Boise State University

What you'll study

The programme balances foundational science courses with specialised clinical laboratory subjects and supervised practicum placements. Early years emphasise core coursework such as general biology, general and organic chemistry, biochemistry, human anatomy and physiology, and statistics to build your scientific base. Upper‑division modules focus on clinical laboratory disciplines, which typically include:

• Clinical microbiology — identification of pathogens, culture techniques and antimicrobial susceptibility testing.
• Clinical chemistry — biochemical analysis of body fluids, enzymology, therapeutic drug monitoring and quality control.
• Hematology and coagulation — blood cell morphology, haemostasis testing and interpretation of complete blood counts.
• Immunohematology (blood banking) — transfusion science, blood group serology and compatibility testing.
• Molecular diagnostics — nucleic acid amplification methods, PCR, and applications for infectious disease and genetic testing.
• Laboratory management and quality assurance — regulatory requirements, laboratory safety, workflow, data management and leadership skills.
• Clinical practicum — extended rotations in affiliated hospitals and laboratories providing supervised, competency‑based experience on diagnostic instrumentation and workflows.

Laboratory courses emphasise instrumentation, data interpretation, laboratory safety and regulatory compliance. Many students also undertake electives or projects in research methods, public health laboratory practice or advanced molecular techniques.

Entry requirements

Admission to the clinical programme typically requires completion of prerequisite college‑level coursework and meeting university undergraduate admission standards. Common prerequisites and expectations include:

• Completion of introductory science and maths courses such as general biology with lab, general chemistry with lab, organic chemistry or biochemistry, and college‑level mathematics or statistics.
• A competitive cumulative GPA and satisfactory grades in prerequisite science courses.
• Application to the professional phase of the programme where selection is competitive; meeting minimum academic requirements does not guarantee placement.
• Documentation of health clearances required for clinical placements (for example immunisations), and compliance with background checks, drug screening and other clinical site requirements.
• Strong attention to laboratory techniques, manual dexterity and an aptitude for quantitative analysis.

Prospective students who are unsure about prerequisites can consult academic advisors to plan the pathway from general undergraduate study into the clinical major.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for roles in diagnostic laboratories across hospitals, community clinics, reference laboratories and public health agencies. Common career paths include:

• Clinical laboratory scientist / medical laboratory technologist performing and interpreting diagnostic tests.
• Specialist roles in microbiology, molecular diagnostics, immunohematology or clinical chemistry.
• Laboratory supervision, quality assurance or technical leadership positions.
• Public health laboratory work, infectious disease surveillance and outbreak response.
• Research technician positions in academic or industry laboratories and roles in biotechnology firms developing diagnostic assays.
• Progression to graduate or professional programmes such as physician assistant training, graduate study in biomedical sciences, or specialised certification programs.

The programme’s practicum component and regional clinical partnerships support employability by providing directly relevant, supervised experience on contemporary diagnostic platforms.

Why study at Boise State University

Boise State offers a hands‑on, career‑focused clinical science curriculum with access to modern teaching laboratories and regional healthcare partners for clinical rotations. The university emphasises experiential learning and applied skills so students practise techniques on current instrumentation and workflows used in diagnostic settings. Faculty typically bring clinical and research experience, and the programme benefits from collaborations with area hospitals and laboratories that provide real‑world placement opportunities. Studying in Boise also places students within a growing regional health ecosystem, helping with networking and local employment opportunities upon graduation.