Masters in Clinical Laboratory Science
After you have earned your bachelor’s degree in clinical laboratory science, you will be prepared to move on to a graduate degree in the field. By doing so, you will expand your knowledge of laboratory equipment for testing cells and fluids. You will become comfortable with testing other people’s blood for transfusion purposes, drug detection or to determine white blood cell count in ill patients. You will study immunology, laboratory management, professional and ethical responsibilities of people in this field and leadership studies. You should have a strong math and science background to move on to receive a Masters in Clinical Laboratory Science.
The opportunity to earn a degree online is a valuable one that more and more graduate students like you are choosing to pursue. The level of convenience you can experience when you make your own class schedule is impossible to achieve in a traditional classroom setting. While many Clinical Laboratory Science Master’s Programs are available online, you may still be required to participate in on-campus activities. Obviously, you cannot build hands-on skills over the internet. You may also want to participate in an internship to enhance your skills still further.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, clinical laboratory scientists held greater than 300,000 jobs within the United States in 2008. This solid number is expected to remain on the incline until 2018. About a 14% increase in jobs is expected during this time span. In 2009, the median annual income of professionals in this field was about $55,000. You can pursue a career with the American Association of Bioanalysts (AAB), the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), or American Medical Technologists (AMT). Annual conferences, career services and more are offered by these associations.