College Life

Private Schools That Are Well Known for This Major

• George Washington University, Marquette University
• Brigham Young University
• Loyola Marymount University
• Rutgers University

State Schools That Are Well Known for This Major

• University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill
• University of California—Davis
• University of Texas—Austin
• University of Wisconsin—Madison
• University of Connecticut

Classes in the Major

Biology. On a very basic level, when you pursue medical technology, you're studying living creatures. Specifically, you're studying the fluids produced by one kind of living creature. There are a few exceptions, like parasites (which we'll get to), but for the most part, this is it. So you're going to need a solid foundation in basic biology or else the rest of the major is going to look like madness.

Chemistry. Oh, you thought you were done with chemistry? Not by a long shot. In fact, other than your standard intro and basic chemistry classes, you're probably going to be moving onto organic chemistry, which is chemistry without pesticides or growth hormones. No, wait, that's our grocery list. Organic chemistry is the chemistry inside living beings, which you might recognize as what's also going on in blood and urine. So get comfortable with your chemistry. It's a very big part of your major.

Hematology. Hematology is the study of blood. That's what "hema" means. So vampires are hemovores, which is good to know if you ever want to impress someone during a live performance of Dracula. Blood's one of the major fluids you'll be learning to analyze, so you're going to need a thorough understanding of it. After all, how will you know when the blood is bad if you don't know what it's like when it's good? And don't say "by tasting it." That will get you kicked out of class stat.

Parasitology. Did you know there are truly terrifying things that can be found in blood? That's right, they're called parasites: organisms that live inside human beings and try not to eat too much of us that we die. There are all kinds of creepy-crawlies, too—a dizzying array of nasty creatures that want nothing more than a nice, cozy human to live inside. You're going to have to learn all about these creeps and the telltale signs they leave behind. After all, when a doctor sends something to the lab, you can't say, "I don't know, brain monsters?" Well, you can, but good luck collecting your paycheck.

Genetics. No, you're not going to be engineering a race of atomic supermen out of blood and urine, so stop asking. Wait, you weren't asking that? Oh, sorry. Most people do. Anyway, genetics is such a cornerstone of the modern understanding of medicine that there is no way to enter the field without it. It will be useful in your job because genetic disorders can show up in fluids, and it helps to understand what you're looking for. You don't want to accidentally diagnose someone on a genetic mistake, after all.