Medical Technology - Major

Major: Medical Technology
Degree awarded: Bachelor of Arts
Total credit hours: 32
Experiential learning opportunities: Saint Vincent Hospital School of Medical Technology, UPMC Chautauqua Medical Laboratory Science Program, ASCP-approved programs. Visit the Career Development Center for other internship information.

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Online Academic Catalog Details / Required Courses

About the Medical Technology Major

Laboratory work is at the heart of discovery. Medical technologists design and perform the tests that help scientists pursue medical breakthroughs and assist doctors in diagnosing diseases.

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Medical Technology degree program from Thiel College combines in-depth knowledge of biology and chemistry with the technical skills you need to use advanced laboratory equipment. And by the time you graduate, you will be prepared to enter the job market with a running start because you’ll spend your final year gaining clinical experience inside a hospital.

Medical Technology Program Curriculum

In Thiel’s Medical Technology major, many of your science classes are focused on clinical applications. In addition to completing foundational work in chemistry and biology, you study microbiology, parasitology, immunology, and anatomy and physiology. That kind of knowledge makes you a valuable partner to the scientists, researchers and physicians who depend on the tests you will oversee.

Your studies go deeper than science, though. Our core foundation in the liberal arts means you also build the skills to think critically and creatively, communicate clearly and problem solve in busy work environments. These are vital competencies for your career and personal development.

Explore the curriculum in the Academic Catalog.

Hospital Internship

Whether you’re examining a biopsy, analyzing a blood sample or monitoring a test to develop a new pharmaceutical, the work you do in the lab can literally mean the difference between life and death. To succeed, you need to perform well in a high-pressure, high-precision environment. That is why every Medical Technology student at Thiel completes a full year of clinical and classroom study at an American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP)-approved program, such as the Saint Vincent Hospital School of Medical Technology or the UPMC Chautauqua Medical Laboratory Science Program.

In addition to working on real-world tests and experiments alongside skilled professionals in the lab, you will take classes in clinical microbiology, clinical chemistry, clinical hematology/coagulation, clinical immuno-hematology, clinical immunology/serology and clinical seminar.

When you graduate, employers will know you have what it takes to deliver results — because you will have spent a year doing so.

Transition Easily Into Graduate and Professional Programs

The Medical Technology major equips you for a career right out of college, or you can use your degree as a launching pad to graduate study in a related field.

The rigorous science classes you take will prepare you for admission requirements in graduate and doctoral programs in medicine and science. In recent years, graduates of Thiel’s biology programs have gone on to study:

Biomedical science at Duke University School of Medicine
Biotechnology at Johns Hopkins University
Public health at Boston University
Veterinary medicine at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine

Medical Technology Major Objectives

Some test results identified by medical technologists are cut-and-dried. Often, though, they demand additional interpretation: Why are they presenting in a certain way? What else could those results indicate? In Thiel’s Medical Technology major, you build the insight needed to be a better scientist, the communication skills required to share those ideas with others and the critical thinking that leads you to ask even more questions.

Our graduates are able to:

Study, analyze experimentally, and interpret biological and chemical principles necessary to understand clinical laboratory applications.
Effectively communicate in written form basic biological and chemical principles that are necessary to understand clinical applications.
Cultivate interpersonal skills and learn to be a valuable member of a team.
Prepare for discipline-related employment.
Network with distinguished Thiel alumni.

Alumni & Careers

Your Thiel Medical Technology degree readies you to conduct tests, operate and maintain laboratory equipment, gather data and ensure results meet quality standards. Some technologists specialize in different tests: Blood bank technologists, for example, prepare blood for transfusions, while cytotechnologists examine cells for cancer. Other specialties include histotechnology (tissue), hematology (blood) and clinical chemistry (bodily fluids).

Our graduates work in places including:

Biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies
Blood banks
Diagnostic and reference laboratories
Hospitals and medical centers
Public health laboratories
Research institutions and universities
Veterinary laboratories

Our Career Development Center can help you prepare a resume, practice your interviewing skills, and find a job that fits your qualifications and interests. But you also have the power of Thiel’s alumni network — 15,000 strong — on your side as you start your career search.

Student Life Experiences

There is so much more to college than what you learn in class. Thiel’s 70+ clubs and organizations are a perfect place to meet people, get involved with the campus community and discover new interests, from cycling to chess, choir to Greek life.

Sigma Xi, the scientific research society, and Beta Beta Beta (TriBeta), the national biology honor society, connect you with other Thiel students who share your passion for science. You will also get a chance to spark that flame in others. In recent years, Thiel’s TriBeta chapter has invited hundreds of school children to participate in one-day science workshops

Scholarship Opportunities

We’re committed to keeping Thiel affordable. Since 2023, we have awarded over $22 million in scholarships and grants. In fact, 99% of our students receive some kind of aid.

Medical Technology majors who demonstrate academic excellence, community service or civic engagement may be eligible for one of these scholarships:

Marion G. Resch Science Scholarship at Thiel College
Dr. Florence West Tribute to Dr. Bly
Ruth and Sheridan Brown Allied Health Scholarship
The Dr. Judith A Crissman '64 Endowed Scholarship Fund
The Maenpa Family Biotechnology Endowed Scholarship Fund at Thiel College
Elizabeth McElhaney Scholarship
J. Scott Morrison Endowment for Science and Religion
Arthur E. Smith Scholarship Fund
TWC Amelia Earhart Scholarship
The Ethel Smith Vierheller Award Fund
Irene Wintersteen Memorial Science Scholarship

Learn more about financial aid at Thiel.

Learn More About Thiel College’s Medical Technology Major

Save lives. Find cures. With a Bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology from Thiel, you’ll graduate prepared to design and execute vital tests needed by physicians, researchers and other healthcare team members. If you’re curious, meticulous and driven to solve scientific mysteries, our Medical Technology major can lead to a fulfilling career.