Career   -   Histology

Histology is the microscopic study of the structure of tissues and organs. The majority of bioscience related Bachelor degrees rarely include histology, though it is often studied as a subject in Medical Science degrees focusing heavily on the histology of disease. It is often studied in conjunction with other subjects such as human anatomy and pathology. Studying histology allows the student to gain significant experience working with microscopes which is useful not only for a career in histology but also a range of other career outcomes. A Medical Science degree with a histology component competitively places graduates with an advantage for career pathways as laboratory assistants, laboratory technicians, laboratory scientists and laboratory officers in pathology and hospital laboratories as most pathology and hospital laboratories have dedicated histology departments. Due to the tailored nature of Medical Science degrees, graduates usually find employment without the requirement for further study to higher degrees such as Honours, Masters or PhD. However, if a career in research is desired, higher degree projects incorporating experience in a range of histological techniques including tissue processing, tissue staining, imaging and analysis may be highly advantageous.