BSc in Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

City University of New York

Program Overview

The B.S. in Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology at York College, CUNY prepares students to become clinical laboratory scientists who perform and interpret laboratory tests used in the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of disease. It is well suited to students interested in laboratory-based healthcare, with the curriculum combining liberal arts and basic sciences with professional laboratory courses and clinical internship training designed to support New York State licensure and national certification preparation.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1:

Students build their foundation in biological and chemical sciences, developing the knowledge needed for advanced clinical laboratory study. Courses include BIO 201 – Principles I and BIO 202 – Principles II, alongside foundational chemistry requirements.

Year 2:

The curriculum progresses into subjects that connect basic science with clinical laboratory practice. Students study areas such as BIO 265 – Clinical Microbiology, while continuing chemistry and other prerequisite science courses required for progression into the professional portion of the program.

Year 3:

Students begin intensive professional laboratory subjects covering major areas of medical laboratory science. Courses include HPMT 252 – Introductory Hematology, HPMT 332 – Tissue Techniques, and HPMT 343 – Immuno-Hematology and Blood Banking, developing skills in blood analysis, tissue preparation, immunology, and blood-bank procedures.

Year 4:

Advanced study focuses on the analysis and diagnosis of disease through courses such as HPMT 351 – Clinical Chemistry, HPMT 352 – Hematology/Body Fluids, and HPMT 357 – Clinical Microbiology. Students also progress toward clinical training, applying their laboratory knowledge in professional settings through the program's clinical internship component.

Focus Areas:

Clinical laboratory science, medical technology, clinical chemistry, hematology, body fluids, clinical microbiology, immunohematology, blood banking, tissue techniques, molecular diagnostics, laboratory procedures, diagnostic testing, clinical research, laboratory quality and safety.

Learning Outcomes:

Students develop the knowledge, technical skills, critical-thinking abilities, and professional attitudes needed to perform laboratory procedures with precision and accuracy. The program also develops students' ability to interpret laboratory data, apply legal and ethical standards, evaluate research projects, and work as responsible members of the healthcare team.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS), with continuing accreditation through April 2030. York College states that its curriculum and internship training are designed to prepare students for New York State licensing and national certification examinations, providing a strong professional pathway for aspiring clinical laboratory scientists.

Reputation (Employability):

York College reports strong recent program outcomes: 82% of graduates achieved ASCP certification as first-time examinees in 2024–2025, compared with 69% in 2022–2023 and 70% in 2023–2024. The program also reports a 100% job-placement rate for each of 2022–2023, 2023–2024, and 2024–2025, with a three-year average placement rate of 100%.

York College's Career Services identifies career pathways for graduates including Clinical Laboratory Scientist, Medical Technologist, Laboratory Manager, Clinical Research Coordinator, Molecular Technologist, Pathology Assistant, and Forensic Scientist.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The B.S. in Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology at York College, CUNY is strongly practical, with students progressing from laboratory-based coursework into supervised clinical training. The program's professional courses include dedicated laboratory hours in areas such as clinical bacteriology, mycology and parasitology, coagulation, and urinalysis, while the final stage includes two full-time clinical internship semesters at affiliated hospitals. York College also places the Clinical Laboratory Science program within its Science Building, giving students access to the college's health-professions and science learning environment.

Students gain practical experience through:

Clinical laboratory training: Courses such as CLS 353 Medical Mycology and Parasitology, CLS 354 Coagulation, CLS 357 Clinical Bacteriology, and CLS 361 Urinalysis and Body Fluids include dedicated laboratory hours alongside lectures.
Clinical internships: CLS 459 – Clinical Internship for Medical Technology I and CLS 460 – Internship for Clinical Lab Sciences II each involve a 15-week, full-time placement of 35 hours per week at an affiliated hospital, with students rotating through different laboratory sections.
Assessment in clinical settings: During the internships, students complete written, practical, and oral examinations at the affiliated training site, with a final examination completed on campus.
Molecular diagnostics: CLS 358 – Diagnostic Techniques in Molecular Pathology introduces students to molecular approaches used in clinical laboratory science.
Professional and collaborative exposure: York's Clinical Laboratory Science department emphasizes applying classroom knowledge in real-world professional environments through assigned internships, preparing students for work in large institutions and research laboratories.
Faculty with clinical experience: York CLS faculty include practicing or experienced clinical laboratory scientists with expertise in areas such as microbiology, hematology, immunoserology, immunohematology, and clinical chemistry, bringing professional laboratory experience into teaching.
Science and health-professions facilities: The Science Building at 94-50 159th Street houses York College's Department of Health Professions, including Clinical Laboratory Science. The campus also has computer labs and a library within the Academic Core.

Facilities: The program's main academic home is York College's Science Building, which houses the Department of Health Professions and the Clinical Laboratory Science department. Students also have access to the college's broader academic resources, including the Library in the Academic Core and computer labs in the Classroom Building, while the clinical internship component provides practical experience in affiliated hospital laboratory environments.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology at York College, CUNY prepares graduates for professional laboratory careers in hospitals, large healthcare institutions, point-of-care testing sites, and research laboratories. The program also prepares students for New York State licensing and national certification examinations, while developing the research, analytical, and professional skills needed for continued academic progression.

Typical career roles: Clinical Laboratory Scientist, Medical Technologist, Laboratory Manager, Clinical Research Coordinator

Here are the key pathways supporting students' progression into employment and further study:

Career services: York College Career Services provides access to Handshake, where students can find jobs and internships, connect with employers and recruiters, attend virtual events, and build professional networks. Career Services also has a dedicated contact for Health Sciences and Professional Programs.
Employment outcomes: York's latest program data reports a 100% job-placement rate for graduates in 2022–2023, 2023–2024, and 2024–2025, with a three-year average of 100%.
Certification outcomes: 82% of first-time examinees achieved ASCP certification in 2024–2025, compared with 69% in 2022–2023 and 70% in 2023–2024; the three-year average was 74%.
Industry and clinical connections: The program's required clinical internships place students in affiliated hospital laboratory environments, while York specifically prepares graduates to work in large institutions, point-of-care testing sites, and research laboratories.
Accreditation value: The program holds continuing accreditation from the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS), with accreditation through April 2030. York identifies it as the only nationally accredited Clinical Laboratory Science program within the CUNY Senior Colleges, providing an important professional-quality benchmark for students pursuing clinical laboratory careers.
Graduation outcomes: York reports a 100% graduation rate and 0% attrition for each of the 2022–2023, 2023–2024, and 2024–2025 cohorts listed in its latest program assessment.
Salary information: York's official program and career-services pages do not publish a current program-specific graduate salary figure, so a salary number should not be presented as a York graduate outcome.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing the bachelor's degree, students can pursue graduate school and advanced study in laboratory science, biomedical science, microbiology, public health, or related health disciplines. York's program explicitly prepares students academically for graduate school, while its current program information notes that graduates may either enter the profession directly or continue into graduate education.