Medical Laboratory Scientists (also known as “Clinical Laboratory Scientists”) are clinical laboratory professionals who play a major role in patient care, providing laboratory data which are crucial for the diagnosis of diseases, the management of patient therapy and maintenance of health. Medical Laboratory scientists perform a wide variety of analytical procedures requiring expertise in state-of-the-art technology and instrumentation, as well as organizational, problem solving and communication skills. Major disciplines in medical technology include clinical chemistry, clinical immunology, clinical microbiology, hematology, and immunohematology. They perform sophisticated chemical, biological, microscopic, and bacteriological tests using some of the most advanced equipment in healthcare. For example, medical laboratory scientists microscopically examine blood, make cultures of fluid or tissues the samples, use computers to verify and organize lab data, and analyze the samples for chemical content or reaction.

Medical Laboratory Scientists have the versatility to be employed in a variety of settings, including hospitals, independent laboratories, clinics, physicians’ offices, local/state and government agencies, pharmaceutical and cosmetic firms, veterinary offices, and research institutions.

  • Employment rate in various healthcare laboratories in the tri-state area: 100%
  • Starting salary after degree completion by the Bureau of Labor Statistics: >$70,000

The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Clinical Laboratory Science degree will prepare graduates as medical laboratory scientists through a partnership program leading to a BS degree awarded jointly between FDU and Rutgers University School of Health Professions. Upon successful completion of the degree requirements, the student will qualify for the examination given by the Board of Registry of the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) for the certification as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS-ASCP). 

A clinical training program is required of students who wish to qualify for the examination given by the Board of Registry of the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) for the certification as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS-ASCP). Rutgers is approved by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) to administer this program. Students complete 6 semesters of pre-professional courses at FDU before applying to the 15-month, university-based Rutgers Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) Clinical Training Program. Tuition is paid directly to Rutgers during this phase of study. During the clinical training component of the degree program, students learn from experienced faculty and practicing professionals, and are exposed to a wide range of career opportunities at multiple hospitals. Rutgers Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Training Program info-sessions are offered periodically by Program Director Ruth Perez (ruth.perez@rutgers.edu). Both FDU and Rutgers will be listed on the graduate’s diploma.

Admission Requirements

Graduates from an accredited high school/secondary school with a record indicating the potential to succeed in college will be considered for admission into this program. This includes:

  • Completion of the following high school coursework:
    • 4 units (20 credits) in English
    • 3 units (15 credits) in Mathematics
    • 3 units (15 credits) in Science, including 1 unit (5 credits) Biology w/Lab
    • 2 units (10 credits) in Social Studies/History
  • High school GPA of 2.7 or higher.

Admission to Rutgers School of Health Professions

  • Students will submit a separate application in the fall semester of their sophomore year (second semester of year 2 at FDU).
  • Admission decisions to Rutgers are made in accordance with criteria, policies and procedures established by a joint committee and cannot be guaranteed by FDU.
  • Students generally need to demonstrate at least a 2.85 GPA in major and prerequisite courses at FDU to be considered for admission to the Rutgers Clinical Laboratory Science program. All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher, and certain prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of B minus or higher.
  • Applications are generally reviewed as they are received after the application period opens (November). The first acceptance letters are usually released in mid-December, before the application period ends (February). Applicants are encouraged to apply when the application period opens due to the program’s competitiveness. The clinical training program begins in May, approximately three months after the application period ends.

  • Students who are not selected for a clinical training program may continue at FDU for a BS in Health Studies. Upon completion of the BS degree, students may again apply for the Rutgers Clinical Training Program to earn a certificate which will allow qualification for the ASCP examination.

Curriculum 

A minimum of 139 credits is required for graduation from this FDU BS in Clinical Laboratory Science (University-Based Training Program) to become a Clinical/Medical Laboratory Scientist.  After completion of 3 years of study at FDU (minimum 94 credits, of which 40 are GenEd and 54 are courses in the major), the program is completed in 15 months at Rutgers University School of Health Professions (additional 45 credits). 

**Accuplacer reading/writing scores and math assessment scores will determine which reading/writing and math courses first time, first year students will take.  Those with reading/writing placement scores below the standards must complete courses in prerequisite skills (e.g., WRIT 1000, WRIT 1001, READ 1000). Those with math placement scores below the standards must complete courses in prerequisite skills (e.g., MATH 0298, MATH 1100).  These courses are applied toward free electives or are non-credit-bearing.  This requirement applies to all first time, first year students, even if they have been accepted into this program track. 

General Education Requirements (40 credits)

  • Written & Oral Communication (9 credits) 
    • WRIT1002 Composition I: Rhetoric and Inquiry
    • WRIT1003 Composition II: Research and Argument
    • MEDT2005 Professional Communication
  • Information and Technological Literacy (3 credits) 
    • MEDT2217 Info Systems and Applications in Health Care
  • Ethical Reasoning (3 credits) 
  • Global and Cultural Understanding (3 credits) 
  • Scientific and Quantitative Analysis (8 credits)
  • Social and Behavioral Analysis (6 credits)
    • Social Science: Select from GenEd options
    • Behavioral Science: Select from GenEd options
  • Inquiry in the Arts & Humanities (6 credits)
    • Creative & Expressive Arts: Select from GenEd options
    • Humanities: Select from GenEd options
  • University Core (2 credits)
    • UNIV1001 Transitioning to University Life
    • UNIV1002 Preparing for Professional Life

Major Requirements (54 credits)

Clinical Training (4th Year) at Rutgers (45 credits)

  • During the clinical training, students may be asked to report to a laboratory site five days a week.

Other Considerations

FDU offers two four-year degree programs geared to qualifying for and passing the examination by the Board of Registry of the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) for the certification as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS-ASCP). These are the Clinical Laboratory Sciences BS (this program) and the Medical Technology BS (see other FDU web page). The first three years of the Academic Program Plan for the two degrees are identical, and the courses can be taken at either NJ campus. The fourth year of the Clinical Laboratory Sciences BS is training at Rutgers University and its affiliates. The fourth year of the Medical Technology BS is a hospital-based internship at Valley Hospital (Bergen County), Hackensack Meridian Health Jersey Shore Medical Center (Neptune City), Monmouth Medical Center (Long Branch), or at another approved hospital system. Both the clinical training program at Rutgers University and the hospital-based internship provides appropriate preparation for the ASCP certification as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist. Both are competitive admissions programs.

Clinical Laboratory Sciences BS (University Training Program)– The clinical training program at Rutgers School of Health Professions offers a more structured educational experience. Students generally have the opportunity to rotate through different hospitals and experience a range of practice settings. This program can provide a more comprehensive understanding of laboratory medicine and prepare the student for a wider range of career opportunities.

Medical Technology BS (Hospital Internship Program) – A hospital-based internship offers hands-on experience in a clinical laboratory setting, allowing skills and knowledge to develop under the guidance of working professionals. Students have the opportunity to rotate through different departments within the laboratory, gaining exposure to a variety of laboratory techniques and instrumentation. This experience can be particularly valuable if a student is interested in pursuing a career in a specific area of laboratory medicine. The hospital-based experience, with rotations to multiple departments within the single hospital system, and with many opportunities for hospital personnel to engage the student as a prospective employee, often leads the student to employment in that hospital. 

Geography may also play a role in your preference. Valley Hospital is in northern Bergen County. Rutgers School of Health Professions’ main campus is at Rutgers-Newark. The Allied Health faculty and staff at FDU will have at least anecdotal and sometimes statistical guidance about each of these options. 

Contact Information
Drew Minardi or Jacqueline Bonaparte
201-692-2388
snah-hs@fdu.edu