Public health laboratory scientists work in state, federal, and international labs, applying microbiology and molecular biology to support epidemiology, monitor health trends, and help prevent disease.
This curriculum is designed to give you the scientific foundation and hands-on experience needed to make a real impact. In your final semester, you’ll have the option to complete a clinical microbiology rotation alongside your public health practica. After successfully completing the required medical laboratory competencies, you’ll be eligible to sit for the ASCP Microbiology categorical certification exam.
Medical Laboratory Science is a dynamic health profession focused on analyzing blood, tissues, and other bodily specimens to help diagnose, monitor, and treat disease. As a medical laboratory scientist, you’ll be a key member of the health care team, using your biomedical knowledge and technical skills to uncover critical information about a patient’s health. From identifying infectious microbes and detecting cancer cells to screening for diabetes, determining blood types, and performing genetic testing, you’ll play a central role in patient care.
As a student in this concentration, you’ll complete coursework that prepares you for hands-on practica in medical laboratories. These experiences allow you to apply what you’ve learned and deepen your understanding of health and disease. This accredited pathway also prepares you to sit for the ASCP Medical Laboratory Science Certification exam and qualify for licensure in states where it’s required.
Model Curriculum for the Public Health Laboratory Science Concentration
First Year
- Applications to Health
- Introduction to Public Health
- Written Expression
- General Chemistry I
- Fundamentals of Calculus I
- Intro to Scientific Writing
- Human Cell Biology
- General Chemistry II
Second Year
- Anatomy and Physiology I
- Elements of Statistics or Basic Statistical Methods
- Microbiology and Infectious Disease
- Health Care Ethics
- General Education Elective
- Anatomy and Physiology II
- Intro to Organic Chemistry
- General Education Elective
- Elective
Third Year
- Leadership and Management in Health Care
- Fundamentals of Biochemistry
- Intro to Human Disease
- Medical Biostatistics and Epidemiology
- Approved Elective
- Advanced Medical Microbiology
- Immunology
- Immunology Lab
- Genetics
- Health Care and Public Health Systems or Epidemiology, Public Health and Infectious Disease
Fourth Year
- Applied Molecular Biology
- Applied Molecular Biology Lab
- Food Microbiology
- Clinical Microbiology II
- Approved Elective
- Public Health Practicum
- Approved Elective or Clinical Practicum: Microbiology