Associate Degree in Medical Laboratory Science | UniSC | University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

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Associate Degree in Medical Laboratory Science

Fast-track your career as a laboratory technician

This two-year program provides you the opportunity to become an entry-level medical laboratory technician and gain employment in Australia’s expanding pathology industry, working in hospital and private pathology laboratories.

Study location QTAC code
  • Sunshine Coast 013131
Minimum selection threshold
OP - 14 Rank - 68
UniSC program code
SC211
Commence
Semester 1 or Semester 2 (part-time) *
Duration
2 years full time or equivalent part time
Recommended prior study
English; Maths A, B or C; and at least one science subject, preferably Chemistry
Fee type 2018
  • What will I pay?
Total courses
16
Total units
192
Footnotes
  • * Duration note: Students commencing in Semester 2 will take 2.5 years, some semesters can only be taken part-time.
  •  

This two-year program provides you the opportunity to become an entry-level medical laboratory technician and gain employment in Australia’s expanding pathology industry, working in hospital and private pathology laboratories.

Medical laboratory technicians conduct clinical investigations dealing with an understanding of human diseases and the improvement of human health. In this program, you’ll learn to perform medical laboratory tests on blood and other bodily fluids and tissues, which assist clinicians in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases and clinical disorders.

Being a medical laboratory technician might suit you if you:

  • are good at observing, receiving, and obtaining information from all relevant sources;

  • can communicate well, giving your full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made and asking questions as appropriate;

  • want to keep up-to-date technically and apply new knowledge to your job.

Most medical laboratory technicians are generalists, skilled in all areas of the pathology laboratory. In this program, you’ll develop technical skills in physiology, pathophysiology, haematology, histology, biochemistry, clinical chemistry, blood banking, and medical microbiology.

You’ll undertake industry placements where you’ll be trained by experienced medical laboratory scientists and technicians to handle human specimens and use modern laboratory equipment for conducting pathology testing.

As a graduate of this program, you will receive full credit towards the Bachelor of Biomedical Science which you can complete with only one additional year of study, further expanding your career opportunities.

Post-admission requirements

Before undertaking industry placement courses, students must obtain and provide evidence of hepatitis B immunisation and a BlueCard. Refer to Program requirements.

Career opportunities

Medical laboratory technician positions in pathology services and laboratory technicians in scientific and educational technical services.

Fees

The 2017 Australian Federal Budget proposes changes to fee arrangements for higher education students. If these changes are passed by the Federal Parliament, domestic students who have a completed higher education qualification and are studying Diploma or Associate Degree programs may not be eligible for Commonwealth Support from Semester 1, 2018. We will provide further information on any changes to fees as soon as it is available.

 

Program structure

Introductory courses (8)

COR109 Cognitive and Perceptual Psychology
LFS100 Intercultural and Indigenous Psychologies
MLS101 Personality and Assessment
SCI105 Human Associative Learning
LFS112 Abnormal Psychology
MLS110 Psychology of Health and Wellbeing
MLS121 Adult Development and Ageing
MLS131 Research Methods and Analysis 4

Advanced courses (8)

BIM203 Advanced Theoretical Issues in Psychology
HLT221 Professional Practice of Psychology
LFS251 Ethical and Professional Issues In Psychology
LFS261 Research Dissertation A
MLS210 Research Dissertation B
MLS231 Communication and Thought
LFS262 Cell Biology
MLS211 Foundations in Medical Science

Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.

Total units: 192

Program requirements and notes

Program requirements

In order to graduate you must:

  • Successfully complete 192 units as outlined in the Program Structure
  • Complete no more than 10 introductory level (100) coded courses.

In order to commence industry placement you must:

  • Before undertaking industry placement courses, students must provide proof of vaccination against Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Pertussis and Varicella (Chickenpox).
  • Have a National Criminal History check (by Queensland Police Service or other state/territory authority).
  • Hold a valid USC Blue Card for working with children.
  • Students must undertake mandatory online orientation courses for the organisations where they will be placed, and will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement regarding patient information.
  • Students will be required to complete placement(s) in rural/regional locations. Students will be required to fund the cost for travel, accommodation, fuel etc. associated with placement. USC scholarships and bursaries are available for students to apply to supplement these costs.

For information about how to complete Post-admission requirements, visit Medical Laboratory Science (Placements) - Mandatory requirements.

Program notes
  • Follow the program structure for your year and semester of commencement unless advised otherwise
  • Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses). Please be aware that if commencing in semester 2, the duration will be 2.5 years and some semesters can only be taken part-time.
  • Most courses are valued at 12 units unless otherwise specified
  • Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods including essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations. Not all courses will necessarily include all methods.
  • As part of your USC program, you may apply to Study Overseas to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider.
  • Refer to the 'Planning your study' page to manage your progression.