"The faculty, the university, and our healthcare affiliates are all invested in creating a learning environment that ensures the success of student in this program,” said Beth Rawson, program director. “It’s not just a degree; students are being prepared to walk into a clinical lab after graduation as professionals and colleagues."
Gain the In-Depth Knowledge and Qualifications You Need to Succeed in a Clinical Laboratory
Our program of study is essentially your passport to work in a diagnostic clinical lab, in research, or in industry. Over the span of two years, you will study clinical chemistry, hematology, immmunohematology, immunology, and microbiology. Your coursework will include didactic courses, laboratory instruction, and clinical experience rotations, during which you will spend two to four days a week at a local or area clinical lab. There you will engage in laboratory testing and have the opportunity to put your ever-increasing body of knowledge into action.
You will also complete a capstone course in which your knowledge and experience will be put to work on a research project, clinical project, or practical experience.
For those with undergraduate degrees in biology, chemistry, biochemistry, or another general science — which don’t qualify you for clinical lab positions — our M.S. is the degree you need.
Prepared for Success
Our program fulfills the requirements for taking the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification (BOC) exam to become a board-certified medical laboratory scientist. Although this certification is not required to work as a medical laboratory scientist in all states, with our degree in hand, you will always be ready to take that next step to certification if you desire.
Currently, the University of New Haven is the only university in Connecticut that offers a master’s degree in medical laboratory science.
Mission
The mission of the Medical Laboratory Science program is to provide a rigorous, competitive undergraduate training program to prepare graduatesto become competent medical laboratory scientists who demonstrate ethical standards and promote patient-centered care.
Vision
The vision of the Medical Laboratory Science program is to become a destination program for medical laboratory science in the region recognized for quality faculty, strong industry partnerships, and successful graduates. All graduates from the MLS program will become competent, ethical, certified MLS professionals prepared to become an essential member of the healthcare team.
Objectives
Professional Communication: To interact and communicate effectively by presenting information in oral and written formats, collaborating with professionals, peers, and clients, expressing ideas clearly, and giving and receiving feedback to serve the needs of patients, the public and members of the health care team.
Professional Competence: To possess knowledge, skills, and abilities to acquire an entry level position as a Medical Laboratory Scientist and to successfully complete the ASCP BOC MLS examination.
Professional Ethics and Conduct: To learn to treat patients and colleagues with respect, care, and thoughtfulness, to perform duties in an accurate, precise, timely and responsible manner, to maintain strict confidentiality of patient information and test results and to exercise professional judgment, skill and care while meeting established standards of the MLS profession.
Professional and Personal Development: To continuously improve and apply medical laboratory skills and knowledge and share such with colleagues, other members of the health care community and the public.
The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS) requires that the MLS program publish the following list of essential program functions. These “Technical Standards/Essential Functions” make up the non-academic requirements of the profession that all students must demonstrate to succeed inthe UNewHaven MLS program. The essential professional, communication, and technical requirements for Medical Laboratory Sciences students are listed below. If there are changes in these essential requirements, those changes will be published, and students will have the opportunity to discuss any changes with the Program Director and instructors in the Medical Laboratory Sciences Program.
The Technical Standards/Essential Functions required for successful completion of the MLS program at the University of New Haven are listed below. In accordance with the university’s commitment to providing equal access for individuals with disabilities under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA of 2008), students seeking reasonable accommodations to meet these requirements should contact the Accessibility Resources Center to ensure appropriate accommodations can be made in a timely manner.
Professional skills
- Maintain professional decorum and composure in a wide variety of situations
- Maintain confidentiality and integrity
- Follow directions, be able to make decisions, prioritize tasks, and work on multiple tasks simultaneously
- Work independently and in cooperation with others
- Apply acquired learned skills and knowledge to new situations
- Work with potential biologic, chemical, radiologic, mechanical, and electrical hazards
- Maintain personal hygiene and neatness appropriate to the professional workplace
- Achieve regular, reliable, and punctual attendance at classes and regarding their clinical responsibilities
Communication skills
- Communicate effectively and efficiently with coworkers and members of the healthcare team
- Read and comprehend written material
- Record information accurately and clearly
Technical skills
- Complete fine repetitive movements such as pipetting
- Manipulate lab instruments
- Demonstrate proficiency to work with flammable and infectious materials, hazardous chemicals, and electrical equipment
- Demonstrate proficiency in all areas of the clinical lab
- Work in areas with distracting noises, unpleasant odors and in close proximity to fellow workers
- Perform all diagnostic procedures in the clinical lab
- Perform delicate manipulations of clinical specimens, clinical lab equipment, tools, and instruments
- Perform diagnostic procedure and venipuncture safely and accurately
- Adhere to standard precautions and meet safety standards applicable to the clinical laboratory
- Accurately identify, describe, and record fine details of clinical specimens both macroscopically and microscopically
- Read and interpret charts, graphs, and labels
- Read and interpret instrument panels and printouts
- Independently perform all aspects of diagnostic procedures in the clinical lab and report results accurately and timely
Rates
Academic Year 2022-2023*
Academic Year 2023-2024*
Academic Year 2024-2025*
3-Year Averages
CERTIFICATION RATES: For program graduates who took the ASCP BOC exam within one year following graduation
100% pass rate (ASCP BOC MLS certification)
67% pass rate (ASCP BOC MLS certification)
86% (ASCP BOC MLS certification)
80% pass rate (ASCP BOC MLS certification)
ATTRITION/GRADUATION RATES: For students who began the last year of the program
100% graduation
100% graduation
100% graduation
100% graduation
PLACEMENT RATES: Graduates who found employment (in MLS or a closely related field) and/or continued
their education within six months of graduation
100% placement
100% placement
86% placement
93% placement
*Class size information (number of graduates)
2022-2023: 2; 2 of 2 students attempted and passed MLS certification exam
2023-2024: 6; 6 of 6 attempted exam, 4 of 6 students passed MLS certification exam
2024-2025: 7; 7 of 7 students attempted exam, 6 of 7 students passed MLS certification
exam
These are combined results for all MLS program graduates (both B.S. and M.S. degrees)
MLS Program Quick Facts
Total Credits: 53
Accreditation:
This program is fully accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), awarded in April 2023 for a period of 5 years.
National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
5600 N. River Rd, Suite 720
Rosemont, IL 60018-5119
Phone: (773) 714-8880
Email: info@naacls.org
Career Opportunities with a Master's Degree in Medical Laboratory Science
The job outlook for the field of medical laboratory science is strong. The
ASCP Vacancy Survey (2020) showed nearly 10% of positions in the Northeast were unfilled,
and a survey of Connecticut hospital job boards showed 130 job openings for medical laboratory scientists.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 25,000+ openings for clinical laboratory
professionals each year over the next decade.
$94K
Medical Laboratory Scientist/Clinical Laboratory Scientist (manager)
9% Growth, 2024-2034
$77K
Point of Care Testing Manager
25.6% supervisor vacancy rate
$106K
Performance Improvement or Quality Assurance Personnel
Charger Advantage
MLS Courses and Learning Outcomes
The University of New Haven offers a wide variety of in-depth courses that create a transformational educational experience for our students. The information below comes directly from the latest Academic Catalog:
The Benefits of Our Degree Over a Certificate
Although earning a post-baccalaureate certificate in medical laboratory science (not to be confused with ASCP certification) is another route to a clinical laboratory position, there are a number of advantages to a degree that outweigh those of a certificate:
- A degree simply has more cachet than a certificate. It will make a bigger impact on your résume.
- A certificate is generally not eligible for financial aid or tuition reimbursement.
- The amount of time you would invest in earning a certificate is roughly the same as for the M.S. because it has to cover all of the same program-specific content areas.
Current Clinical Affiliates
All students in the MLS program must complete a series of clinical rotations to graduate. Clinical site placement is determined at the end of the second-to-last semester, and rotations occur during the final semester of the program. For more details on this process, please refer to the student handbook.
- Yale New Haven Health System
- Yale New Haven Hospital; New Haven, CT
- Bridgeport Hospital; Bridgeport, CT
- Greenwich Hospital; Greenwich, CT
- Lawrence + Memorial Hospital; New London, CT
- Westerly Hospital; Westerly, RI
- VACT Healthcare
- West Haven VA Medical Center; West Haven, CT
- Hartford Healthcare
- Hartford Hospital; Hartford, CT
- MidState Medical Center; Meriden, CT
- The Hospital of Central Connecticut at New Britain General and Bradley Memorial; New Britain, CT
- The William W. Backus Hospital; Norwich, CT
- Windham Community Memorial Hospital, Inc.; Willimantic, CT
- St. Vincent’s Medical Center; Bridgeport, CT
- Stamford Health
- Stamford Hospital; Stamford, CT
- Griffin Health
- Griffin Hospital; Derby, CT
Learn From Professors Who Are Dedicated to Your Success
Our faculty are leaders and innovators in their fields, bringing both deep professional experience and academic rigor to the classroom.
Next Steps
An advanced degree from the University of New Haven will help you take your career to the next level. Each program offers convenient scheduling, personalized attention, and state-of-the-art facilities.
View Application RequirementsThe University of New Haven Graduate School is an excellent value with reasonable tuition. Of course, you will still have bills to pay and the Financial Aid office can help.
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