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Biomedical Laboratory DiagnosticsMajor

Do you want a bachelor’s degree that prepares you for immediate employment? The national shortage of biomedical laboratory scientists means our students typically have jobs waiting for them when they graduate.

Overview

What is Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics at WVU like?

Description

The BS in Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics has two tracks: medical laboratory science (formerly clinical laboratory science) and histotechnology. Medical laboratory scientists are skilled laboratory professionals that perform laboratory testing on blood and bodily fluids to aid in the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of patients. Laboratory testing encompasses such disciplines as clinical chemistry, hematology, immunology, immunohematology, microbiology and molecular biology.

Histotechnologists are healthcare professionals who are qualified through academic and applied science education and training to provide service, research and management in histotechnology and areas related to anatomic pathology. They are integral to the success of the anatomic pathology department by performing routine and complex procedures to preserve and process tissue specimens for examination and diagnosis by a pathologist.

Students are admitted into either the medical laboratory science or the histotechnology track within the biomedical laboratory diagnostics major after completing the pre-requisite courses at a WVU System campus (Morgantown, Beckley or Keyser) or an accredited college or university.

At a Glance

Next Steps

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Tracks

Tailor this major to your interests by taking courses in one of these areas:

  • Histotechnology
    Histotechnologists are healthcare professionals who are qualified through academic and applied science education and training to provide service, research and management in histotechnology and areas related to anatomic pathology. Histotechnologists are integral to the success of the anatomic pathology department by performing routine and complex procedures to preserve and process tissue specimens for examination and diagnosis by a pathologist.
  • Medical Laboratory Science
    Medical laboratory scientists are skilled laboratory professionals that perform laboratory testing on blood and bodily fluids to aid in the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of patients. Laboratory testing encompasses such disciplines as clinical chemistry, hematology, immunology, immunohematology, microbiology, and molecular biology.

Fast Facts

What makes Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics at WVU unique?

Living-Learning Communities (LLCs)

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Transfer Articulation Agreements

To simplify the transfer process, we have formal agreements with certain institutions. These agreements outline the courses you should take to prepare for transferring to WVU. Review the full list of transfer articulation agreements to see if your institution is listed.

Student Organizations

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Professional Organizations

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Careers

How does this degree prepare students for a career?

Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics has become a popular major for students planning to go to medical school. Graduates of the program are successful in medical school and have a unique body of knowledge that is beneficial to them as practicing physicians. Graduates also successfully complete dental school, physician’s assistant programs, pathologists’ assistant programs and optometry school, and some go on to graduate programs to do research in cancer cell biology or other areas.

The majority of graduates work in hospital laboratories where they provide the information used by physicians to make diagnoses, treat patients and monitor patient conditions. Some graduates work in industry where they become technical trainers for instrument companies or work as troubleshooters, installers and support personnel for laboratory instrumentation. They also find jobs in sales and as customer service representatives for various industries.

A few have obtained positions in veterinary laboratories and in doctors’ office laboratories.

Possible Careers

Wondering what you can do with a degree from WVU's Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics major? Check out these ideas from WVU Career Services and the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). A median salary is the midpoint of what people typically earn—half of those surveyed earned above the median salary, and half earned below.

This page includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.

Employers

Graduates from this major have gone to work at:

Courses

What are the courses like in Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics at WVU?

Plan of Study

Check out a program overview, learning goals, course descriptions and suggested plan of study for WVU's Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics major.

View the Plan of Study
 

Popular Courses

PATH 200:
Medical Terminology

General medical terminology with emphasis on clinical and anatomic pathology terminology.

PATH 300:
Introduction to Pathology

A study of principles and processes of pathology from cellular to system, including etiology, pathogenesis, and clinical features of representative or commonly occurring disorders and diseases.

PATH 440:
Clinical Hematology

Lectures in hematologic theory and practice, including coagulation and body fluids laboratory.

PATH 450:
Clinical Microbiology

Presentation and discussion of methodologies employed in the processing of clinical microbiology specimens, isolation, and identification of clinically significant microorganisms, and determination of antimicrobial susceptibilities with laboratory.

Capstone Projects

Before graduating, all undergraduates in this major complete an academic project (or "capstone") to demonstrate their research, communication and critical thinking skills.

Every Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics student completes a capstone project as part of PATH 475, Medical Relevance.

Cost and Aid

How much does Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics at WVU cost? And how can you save?

Tuition and Fees

Estimated rates for the 2022-23 academic year. Rates are subject to change. Anyone that is not a current West Virginia resident will be charged non-resident rates. That includes international students.

West Virginia Resident
Per Credit $441
Per Semester $5,292
Fall and Spring Semesters $10,584
Non-Resident
Per Credit $1,247
Per Semester $14,964
Fall and Spring Semesters $29,928
International
Per Credit $1,247
Per Semester $15,264
Fall and Spring Semesters $30,528
Scholarship Chart

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Net Price Calculator

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Ways to Save

Here is a way for you to save on the cost of attending WVU in addition to university scholarships.

Transfer Articulation Agreements

To simplify the transfer process, we have formal agreements with certain institutions. These agreements outline the courses you should take to prepare for transferring to WVU.

Review the full list of transfer articulation agreements to see if your institution is listed.

Learn How to Transfer Course Credits

Requirements

What are the requirements to apply for Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics at WVU?

To be admitted to WVU's Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics major, you must meet WVU's first-time freshman admission requirements for the 2022-23 academic year. Interested in transferring? Review the transfer admission requirements.

Related Pathways

What majors share similar career interests with this major at WVU?

Next Steps

I like this major. What are the next steps?

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Request Information

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