89.47% GW grads’ overall pass rate for the ASCP MLS exam*

• 100% online coursework, no visits to campus required
• Accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS)
• Qualify to sit for the ASCP Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) exam.*
• This certificate consists of 48 credit hours and can be completed in about 20 months
• Financial aid eligible
• Clinical practicum waivers are available for qualified students

The George Washington University’s (GW) online Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Medical Laboratory Science is perfect if you’re looking to advance your career and become board certified as a laboratory scientist. This certificate program is designed to teach you how to analyze blood, urine, tissue, and other body specimens to detect, diagnose, and treat disease. You’ll learn the latest molecular techniques to investigate and determine the causes of disease.

• 100% online coursework, no visits to campus required
• Accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS)
• Qualify to sit for the ASCP Technologist in Blood Banking (BB) exam*
• The certificate consists of 16 credit hours and can be completed in 1 year
• Clinical practicum waivers are available for qualified students

This program containing 100% online coursework will teach students how to test blood for viruses, identify blood types and antibodies, and separate blood into its component parts, such as red and white blood cells and plasma. Graduates will be qualified to sit for the ASCP Technologist exam in Blood Banking (BB) and be eligible to enter the job market as blood bank specialists.

• 100% online coursework, no visits to campus required
• Accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS)
• Qualify to sit for the ASCP Technologist in Chemistry (C) exam*
• The certificate consists of 19 credit hours and can be completed in 1 year
• Clinical practicum waivers are available for qualified students

This program containing 100% online coursework is designed to provide the knowledge and hands-on skills you need to become a certified technologist in clinical chemistry. You’ll learn how to use chemistry to evaluate patient health, study DNA and examine tissue, along with developing laboratory procedures that help physicians make earlier, more precise patient diagnoses, and determine treatment.

• 100% online coursework, no visits to campus required
• Accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS)
• Qualify to sit for the ASCP Technologist in Hematology (H) exam*
• The program requires 18 total credits and can be finished in 12 months
• Clinical practicum waivers are available for qualified students

This program containing 100% online coursework is designed for those looking to be at the forefront of blood-related disease detection and treatment. You will learn how to collect and test blood and its elements and establish procedures vital to the processing of these blood samples. You will also use the latest biomedical instruments and molecular techniques to investigate and determine the causes of disease.

• 100% online coursework, no visits to campus required
• Accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS)
• Qualify to sit for the ASCP Technologist in Microbiology (M) exam in as few as 12 months*
• Clinical practicum waivers are available for qualified students

Develop the expertise to harness cutting-edge biomedical instruments and molecular techniques to identify what causes disease. You’ll also learn molecular laboratory procedures for performing diagnostic analyses and correlating data to assess patient test results.

• 100% online coursework, no visits to campus required
• Qualify to take the ASCP Molecular Biology (MB) Board of Certification examination*
• Finish in about 12 months
• Clinical practicum waivers are available for qualified students

Launch your laboratory career with seven courses dedicated to the exciting, up-and-coming field of molecular diagnostic testing. The George Washington University’s (GW) online Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Molecular Diagnostic Science gives you the knowledge and hands-on experience to work with DNA, RNA, proteins, and lipids to detect, diagnose, and monitor disease and select optimal therapies.

You’ll learn the specific clinical laboratory techniques to detect and identify biomarkers at the nucleic acid levels in major areas of medicine including genetic disorders, infectious diseases, cancer, pharmacogenetics, and identity testing.

Through a series of online coursework and a clinical practicum, you’ll complete the certificate ready for a career in helping people get well through effective testing and diagnostics.

The George Washington University’s non-clinical, online MSHS in Biomedical Laboratory Science degree is ideal for students who want to take their career to the next step by moving into leadership, supervisory, management or teaching positions in the laboratory setting. Designed for students who hold a certification and are taught by experienced faculty, this online program is perfect for students who want to advance their careers.

Program Highlights

• Three unique concentrations
• Online coursework, no visits to campus are required
• Finish your degree in as few as 4 semesters
• Cost per credit hour: $990
• 36 total credits to finish your degree
• Financial aid available

More than 95% of GW graduates are employed in the field within three months of program completion.

Career Outlook

Our graduates pursue leadership, supervision, management, and teaching roles in various industries. According to Payscale, the average base salary for a molecular biology scientist is $77,231.¹

Interested in learning more? Please complete the form, and a GW admissions adviser will send you additional information.

¹https://www.payscale.com/

Total credit hours: 36

Total number of courses: 13

Program completion: 2 years (part-time)

Clinical residency requirement: Students are required to complete clinical rotations in their geographic location. Students who live within 25 miles of the Washington DC Metro Area will be placed with a local affiliate for clinicals. All others are required to identify a clinical site at the time of application.

The MSHS in Clinical Microbiology program is ideal for individuals who are interested in becoming board certified in Microbiology and is one of a few graduate degrees in the country that provides clinical microbiology and laboratory science coursework with a hands-on microbiology practicum. The program curriculum provides eligibility for national certification examinations such as the ASCP Board of Certification Exam — a gold standard in global certification for medical laboratory professionals.

Upon completion of this degree, students can build their career in a variety of settings, including diagnostic microbiology laboratories, research institutions, public health laboratories, biotechnology firms, pharmaceutical companies or governmental agencies. Clinical practicum waivers are available for qualified students.

Common Careers

• Clinical Laboratory Supervisor
• Clinical Research Manager
• Microbiology Technologist
• MLT/MLS Instructor
• Public Health Microbiologist

Sample Course Offerings

MLS 6216 Microbial Pathogenesis
Gain a comprehensive overview of the molecular basis of diseases caused by microbial pathogens, focused on model microbial systems to illustrate mechanisms of the infectious disease process.

MLS 6217 Medical Biotechnology
Gain a comprehensive overview of current molecular technologies and how they are used in modern medicine.

MLS 6116 Clinical Bacteriology I
Principles of clinical microbiology with emphasis on pathogenic characteristics, isolation, and identification of bacteria related to human disease. The course focuses on the theoretical approach to the current diagnostic techniques and identification systems used in clinical practice. Various topics, including disease causation and laboratory identification of medically significant bacteria will be discussed.

MLS 6158 Advanced Laboratory Management and Operations
Learn problem-based approaches to laboratory management and apply theoretical management models to real-life situations in the ever-changing clinical laboratory environment.

Total credit hours: 52

Total number of courses: 21

Program completion: 2 years (part-time)

Clinical residency requirement: Students are required to complete clinical rotations in their geographic location. Students who live within 25 miles of the Washington DC Metro Area will be placed with a local affiliate for clinicals. All others are required to identify a clinical site at the time of application.

The MSHS in Laboratory Medicine program is designed to prepare individuals for a career as a medical laboratory scientist and to sit for the national Medical Laboratory Sciences (MLS) certification exam.

Upon completion, students will have learned the skills to evaluate research and new technologies to understand their relevance in the field, investigate research questions critical to clinical lab practice, and develop problem-solving skills necessary to lead and respond to future changes in laboratory science. Clinical practicum waivers are available for qualified students.

Common Careers

• Medical Laboratory Scientist
• Clinical Laboratory Supervisor
• MLT/MLS Education position
• Biotechnology or Government Research Associate

Sample Course Offerings

MLS 6141 Advanced Immunology and Serology
Understand the principles of the immune system and the clinical applications of immunology related to the diagnosis of human diseases, with specific focus on the components of the immune system functions, the various immune-related diseases, and how immunologic assays are used in the clinical setting to diagnose and monitor various disease states.

MLS 6145 Advanced Clinical Biochemistry I
Learn about the methodologies employed in the chemical analysis of human blood and body fluids and the associated pathophysiology of each analyte measured.

MLS 6119 Advanced Parasitology, Mycology and Virology
Study the symptomology, pathology, diagnostic procedures, and treatment of the various parasites, fungi and viruses that infect humans, along with the disease causation and specimen collection and handling of these viruses.

MLS 6158 Advanced Laboratory Management and Operations
Learn problem-based approaches to laboratory management and apply theoretical management models to real-life situations in the ever-changing clinical laboratory.

Total credit hours: 35

Total number of courses: 12

Program completion: 2 years (part-time)

Clinical residency requirement: Students are required to complete clinical rotations in their geographic location. Students who live within 25 miles of the Washington DC Metro Area will be placed with a local affiliate for clinicals. All others are required to identify a clinical site at the time of application. Clinical practicum waivers are available for qualified students.

The MSHS in Molecular Diagnostic Sciences program is designed for individuals who hold national certification or wish to become certified in Molecular Biology.

GW’s online MSHS in Molecular Diagnostic Sciences is one of the few programs that provide students with both traditional coursework in molecular biology and biotechnology, as well as the hands-on clinical rotation experience required to prepare for ASCP Board Certification in Molecular Biology.

Upon completion, graduates will be ready to pursue board certification in Molecular Biology and begin an exciting career in a diagnostic molecular laboratory, research institution, public health laboratory, biotechnology firm, a pharmaceutical company, or government agency.

Common Careers

• Biotechnology or Government Research Associate
• Molecular Laboratory Scientist
• MLT/MLS Teaching positions
• Public Health Laboratory Scientist

Sample Course Offerings

MLS 6216 Microbial Pathogenesis
Gain a comprehensive overview of the molecular basis of diseases caused by microbial pathogens, focusing on model microbial systems to illustrate mechanisms of the infectious disease process.

MLS 6242 Molecular Pathology
Investigate human disease processes, with an emphasis on the molecular and genetic mechanisms of disease, to gain a deeper understanding of how molecular, cellular, and genetic approaches are used to investigate human diseases.

MLS 6217 Medical Biotechnology
Understand current molecular technologies and how they are used in modern medicine.

MLS 6158 Advanced Laboratory Management and Operations
Learn problem-based approaches to laboratory management and apply theoretical management models to real-life situations in the ever-changing, clinical laboratory.