What do medical laboratory technologists do?
Medical laboratory technologists use and maintain the equipment needed for diagnosis and treatment. The demand for medical lab scientists is increasing rapidly due to an increase in the aging population that is expected to lead to a greater need to diagnose medical conditions, and the number of individuals who will have access to health insurance is also expected to increase. Learn more at Wikipedia.

Medical laboratory science
The medical laboratory science (MLS) program at Minot State University consists of courses designed to give you the necessary scientific background to enter clinical training at an accredited hospital laboratory. Three years of academic coursework will be completed at Minot State. Then, through an affiliation with the University of North Dakota (UND), you will spend 12 months in a clinical internship at one of the many participating accredited hospitals as a member of the Western College Alliance for MLS. Successful completion of the program results in a BS degree, and upon passing board exams, the title medical laboratory technologist.

The first two years of the program primarily involve fundamental courses in chemistry, microbiology, anatomy, and physiology, as well as general education courses in communications, humanities, and social science. The third year involves coursework more directly relevant to your major, such as parasitology, hematology, and immunology. The clinical year provides practical, hands-on experience in clinical laboratory techniques over three semesters, such as blood banking, medical microbiology, and clinical chemistry.

Career outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, clinical laboratory technologists and technicians earn a median pay of $57,380 per year.

Offered: On campus