Unlock Your Career Potential
((degree.pctCareerPreparation!html))
See Courses & Program Info
View a complete list of program courses, program-specific and degree-level requirements, workplace learning information, and more.
This program requires a total of 120 credits.
- 36 Required Major Credits: Review the required major courses outlined below. These include a subset of 15 credits that may include courses accepted through transfer.
- 41 General Education Credits: Review the options available to fulfill the 41 credits of general education coursework requirements for bachelor's degrees.
- 43 Minor & Elective Credits: Review a list of available academic minors or see the course catalog or Schedule of Classes to help you select elective courses.
Required Major Courses
((degree.courses!html))
In the process of completing your Workplace Learning courses at UMGC (BIOL 486A/B), you will need to complete 270 hours of a supervised research-based laboratory experience.
Your Workplace Learning experience should take place at an organization that can provide the types of activities and supervision needed to meet program requirements and your own career goals. Make sure to plan at least a semester in advance before participating in a Workplace Learning experience.
Please contact UMGC if you have additional questions:
- Contact Workplace Learning at workplacelearning@umgc.edu for questions about the program.
- Contact Career Services at careerservices@umgc.edu for placement support.
- Consult with your advisor or success coach for additional information or support.
Not ready to get started on a bachelor’s degree in laboratory management? You can pair a minor in a related field such as biology, natural science, or environmental health and safety with another major at UMGC.
Develop Career-Ready Skills in Laboratory Management
Build valuable knowledge and skills throughout your UMGC laboratory management coursework. This program is designed to help you develop crucial skills in applying ethical practices and lab safety knowledge. These skills help learners make informed decisions about research and scientific applications, communicating scientific principles, effective lab communication, problem-solving, and decision-making for business.
Our laboratory management degree program directors refresh and update the curriculum regularly, with a focus on helping students achieve the following:
5%
Job Growth
Employment for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians is projected to increase 5 percent from 2023 to 2033.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | “Occupational Outlook Handbook” | Last Reviewed: September 9, 2024
8%
Job Growth
Employment for natural sciences managers is projected to increase 8 percent from 2023 to 2033, faster than average for all occupations.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | “Occupational Outlook Handbook” | Last Reviewed: September 9, 2024
18%
Vacancy Rate
The vacancy rate in medical laboratories in the United States ranges from 7 to 18 percent, showing an urgent need to recruit and retain skilled medical laboratory science professionals.
Source: American Journal of Clinical Pathology | “The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) 2022 Vacancy Survey of Medical Laboratories in the United States” | November 4, 2023
Practice Real-World Skills in Your Laboratory Management Courses
Throughout your curriculum, your instructors will assign coursework that may help you prioritize real-world skills and experience. In past courses, students have been able to complete the following course projects:
- Analyze a case study to identify the problems and inconsistencies observed in a research lab. Propose recommendations to correct the problems and prepare a training manual or presentation to educate employees to prevent the problems from occurring again.
- Analyze a primary research article and propose at least two future directions for the research. Prepare a narrated “Shark Tank”-style PowerPoint presentation to pitch your future research ideas to investors for funding.
- Survey a laboratory for disposal supplies and durable lab equipment. Create a laboratory database/spreadsheet that accurately lists the supplies and equipment.
- Complete a company SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis. Use the information from the SWOT analysis to develop a strategic plan for the company’s success.
FAQs
Get answers to questions that current and prospective students are asking about program admission, credibility, and more.
An online bachelor's degree in laboratory management is a college degree that students can earn online to help them prepare for a career in the varied facets of laboratory work. At UMGC, the bachelor's degree in laboratory management is a 120-credit program that can be completely almost entirely online but requires you to have completed 15 credits of lower-level coursework in biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, chemistry, microbiology, or molecular biology (including 12 in lab science) from another institution prior to starting the capstone. The UMGC program covers laboratory procedures, hands-on laboratory management exercises, and more. It helps students prepare to work in a wide range of industries, corporations, government organizations, and research facilities.
UMGC's online bachelor's degree in laboratory management is a 120-credit program with courses offered year-round. The time it will take you to complete your degree will depend on several factors, including your goals, how many transfer credits you have, your course load each semester, and whether you are able to benefit from one or more of our fast paths to credit, including credit for prior learning and credit for military education and training.
Tuition rates for the online bachelor’s degree in laboratory management from UMGC are very competitive and appear at the top of this page. We offer a low in-state rate for Maryland residents and a reduced tuition rate for military servicemembers and their spouses and dependent children. We also offer scholarships for those who qualify, an interest-free monthly payment plan, and no-cost digital materials in place of most textbooks to help make online bachelor's degrees even more affordable.
You do not need any background or experience in laboratory management to enroll in this online bachelor’s degree program. However, you must complete 15 credits of lower-level coursework in biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, chemistry, microbiology, or molecular biology prior to starting the capstone — and to graduate from this program. Of these 15 credits, 12 must be in lab science.
You do not need any certifications to enroll in or complete this program.