Medical Laboratory Science

About the medical laboratory major

The medical laboratory science program provides a science-oriented curriculum that prepares you to accurately perform clinical laboratory procedures on biological samples from patients. Clinical laboratory technicians analyze simple and complex chemical components in body fluids, evaluate cellular components of blood, identify microorganisms and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns, and test compatibility when preparing blood products for administration to patients. This work helps physicians in diagnosing and treating diseases.

Skills and abilities this major develops: observations, scientific inquiry, attention to detail, knowledge of human body systems, and use of current technologies.

Engaged learning experiences

Regardless of your major or future career, engaged learning is vital to your present and future. It makes you more marketable for jobs and professional schools upon graduation, it enables you to build deeper connections with faculty and staff in your field of study, and it makes your learning personal by connecting your interests and values with the curriculum from your classes. Check out the three ideas below for places to get started, or learn more at IU Indianapolis’s Institute for Engaged Learning website.

Job shadow

Shadowing a professional while they’re on the job is valuable for exploring careers. Some of the health professions programs also require observation hours as part of the application process.

Undergraduate research

Undergraduate research experiences help you develop important problem-solving skills and experience for your future career. Gaining research experience can be particularly helpful if you’re interested in clinical laboratory science or cytotechnology.

Professional work experience

Working on campus can provide great preparation for a variety of health-related careers.

Opportunities after graduation

Employment of clinical laboratory technologists and technicians is projected to grow 7% from 2021 to 2031, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 25,600 openings for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as retirement (Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2022).

According to the IU Indianapolis First Destination Survey in 2020, the average starting salary for School of Medicine graduates with a bachelor's degree was $57,035, and the median was $56,673.

The national median annual salary for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians was $57,800 in May 2021 (Occupational Outlook Handbook).

(This section is intended for informational purposes, not prediction of actual salary.)

Clinical laboratory science majors often pursue advanced degrees in the following areas:

Dentistry
Health administration
Medicine
Public health
Other science fields

Quick facts

Sample coursework

Genetics
Immunology
Microbiology
Mycology/parasitology
Statistics
Topics in medical technology

Possible careers

Clinical laboratory technician
Consumer-product testing professional
Forensic biologist scientist
Laboratory manager
Research and product development professional

Where could I work?

Advanced Testing Laboratory
American Health Network
AmeriPath Inc.
Mid America Clinical Labs
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Complementing interests

IInvestigative

RRealistic

CConventional

Get your interest code

Where to get more information

IU School of Medicine

American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science

American Society for Clinical Pathology

Health and Life Sciences Cluster

This major belongs to the Health and Life Sciences (HLS) cluster.

Learn about the HLS cluster

Learn about other clusters

Meet with an advisor or career consultant

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