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 medical laboratory technician.

Fast-track your career as a medical laboratory technician.

Study location QTAC code
  • Sunshine Coast 013131
Minimum selection threshold
OP - 14 Rank - 69
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 2016
  • 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.
  •  

Fast-track your career as a medical 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.

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.

 

Program structure

Program Structure
Introductory courses (8)

COR109 K'gari-Fraser Island Field Studies
LFS100 Cell Biology
MLS101 Biodiversity and Ecology
SCI105 Genetics
LFS112 Communication and Thought
MLS110 Cell Biology
MLS121 Foundations in Medical Science
MLS131 Chemistry

Advanced courses (8)

BIM203 Human Physiology
HLT221 Haematology
LFS251 Histology
LFS261 Medical Laboratory Placement 1
MLS210 Blood Banking and Transfusion Sciences
MLS231 Human Pathophysiology
LFS262 Biochemistry
MLS211 Microbiology

Note: 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:

  • Complete 8 required introductory courses
  • Complete 8 required advanced courses

In order to commence industry placement you must:

  • Show evidence of complete Hepatitis B vaccination (3 inoculations over a period of 6 months)
  • Have a National Criminal History check (by Queensland Police Service or other state/territory authority)
  • Hold a valid USC Blue Card

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

Program notes
  • Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses)
  • Courses within the 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
  • When enrolling, please refer to the Study Plan