People looking for employment in San Antonio’s $30.6 billion biomedical and health care industry will be glad to know that the Health Science Center is now offering one of the few entry-level master’s degree programs in medical laboratory science in the nation.
The university’s School of Health Professions has received approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to offer the master’s degree to students who already have a bachelor’s degree in another field. No prior experience in a health-related field is required. The application deadline is June 15, with classes starting Aug. 22.
Medical laboratory scientists are a critical part of the health care team who analyze medical samples in the clinical laboratory, and the job outlook is excellent, said Cheryl Burns, M.S., associate professor and director of the master’s degree program in laboratory science.
“We make a significant difference in the quality of patient care. Physicians rely on laboratory test results in diagnosing illnesses and monitoring how patients are progressing in their treatment,” she said.
Nearly 100 percent of graduates from the Health Science Center’s clinical laboratory sciences program are offered jobs upon graduation in such areas as hospital laboratories, public health, medical clinics, the military and higher education teaching future CLS students.
While the 24-month bachelor’s degree in clinical laboratory sciences will continue to be offered, the new 27-month master’s program is designed to provide deeper knowledge to students who already have a bachelor’s degree in another field. It is expected to prepare students for higher-level positions and possibly faster advancement, Burns said.
To learn more about the program including prerequisites, requirements, application and the career outlook, visit http://www.uthscsa.edu/academics/health-professions/programs/master-science-medical-laboratory-sciences, or contact Dr. Burns at burnsc@uthscsa.edu or 210-567-4318.