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After examining a patient’s concerns, a doctor turns to a medical laboratory scientist like yourself to support their deductions and direct their subsequent recommendations. To arrive at these crucial conclusions, you analyze samples from blood and bodily fluids to tissue and cells for specific markers and communicate your findings. The accuracy influences how the rest of the health care team proceeds — whether to request more tests or begin treatment. From here, periodic testing confirms the effectiveness of a patient’s plan or indicates the need for further exploration.
As you think about your own next steps, Mizzou Online's master of health science in clinical diagnostic science program with an emphasis in clinical laboratory science helps you define your version of success. Designed for American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)-certified professionals, the program gives you the tools to grow as an interdisciplinary health care leader before letting you customize your course of study to three advanced pathways: clinical management in hospital and clinic settings, college and university instruction for clinical laboratory science and technician programs, or health care industry roles in sales, marketing, product development or customer support.
To pursue Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments technical supervisor status, fulfilling the requirements of Mizzou Online's program plus spending two years in the field qualifies you for the following specialties: bacteriology, mycobacteriology, mycology, parasitology, virology, immunology, chemistry, hematology or radiobioassay.
About the Online Master's in Clinical Laboratory Science Program
No matter their responsibilities, all members of a patient’s care team strive to empower positive outcomes through interprofessional collaboration. Mizzou’s Department of Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences instructs students through this mission, helping them understand and fulfill their distinct and integral roles. Toward this goal, courses instruct them in developing, implementing and evaluating laboratory procedures to accurately assess and deliver results. In the process, they learn how their findings improve care quality for all patients and prepare to adhere to the highest standards of performance.
The online master’s in clinical laboratory science program builds from this foundation, equipping current practitioners to not only excel in but also lead these environments. Distance courses taught by nationally recognized faculty and content experts strengthen and augment their existing knowledge base, touching on:
- Optimizing patient outcomes through evidence-based clinical systems and analytical techniques.
- Supporting and directing clinical teams through performance assessments and professional developments.
- The broad-reaching effects of leadership decisions on clinical environments.
- Current trends in clinical leadership and management.
- Maintaining compliance, conducting risk assessments, overseeing department finances, making strategic decisions and collaborating across health care teams.
- The importance of upskilling to continue delivering accurate, efficient laboratory results and providing quality patient care.
Quick facts
Official name
Master of health science in clinical and diagnostic sciences with an emphasis in clinical laboratory scienceCampus
Program type
Master's degreeAcademic home
College of Health Sciences | Department of Clinical and Diagnostic SciencesDelivery mode
100% onlineAccreditation
Higher Learning CommissionCredit hours
30Estimated cost
$18,114.00*This cost is for illustrative purposes only. Your hours and costs will differ, depending on your transfer hours, your course choices and your academic progress. See more about tuition and financial aid.
Career prospects
No matter the specialty or medical setting, clinical laboratory scientists are always needed to add clarity and give health care teams the go-ahead for treatments and therapies. The Bureau of Labor Statistics supports this: Through 2032, hospitals, clinics and similar environments expect to hire 5% more clinical laboratory technicians and technologists.
The online master’s in clinical laboratory science program positions you to nurture aspiring or entry-level professionals, direct department operations and ensure industry compliance. The interdisciplinary perspective you gain further helps you access opportunities outside of clinical environments where knowledge of the diagnostic process informs marketing campaigns, medical device design or customer response.
Potential job titles include:
- Clinical educator
- Clinical specialist
- Clinical or teaching professor
- Team leader
Program structure
The online master’s in clinical laboratory science program consists of 30 credit hours, which are typically completed on a part-time basis. Students progress through three course sequences:
Core: Nine credit hours of graduate-level courses refine students’ understanding of leading and functioning within clinical teams.
Certificate: Through 12 or more credit hours, students select a leadership graduate certificate offered by the College of Health Sciences or a partnering school to deepen their perspective of clinical, education or industry expectations.
Electives: Through six or more credit hours, students advance their clinical skills while delving into higher-level leadership, education or industry topics.
In addition to course work, all students develop a research-based capstone project related to their specialty and professional goals.
No campus visits are required, and courses are semester-based. The typical part-time student completes all requirements within two years.
Course work includes
The core sequence introduces existing professionals to:
- Assessing clinical environments and making performance improvements through data.
- Effective clinical management strategies.
- Risk management, decision-making and compliance in clinical settings.
- Clinical leadership theories and models.
- Interprofessional collaboration in health care and educational settings.
Review all requirements for the online master’s in clinical laboratory science program.
Delivery
100% onlineCalendar system
Semester-basedTypical program length
2 yearsTypical course load
Part timeSee all online programs offered through the College of Health Sciences.
Accreditation
The University of Missouri is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States.
Faculty spotlight
Dr. Myers is the program director for the online MHS program, and a clinical professor in the College of Health Sciences. Her research interests include academic credentialing and oxygen therapy. Prior to becoming a professor, Dr. Myers was a registered respiratory therapist at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri.
Alese Thompson is an assistant clinical professor for the clinical laboratory sciences program in the Department of Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences. She earned her certificate in forensic science and BS in clinical laboratory sciences from Saint Louis University, and her MS in medical laboratory science from the University of North Dakota. Her areas of expertise include immunology, parasitology, and clinical education management and coordination. She actively serves on the Board of Directors for the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science-Missouri (ASCLS-MO).