Biomedical lab students working

As a medical laboratory scientist, you’ll use microscopes, computers, sophisticated laboratory equipment and instrumentation in your work.

You’ll learn to master both the theoretical and practical aspects of clinical/laboratory medicine: chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology and blood banking. And you’ll be ready to succeed in this fast-growing field, playing your part in delivering the best patient care.

*A medical laboratory science degree is also known as medical technology degree or clinical laboratory science degree.

Program Type

Major

Program Format

On Campus

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Medical Laboratory Scientists…

As a medical laboratory professional, you will examine and analyze body fluids, tissues and cells to identify bacteria, parasites and other microorganisms. You will analyze the chemical constituents of body fluids, crossmatch donor blood for transfusions, and test blood for drug levels to measure the efficacy of treatments. You will also evaluate test results for accuracy and help interpret them for the physician or identify illness trends for public health officials. Medical laboratory scientist use the same skill set in more research-related fields, such as the pharmaceutical and food industries.

Students and instructor in a biomedical laboratory

Medical tests are critical to the accurate detection, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, and so are the scientists who analyze and interpret those tests in the lab. If you enjoy science and its practical application, particularly in health care or related research, a degree in biomedical sciences could be for you.

With the medical laboratory sciences degree, you can be part of a wide variety of continually changing, dynamic professions, all with good long-term career prospects.

  • The excellence of the Medical Laboratory Science program has been recognized and is ranked in the top 15 programs in the country.
  • You’ll gain a strong science background, professional management skills and technical expertise, all of which you can put to practice in our modern laboratory facilities.
  • Our graduate scores on the national certification exam are above the national average.
  • Our graduates quickly find employment upon graduation.

Employment Outlook

Earnings

The median annual wage for medical and clinical laboratory technologists and technicians was $53,120 in May 2019. The lowest 10% earned less than $30,920, and the highest 10% earned more than $81,530.

In June 2019, the Wisconsin annual mean wage was $62,240.

Expected Growth

Employment of medical laboratory technologists is projected to grow 7% from 2019 to 2029, faster than the average for all occupations.

An increase in the aging population is expected to lead to a greater need to diagnose medical conditions, such as cancer or Type 2 diabetes, through laboratory procedures.

Successful Alumni

The School of Biomedical Sciences & Health Care Administration has many successful alumni. These alumni have taken their degrees and have excelled in their careers.

Visit our Alumni page and be inspired by where a health sciences degree can take you.

Related Programs

Admission Criteria

You will complete 12 months of practical training during your senior year.

Practical training takes place at an assigned clinical site and is offered through the combined resources of UWM and our clinical affiliates.

The summer semester consists of 10 weeks of classes at UWM. Lectures by faculty and staff are given on campus on Wednesday afternoons. The average instructional time for this program is approximately 40 hours a week, including time spent on campus and practical work in the clinical site.

Entry into the professional course of study is competitive and dependent upon:

  1. Completion of UWM’s General Education Requirements (GER).
  2. A cumulative UWM minimum grade point average of 2.50.
  3. A cumulative minimum grade point average of 2.50 in specific, required science courses.
  4. Earning a grade of ‘C’ or better in all junior-level science courses.
  5. Completion of all required courses and electives (86 credits) through the second semester of junior year.

PLEASE NOTE: The program will attempt to place all students who meet the above criteria, but cannot guarantee that every student will be placed in a clinical rotation. The number of students placed in clinical rotations depends on the number of clinical positions available. Students with the highest science GPA will be given first priority. You will be contacted regarding your eligibility for clinical placement prior to the start of the spring semester of your junior year.

In the event that more clinical positions are available than students requesting placement, a student with a GPA between 2.0 and 2.5 may be conditionally accepted for a clinical rotation. Each student will be reviewed on an individual basis and must have approval from the biomedical sciences faculty and the clinical education coordinator(s).

To remain eligible to continue in the professional training, you must earn a grade of ‘C’ or better in all senior-level courses. You must be prepared for full-time study (40 hours per week) that could also require additional study time at night and on weekends.

Application Process

You need to complete the following steps in the medical laboratory sciences degree application process:

  1. Complete the application (PDF) and return it by Dec. 1 of your junior year to:
    Department of Biomedical Sciences Program Office
    College of Health Sciences
    University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
    Enderis Hall, Room 411
    Milwaukee, WI 53201
  2. Submit an autobiography, along with your application, describing yourself and your accomplishments. Text should be one-page, double-spaced on 8.5 x 11” paper and include:
    • Your work experience, including any in health care
    • Your reasons for choosing the biomedical sciences as your profession
    • Your future goals

Review Of Applicants

The College of Health Sciences Office of Student Affairs, together with the Department of Biomedical Sciences undergraduate program director, will review all application files for the medical laboratory Sciences degree program in January to verify that the admission criteria have been satisfied and the files are complete.

Letters of acceptance or rejection will be sent to all applicants prior to spring semester.

*You must achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.500 in these required science courses for the medical technology degree program.

**Strongly recommended but not required for graduation.

General Education Requirements (GERs)

Learn more about UWM’s General Education Requirements

CourseGERCredits
Social Science
Select course from the approved GER Social Science list
GER-SS6
Cultural Diversity
Select course from approved GER list;
Can be combined with Arts/Humanities
GER-CD3
Arts
Select course from the approved GER Arts list
GER-A3
Humanities
Select course from the approved GER Humanities list
GER-HU6
Total Credits:
18

Freshman Year

Fall Semester

CourseCredits
BIO SCI 202: Anatomy & Physiology I*4
BMS 101: Intro to Clinical Lab Science**2
BMS 205: Intro to Diagnostic Medicine**3
CHEM 102: General Chemistry*5
GER Elective – Arts3
Total Credits:17

Spring Semester

CourseCredits
BIO SCI 203: Anatomy & Physiology II*4
CHEM 104: General Chemistry & Qualitative Analysis*5
GER Elective – Social Science3
GER Elective – Humanities3
Total Credits
15

Sophomore Year

Fall Semester

CourseCredits
BIO SCI 150: Foundations of Biological Science I*4
BMS 301 & 302 & 303: Human Pathophysiology*3
CHEM 341: Organic Chemistry Lecture*3
CHEM 342: Organic Chemistry Lab*2
GER Elective – Humanities3
Total Credits:15

Spring Semester

CourseCredits
BIO SCI 325: Genetics*4
BMS 304 & 305: Human Pathophysiology*2
HS 224: Computational Tools for Healthcare Professionals3
KIN 270: Statistics in Health Sciences (QLB)3
GER Elective – Social Science & Cultural Diversity3
Total Credits:15

Junior Year

Fall Semester

CourseCredits
BIO SCI 383: General Microbiology*4
BMS 427: Clinical Immunology*3
BMS 428: Clinical Immunology Lab*1
CHEM 501: Biochemistry*3
HCA 249: Writing for Professional Development in Health Administration (OWCB)3
Total Credits:14

Spring Semester

CourseCredits
BMS 420: Introduction to Hematology3
BMS 421: Introduction to Hematology Lab1
BMS 431: Clinical Chemistry3
BMS 432: Clinical Chemistry Lab1
BMS 534: Medical Microbiology3
BMS 535: Medical Microbiology Lab2
BMS 560: Molecular & Genetic Diagnostics2
BMS 561: Molecular Diagnostics Lab1
Total Credits:16

Senior Year

Summer Semester – Professional Training

CourseCredits
BMS 521: Applied Clinical Hematology2
BMS 522: Hemostasis1
BMS 536: Applied Clinical Microbiology2
BMS 537: Medical Parasitolgy & Mycology2
BMS 541: Urinalysis1
BMS 542: Applied Clinical Chemistry2
Total Credits:10

Fall Semester – Professional Training

CourseCredits
BMS 523: Lectures in Advanced Hematology1
BMS 529: Intro to Immunohematology3
BMS 530: Immunohematology/Blood Bank Lab1
BMS 547: Clinical Lab Diagnosis5
BMS 548: Clinical Lab Practicum5
BMS 555: Toxicology & Therapeutic Drug Monitoring1
Total Credits:16

Spring Semester – Professional Training

CourseCredits
BMS 524: Advanced Clinical Hematology Practicum3
BMS 531: Advanced Lectures in the Clinical Laboratory Sciences1
BMS 532: Advanced Clinical Immunohematology3
BMS 538: Advanced Clinical Microbiology Practicum3
BMS 544: Advanced Clinical Chemistry Practicum3
BMS 549: Professional Development in Clinical Laboratory Sciences3
Total Credits:16

To schedule an advising appointment, call 414-229-2758 or visit Northwest Quadrant Building B, Room 6425.

You can also see the name of your advisor and contact them directly by accessing your student center in PAWS.

When should I meet with my advisor?

You are encouraged to meet with your advisor at least once per semester to ensure timely progress to graduation.

  • Enrolling for spring semester?
    Schedule an appointment with your advisor in October or November.
  • Enrolling for fall semester?
    Schedule an appointment with your advisor in March or April.

You are also welcome to schedule an appointment with your advisor at any time to discuss academic challenges, career opportunities or any other questions.

How can my advisor help me?

The College of Health Sciences boasts professional academic advisors who understand the challenges of balancing academics, work, family and the social aspects of college life. Advisors partner with you to:

  • Explore your academic and career interests
  • Plan the sequence of your courses
  • Prepare for course enrollment
  • Access tutoring and other academic support
  • Identify opportunities for campus involvement
  • Connect you to campus resources
  • Plan for graduation
Portrait of Shahla Anders
  • Clinical Associate Professor, Biomedical Sciences
Portrait of Brad De Pons
  • Clinical Assistant Professor, Biomedical Sciences Undergraduate Laboratory Programs Clinical Education Coordinator, Biomedical Sciences
Portrait of Fang Yao Stephen Hou
  • Clinical Associate Professor, Biomedical Sciences
Zachary Lunak Portrait
  • Clinical Associate Professor, Biomedical Sciences Undergraduate Laboratory Programs Director, Biomedical Sciences
Portrait of Dean Nardelli
  • Associate Professor, Chair, Biomedical Sciences Department, (Biomedical Sciences and Diagnostic Medical Imaging Programs)
Portrait of Susan Stalewski
  • Clinical Professor, Director of Academic Initiatives and Planning, Biomedical Sciences, Office of the Dean
Important Dates

Application Deadline
December 1

Accreditation

The College of Health Sciences Medical Laboratory Science program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS).

5600 North River Road, Suite 720
Rosemont, IL 60018-5119
Phone: 773-714-8880
Fax: 773-714-8886
info@naacls.org
naacls.org

Contact

Bill Mueller, MS
Academic Advisor
414-229-5047
muellew@uwm.edu

Zachary R. Lunak, PhD, MLS (ASCP)CM, HTL (ASCP)CM
Program Director
414-251-5328
lunak@uwm.edu

Brad De Pons, MLS(ASCP)CM
Clinical Education Coordinator
414-251-5861
bkdepons@uwm.edu