Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT IS A MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENTIST (CLS)?
  • The CLS is responsible for the development, performance and evaluation of laboratory testing needed in patient medical care and clinical research.
  • They analyze samples of blood, tissue, and body fluids using cutting-edge technology and a variety of analytical techniques.
WHERE DOES A CLS WORK?
  • A Bachelor of Health Science in Medical Laboratory Science will give graduates the ability to work in many different environments and several areas of expertise. 
    • HOSPITALS
    • REFERENCE LABS
    • FORENSIC LABS
    • RESEARCH
    • INDUSTRY
    • PUBLIC HEALTH
    • PHARMACEUTICAL LABS
    • VETERINARY CLINICS
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO GET A CLS DEGREE?
  • Washburn University partners with the University of Nebraska Medical Center http://www.unmc.edu/alliedhealth/cls.htm to offer the CLS program.  It is 11.5 months in length with 11 weeks in the summer at the UNMC Omaha campus, then the remaining clinical/didactic coursework at Topeka area hospitals. 
  • Students must meet the prerequisite requirements of 77 credit hours with specific courses in biology and chemistry prior to acceptance into the program
WHAT CLASSES WILL I NEED TO TAKE?
  • Washburn offers a pre CLS track totaling 77 undergraduate hours. The remaining 43 hours are completed in the clinic setting. Please see the list of prerequisites
  • For students with an undergraduate degree, UNMC has specific course requirements in Biology and Chemistry. Please see the list of prerequisites for degreed students.   
WILL I BE ABLE TO FIND A JOB AFTER GRADUATION?
  • According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of medical laboratory technologists and technicians is projected to grow 7 percent from 2019 to 2029, faster than the average for all occupations. An increase in the aging population is expected to lead to a greater need to diagnose medical conditions, such as cancer or type 2 diabetes, through laboratory procedures.
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