UW

The University of Wyoming Board of Trustees recently approved the addition of a medical laboratory sciences (MLSC) bachelor’s degree program, to be offered through the university’s branch campus in Casper (UW-Casper). Expected to launch in 2015, it will be the only four-year program of its kind in Wyoming.

The MLSC bachelor’s degree will build upon the existing two-year associate’s degree program offered through Casper College. It is an ideal option for a person who holds a bachelor’s degree in biology or chemistry, and is interested in a career in a medical laboratory. The program will prepare individuals to conduct a broad range of medical analyses and assays, including hematology, immunology and other diagnostic tests.

“Often, medical offices with their own labs want individuals with bachelor’s degrees to supervise these laboratories,” says Brent Pickett, associate dean and director of UW-Casper. “This program is a great option for medical laboratory technicians who want to advance their caree

Pickett, along with colleagues from UW-Casper’s education partner Casper College, worked closely with the Casper Area Economic Development Alliance (CAEDA) to determine which new programs delivered in Casper would best benefit the community.

“We conducted an in-depth analysis, and identified several programs that would benefit our community if they were offered in Casper,” Pickett says. “The MLSC program will meet the needs of medical employers, and has the student demand to be a successful program.”

Scholarships already have been established for students who enroll in the MLSC program, due to an endowment created through a generous donation.

UW-Casper anticipates the first cohort of students to begin in the spring 2015 semester, and is now taking names of interested individuals. Call the UW-Casper Student Services Office at (307) 268-2713 to be added to this list. Prospective students will be notified when program requirements and course details become available.