Dr. Rachel Morris
Graduate Program Director
Dr. Rachel Morris received her Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Marquette University in 2011. She did her postdoctoral work at Michigan State University and the University of Michigan Medical School where she studied the physiology and ecology of bacteria in low oxygen environments, including the human gut. She has been passionate about education throughout her career, teaching and mentoring high school, undergraduate, and graduate students.
Program Overview
The Masters of Science degree in Clinical Laboratory Science emphasizes the multidisciplinary nature of the laboratory sciences, encourages research that crosses traditional laboratory disciplines, and promotes innovative thinking.
The curriculum is customized to the student's interests and to supporting the students research project. Students conduct research projects with resident and adjunct faculty. MSU Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics (BLD) graduate students choose our program for its clinically relevant courses in diagnostic theory and application, low student to faculty ratio, and program flexibility. This program can be completed fully through Michigan State University online. For students interested in updating their technical skills, there is also the option to take advanced level lab course(s.) BLD Masters program students come from various disciplines, including the medical laboratory, industry, academic research labs and other health related backgrounds.
Program Outcomes
The BLD Graduate Program faculty help students create the curriculum and research plans that fit their education and career goals. This can include coursework in topics such as molecular diagnostics, immunodiagnostics, advanced flow cytometry, mass spectrometry, biomedical laboratory operations, transfusion medicine/hemostasis, cell biology, statistics, information technology, scientific writing and research in the sciences.
The student will also complete a research project in an area of interest under the guidance of expert BLD faculty and local mentors. Through the project, the student investigates an area of interest, collects data and refines their scientific writing and presentation skills. For some students, this can lead to professional publications and/or presentations. Students can also use the coursework from this program to prepare for national credentialing exams in specific content areas such as molecular biology, flow cytometry, etc.
Please note that our courses do not directly provide eligibility for national credentialing exams. For details on credentialing, please see: https://www.ascp.org/content/board-of-certification/get-credentialed or contact the BLD program to see if our program advisors can provide any course plans that would align with your credentialing goals. Unfortunately, our masters program does not provide a path to certification through the ASCP B.O.C.
Career Outlook
This program provides the foundation for career advancement in the biomedical sciences through laboratory leadership, hospital specialist roles, life sciences research, PhD programs, and medical laboratory science education faculty/program director roles. The BLD faculty mentor students in professional development and networking, and this mentorship also creates career advancement opportunities.
A Top-Ranked Education
- 29th among Best Public Universities in America — U.S. News & World Report, 2026
- Veteran-Friendly 'Gold Status' 10 Years in a Row — Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency, 2025
- #68 in Graduate Biological Sciences Programs — U.S. News & World Report, 2022
Tuition & Fees per credit
| In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Flat Fees |
| $955 | $1189 | $23 Taxes per semester |
Cost of Attendance
The university reserves the right to make changes in the types, structures, rates for fees, and tuition. Every effort will be made to give as much advance notice as possible. In addition to tuition and fees, there are other expenses associated with your Cost of Attendance. A breakdown of a graduate student budget can be found on the "Estimate Your Cost of Attendance" page.