology courses, with all labs conducted by your professors. During your junior year, you'll apply to your choice of medical laboratory science programs.
Learn by doing: After you're accepted into a program, you'll spend a fourth "clinical year" at the approved program, taking clinical coursework centered around microscopy/urinalysis, hematology/coagulation, microbiology, serology/immunology, chemistry and immunohematology; along with orientation, introduction to research, management and supervision courses.

Once you've graduated, you'll be qualified and prepared to sit for the national certifying exam, administered by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP).

More About the Program

The purpose of the medical laboratory science major is to provide students who wish to become medical laboratory scientists a broad liberal arts background which they can take advantage of throughout their professional careers.

The Bachelor of Science degree in medical laboratory science consists of three years of academic coursework on the campus of Briar Cliff University followed by a clinical year at one of a variety of medical laboratory science programs approved by the American Medical Association. Students who are beginning their junior year will be applying for admission to these programs. The clinical year of such programs is credited as one year of academic work at Briar Cliff University (31 semester hours). The successful completion of the clinical portion of the program results in the awarding of the baccalaureate degree.

Most students apply to the program at St. Luke's College accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences. St. Luke's College is less than two miles from campus and has a long tradition of working with BCU students. St. Luke's College students often choose to remain residing in Briar Cliffs residence halls during throughout their clinical year. Additionally students-athletes can maintain athletic eligibility while enrolled in the clinical portion of the program. Whether you want to return to your hometown, experience someplace completely new, or stay right in Sioux City, Briar Cliff will help to you coordinate your decision and enable to say in touch with your classmates.

Program graduates are eligible to take national certification exams and become certified Medical Laboratory Scientist who will be qualified to work in a wide variety of laboratories.