Bachelor of Science -Medical Laboratory Science

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Elmira College

Program Overview

The Medical Laboratory Science B.S. at Elmira College follows a distinctive 3+1 structure, giving students three years of biology, chemistry, and biomedical coursework followed by a fourth year of clinical training in a hospital laboratory. It is designed for students who want to become clinical laboratory scientists, medical laboratory scientists, or medical technologists and contribute directly to diagnosis, treatment, and blood banking.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1:

Students build their scientific foundation through BIO 1020 General Biology I, BIO 1022 General Biology II, and their associated laboratory courses, alongside CHE 1505 General Chemistry I and CHE 1515 General Chemistry II with laboratory work. This stage develops the biological and chemical knowledge needed for more advanced laboratory science.

Year 2:

Students progress into more specialized biomedical preparation with CHE 2010 Organic Chemistry I, CHE 2020 Organic Chemistry II, BIO 2010 Comparative Anatomy, and BIO-CHE 3042 Biochemistry I with its laboratory. Students also take MAT 2090 Statistical Methods or BIO 2300 Biostatistics, strengthening their quantitative understanding of laboratory data.

Year 3:

The focus becomes increasingly relevant to clinical laboratory practice through BIO 3050 Microbiology, BIO 3055 Molecular Biology, BIO 3060 Animal Physiology, and BIO 3250 Immunology, supported by laboratory experiences and BIO 3590 Biology Junior Seminar. Students also choose an additional course from areas such as Cell Biology, Genetics, The Biology of Cancer, or Developmental Biology.

Year 4:

The fourth year is the distinctive clinical component of Elmira's 3+1 model: students complete a 32-credit Clinical Professional Internship at an approved clinical affiliate and receive hospital-based laboratory training. Completion of this required clinical training is part of the degree pathway, and students may then pursue the ASCP licensing examination.

Focus Areas:

Clinical laboratory science, medical laboratory science, microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, immunology, anatomy, physiology, organic chemistry, clinical laboratory testing, blood banking, diagnostic laboratory science

Learning Outcomes:

Students develop knowledge of biological and chemical sciences, laboratory methods, molecular and cellular processes, microbiology, immunology, physiology, statistical analysis, and clinical laboratory practice, preparing them to perform laboratory testing and contribute to patient diagnosis and treatment.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

Elmira's program is structured around the professional preparation required for clinical laboratory science, including a mandatory senior-year clinical training program and preparation for the ASCP licensing examination following the clinical year. The current Elmira program materials do not identify a separate specialized professional accreditation for the undergraduate degree itself, so the ASCP pathway and required clinical training are the key professional-alignment features stated by the college.

Reputation (Employability):

Elmira describes Medical Laboratory Science as a high-demand career path, stating that graduates are prepared for roles in hospitals, research centers, clinics, and universities worldwide. The college cites U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data showing 7% projected job growth for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians from 2021–2031, with 45% employed in general medical and surgical hospitals.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Medical Laboratory Science B.S. at Elmira College is built around substantial hands-on laboratory and clinical preparation. Students complete laboratory components throughout the science curriculum, including General Biology Laboratory, Organic Chemistry Laboratory, Biochemistry I Laboratory, Microbiology Laboratory, and Animal Physiology Laboratory, before progressing to a required 32-credit Clinical Professional Internship at one of Elmira College’s approved clinical affiliates.

Students can build practical skills through these Elmira-specific opportunities:

Project-based biology laboratory work: BIO 1020L General Biology Laboratory I is a project-based laboratory course involving diffusion and osmosis, protein and carbohydrate analysis, enzymatic reactions, and DNA electrophoresis and analysis.
Microbiology laboratory: BIO 3050L Microbiology Laboratory provides practical laboratory experience alongside the program's upper-level microbiology coursework.
Molecular biology: BIO 3055 Molecular Biology gives students advanced exposure to molecular-level biological concepts relevant to modern laboratory science.
Clinical internship: Students complete a 32-credit Clinical Professional Internship during the fourth year at an approved clinical affiliation, providing extended clinical laboratory experience beyond classroom instruction.
Research opportunities: Elmira supports undergraduate research through faculty-guided projects and its annual Student Research Conference, where students present their research findings.
Term III field-learning opportunities: Elmira's Term III format includes opportunities for field research in biology, including travel-based study and environmental/biological investigation. These are broader college opportunities rather than a required component of the Medical Laboratory Science major.
Gannett-Tripp Library: Students have access to research librarians, digital research resources and electronic databases to support scientific coursework and research.
Nathenson Computer Center: The college provides networked computer laboratories, multimedia presentation equipment and collaborative workspaces; students can also access Canvas and other digital learning resources.
Collaborative study and project spaces: The Gannett-Tripp Library includes study rooms and technology-enhanced spaces that support group work, research and presentations.
Health Sciences Center: Elmira College identifies a Health Sciences Center among its campus facilities, supporting the college's health-related academic environment.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Medical Laboratory Science B.S. at Elmira College prepares students for professional laboratory careers in hospitals, research centers, clinics, universities, and biotechnology-related settings. The program's 3+1 structure combines three years of academic preparation with a competitive 12-month clinical training year, positioning graduates to pursue ASCP certification and a range of laboratory and research careers.

Typical career options: Medical Laboratory Scientist, Clinical Laboratory Scientist, Medical Laboratory Technologist, Laboratory Research Specialist

Key career and progression opportunities include:

Career Services: Elmira's Carol and Robert Morris Office of Career Services provides career coaching, job-shadowing and networking opportunities, career-related internships, mock interviews, resume/CV and cover-letter assistance, graduate-school planning, and recruitment/networking events.
Employment demand: Elmira reports 7% projected job growth from 2021–2031 for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians and notes that 45% of professionals in this occupation work in general medical and surgical hospitals.
Salary information: Elmira's official Medical Laboratory Science career page does not publish a program-specific graduate salary figure, so no salary amount should be attributed to the program.
Healthcare employer connections: Elmira identifies graduates working at UPMC Chautauqua, St. James Hospital, Kaleida Health, Guthrie Corning Hospital, Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital, Finger Lakes Health, Rochester Regional Health System, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Soldiers and Sailors Hospital.
Clinical partnerships: The 3+1 pathway has included clinical affiliations with Robert Packer Hospital, UPMC Chautauqua, UPMC Chautauqua WCA, New York Methodist Hospital/Center for Allied Health Education, and Albany Medical Center Hospital, providing the clinical-training component needed for professional preparation.
Certification value: Students completing the clinical year are prepared to take the ASCP licensing/certification examination, an important professional credential for medical laboratory science careers.
Institutional accreditation: Elmira College's accreditation was reaffirmed by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) in 2025, providing ongoing institutional accreditation for the college.
Graduation outcomes: The program states that graduates work in clinical laboratories as well as research and biotechnology settings, and that the degree can also prepare students for graduate-level study.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing the B.S., students can pursue graduate degrees in medical laboratory science, biomedical or biological sciences, biotechnology, medical science, and related fields. Elmira specifically notes that the Clinical Laboratory Science program can prepare students for graduate work leading to advanced degrees, while students completing the clinical pathway can also continue with professional certification and specialized laboratory careers