Bachelor in Clinical Laboratory Science

NA On Campus Mba Program

Mercy College

Program Overview

Mercy University’s B.S. in Clinical Laboratory Science prepares students to become clinical laboratory technologists who perform diagnostic testing on body fluids and other specimens to help identify disease and guide patient treatment. The 129-credit program combines general education and foundational sciences with advanced clinical laboratory coursework, followed by a full-time clinical year in hospital-based laboratories.

Curriculum Structure:

Years 1–3:
The first three years establish the scientific and academic foundation needed for professional clinical laboratory practice, combining general education with basic and advanced science courses. Students progress through areas such as clinical chemistry, immunology, and molecular biology, building the biological and chemical knowledge required for later diagnostic laboratory work.

Year 4 – Clinical Internship:
The fourth year moves students into intensive professional preparation, combining on-campus clinical coursework with full-day hospital-based clinical rotations. During the clinical year, students train in areas including Hematology III, Diagnostic Microbiology III, Urinalysis II, Coagulation, Clinical Chemistry III, Immunohematology II, and Clinical Immunology, gaining experience across major sections of a medical laboratory.

Students complete at least 30 hours per week for approximately 24–30 weeks of laboratory instruction during the clinical period, making the final year a substantial transition from classroom study to professional laboratory practice.

Focus Areas:

Clinical chemistry, hematology and hemostasis, diagnostic microbiology, immunology, immunohematology/transfusion medicine, urinalysis and body-fluid analysis, molecular biology, laboratory operations, diagnostic testing and quality assurance.

Learning Outcomes:

Students develop proficiency in clinical laboratory concepts and competencies, perform diagnostic laboratory analyses, interpret clinical data, operate and troubleshoot laboratory instrumentation, apply laboratory safety and regulatory standards, communicate professionally, and demonstrate ethical conduct in clinical settings.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The Clinical Laboratory Science program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS). It is also registered with the New York State Education Department as a licensure-qualifying program, and graduates can pursue certification through the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification.

Reputation (Employability):

Mercy publishes strong program-level outcomes for its Clinical Laboratory Science graduates. For the Class of 2025, the program reports an 86% first-year ASCP/BOC pass rate, 96% employment/professional or graduate-school placement within six months, and a 100% graduation rate among students entering the final internship year. The university also reports an average pay figure of approximately $62,000 for clinical technologists in the New York region and cites 11% projected salary growth through 2028.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Mercy University’s B.S. in Clinical Laboratory Science is strongly practice-oriented, with the final year combining clinical coursework with extensive training in hospital-based medical laboratories. Students develop practical competencies across hematology, microbiology, urinalysis, coagulation, clinical chemistry, immunohematology, and clinical immunology, while learning to operate, maintain, and troubleshoot commonly used clinical laboratory instrumentation. The program also provides opportunities for undergraduate research and professional engagement through the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS).

Students gain hands-on experience through the following program-specific opportunities:

Full-day clinical internships: During the final clinical year, students complete 30 hours per week for approximately 30 weeks, Monday through Thursday, in clinical laboratory settings.
Hospital-based clinical rotations: Students rotate through Hematology III, Diagnostic Microbiology III, Urinalysis II, Coagulation, Clinical Chemistry III, Immunohematology II, and Clinical Immunology, giving them exposure to multiple sections of a professional medical laboratory.
Clinical laboratory affiliates: Internship opportunities are available through Mercy's clinical affiliates, including Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Montefiore Health System, New York-Presbyterian Health System, Northwell Health, NYC Health + Hospitals, Westchester Medical Center, and White Plains Hospital, among others.
Laboratory instrumentation: Program outcomes specifically include learning to operate, maintain, and troubleshoot commonly used clinical laboratory instrumentation and perform diagnostic laboratory analyses according to established procedures.
Clinical decision-making and data interpretation: Students work with clinical information and develop the ability to evaluate and interpret clinical data, analyze problems, and develop appropriate solutions.
Clinical Simulation & Learning Labs: Mercy's Health Professions Clinical Simulation and Learning Labs provide specialized simulated healthcare environments with control rooms, debriefing spaces, large classrooms, and video-capture technology for reviewing student performance and providing feedback.
Interprofessional learning: The simulation facilities are designed for students from different health professions to participate in interdisciplinary, hands-on learning in environments reflecting inpatient, outpatient, clinic, and home-care settings.
Undergraduate research: Mercy specifically highlights opportunities for undergraduate research within the Clinical Laboratory Science program.
Professional engagement: Students have opportunities to participate in meetings with the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS), providing exposure to the professional clinical laboratory science community.
Research and clinical study design: The program's professional coursework includes Clinical Study Design, alongside review of laboratory operations, urinalysis, hematology/hemostasis, diagnostic microbiology, clinical chemistry, and immunohematology

Progression & Future Opportunities

Mercy University’s B.S. in Clinical Laboratory Science prepares graduates to work as clinical laboratory technologists, performing diagnostic testing that helps physicians identify disease and determine appropriate treatment. The program combines professional laboratory preparation with extensive clinical experience, and Mercy reports strong recent outcomes for graduates entering employment or further professional/graduate study.

Typical career options: Clinical Laboratory Technologist, Medical Laboratory Scientist, Clinical Laboratory Technician, Molecular Diagnostics Technologist.

Key progression and career-support opportunities include:

Career services: Mercy’s Career and Professional Development team provides career advising, résumé and interview support, job-search resources, career fairs, employer events, and internship opportunities. Students can also use Handshake to schedule career appointments and explore opportunities.
Employment outcomes: For the Class of 2025, Mercy reports a 96% employment/professional or graduate-school placement rate within six months. The program also reports a 100% graduation rate among students entering the final internship year.
Certification outcome: The Class of 2025 recorded an 86% first-year ASCP/BOC pass rate, measuring graduates who passed the national certification examination within their first year after graduation.
Salary information: Mercy reports an average pay of approximately $62,000 for clinical technologists in the New York region and cites 11% projected salary growth through 2028, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics information.
Clinical-industry connections: Students complete clinical education through Mercy's network of healthcare and laboratory affiliates, giving them direct exposure to professional clinical laboratory environments. The program lists affiliates including Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Montefiore Health System, NewYork-Presbyterian Health System, Northwell Health, NYC Health + Hospitals, Westchester Medical Center, and White Plains Hospital.
Professional networking: The Clinical Laboratory Science Club helps students build awareness of the profession and network with peers and laboratory professionals. Students are also encouraged to engage with professional organizations such as ASCP and ASCLS, which provide networking, certification, career and professional-development resources.
Accreditation and professional value: The program is NAACLS accredited and registered with the New York State Education Department as a licensure-qualifying program. This professional accreditation supports the program's alignment with established standards for clinical laboratory science education and certification preparation.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into a master’s degree in a specialized area such as microbiology, laboratory management, or health administration, which can support progression into clinical laboratory administration and other advanced roles. Mercy also identifies the Doctorate in Clinical Laboratory Science (DCLS) as an advanced-practice pathway for students who want to continue their education within clinical laboratory science.