Program Overview

Nuclear Medicine Technology, Bachelor of Science

The Bachelor of Science in nuclear medicine technology requires a minimum of 120 s.h. of credit. Work for the degree includes a set of courses that are prerequisite to entering the major, 60 s.h. of coursework in the major, and elective coursework sufficient to complete the minimum of 120 s.h. required for graduation.

Overview

Undergraduate study in nuclear medicine technology is guided by the academic rules and procedures outlined under Undergraduate Rules and Procedures in the Carver College of Medicine section of the catalog. Programs designed to lead to professional licensure are subject to federal regulations regarding informational disclosures.

Requirements

• The Bachelor of Science in nuclear medicine technology requires the following coursework.
• Students must complete the following prerequisite courses and must have earned 60 s.h. of college credit with an overall cumulative GPA of at least 2.50 and a UI GPA of at least 2.00.
• Additionally, they must earn a 2.00 term GPA in the spring semester immediately preceding the start of the nuclear medicine major.

Prerequisites to the Nuclear Medicine Technology Major

• Rhetoric:
  • RHET:1030: Rhetoric: Writing and Communication (4-5 hours)
• Chemistry With Laboratory:
  • CHEM:1110: Principles of Chemistry I (4 hours)
• Anatomy With Laboratory:
  • One of these:
    • HHP:2100 & HHP:2110: Human Anatomy and Human Anatomy Laboratory (4 hours)
    • HHP:3115: Anatomy for Human Physiology With Lab (5 hours)
• Physiology With Laboratory:
  • One of these:
    • HHP:2400 & HHP:2410: Fundamentals of Human Physiology and Human Physiology Laboratory (4 hours)
    • HHP:3500 & HHP:2410: Human Physiology and Human Physiology Laboratory (4 hours)
    • HHP:3550: Human Physiology With Laboratory (5 hours)
• Physics:
  • One of these:
    • PHYS:1400: Basic Physics (3-4 hours)
    • PHYS:1511: College Physics I (4 hours)
• Psychology:
  • PSY:1001: Elementary Psychology (3 hours)
• Mathematics:
  • One of these:
    • MATH:1020: Elementary Functions (4 hours)
    • MATH:1440: Mathematics for the Biological Sciences (4 hours)
    • A more advanced mathematics course
• Medical Terminology:
  • CLSA:3750: Medical and Technical Terminology (2 hours)

Culture, Society, and the Arts

• Students complete two courses for 3 s.h. each in two of these areas (total of 6 s.h.).
• Understanding Cultural Perspectives
• Historical Perspectives
• International and Global Issues
• Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts
• Values and Society

Coursework in the Major

• Students admitted to the nuclear medicine technology major spend two years in a clinical curriculum that is organized in accordance with the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology (JRCNMT) Accreditation Standards for Nuclear Medicine Technologist Education.
• They complete coursework in the following areas: radiopharmacy, radiation safety and radiobiology, patient care, nuclear medicine and positron emission tomography (PET) procedures, radiation physics and instrumentation, quality management, healthcare administration, medical and professional ethics, research methodology, emotional intelligence, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed tomography (CT).
• Practical clinical rotations focus on nuclear medicine, PET and CT imaging, nuclear medicine therapy, clinical radiopharmacy, nuclear medicine computer applications, and quantification of radioactivity in vivo and in vitro.

Course List

• RSNM:3120: Nuclear Medicine and PET Clinical Procedures I (3 hours)
• RSNM:3121: Nuclear Medicine Technology Clinical Internship I (3 hours)
• RSNM:3131: Radiopharmaceuticals (3 hours)
• RSNM:3132: Radiation Safety and Regulations in Nuclear Medicine (1 hour)
• RSNM:3140: Foundations in Nuclear Medicine and PET (1 hour)
• RSNM:3220: Nuclear Medicine and PET Clinical Procedures II (3 hours)
• RSNM:3221: Nuclear Medicine Technology Clinical Internship II (3 hours)
• RSNM:3231: Nuclear Medicine Instrumentation (3 hours)
• RSNM:3320: Foundations in Nuclear Medicine Instrumentation (2 hours)
• RSNM:3321: Nuclear Medicine Technology Clinical Internship III (4 hours)
• RSNM:4121: Nuclear Medicine Technology Clinical Internship IV (4 hours)
• RSNM:4221: Nuclear Medicine Technology Clinical Internship V (5 hours)
• RSNM:4222: Nuclear Medicine Technology Capstone and Certification Exam Preparation (5 hours)
• RSCT:4100: Sectional Anatomy for Imaging Sciences (3 hours)
• RSCT:4130: Computed Tomography Physical Principles and QC (4 hours)
• RSP:2120: Patient Care for the Radiation Sciences (3 hours)
• RSP:3130: Introduction to Radiation Safety and Radiobiology (1 hour)
• RSP:3210: Medical Ethics and Law (2 hours)
• RSP:3220: Radiation Sciences Quality Management and Health Care Administration (2 hours)
• RSP:4110: Research Methodology for Radiation Sciences (3 hours)
• RSRT:3220: Emotional Intelligence for the Health Care Professional (2 hours)

Admission

• Admission to the nuclear medicine technology major is competitive and selective; acceptance into the major is not guaranteed.
• Students who wish to enter the major must first be admitted to the University of Iowa as College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) students with a nuclear medicine technology interest.
• As CLAS students, there are two application options for the nuclear medicine technology professional program: early acceptance and standard acceptance.
• Students must apply to the nuclear medicine technology professional program by January 15.

Career Advancement

• The Nuclear Medicine Technology Program has a stellar record of job placement.
• Graduates typically work as nuclear medicine technologists, beginning as entry-level staff at hospitals or clinics.
• With experience, many earn advanced degrees in areas such as radiation biology, health physics, or medicine.
• Some work in the private sector as sales or marketing specialists in nuclear medicine.
• Graduates also find career opportunities in education as instructors, coordinators, or program directors; and in administration, industry, or research and development.

Academic Plans

• Sample plans represent one way to complete a program of study.
• Actual course selection and sequence will vary and should be discussed with an academic advisor.

Sample Plan of Study

• First Year
  • Fall:
    • RSP:1100: Introduction to the Radiation Sciences (1 hour)
    • BIOL:1140 or HHP:1400: Human Biology: Nonmajors or Human Anatomy and Physiology (3-4 hours)
    • PSY:1001: Elementary Psychology (3 hours)
    • RHET:1030: Rhetoric: Writing and Communication (4 hours)
    • GE: General Education course (3 hours)
  • Spring:
    • CLSA:3750: Medical and Technical Terminology (2 hours)
    • Anatomy with Laboratory course (4-5 hours)
    • MATH:1440 or MATH:1020: Mathematics for the Biological Sciences or Elementary Functions (4 hours)
    • GE: General Education course (3 hours)
    • Elective course (3 hours)
• Second Year
  • Fall:
    • CHEM:1110: Principles of Chemistry I (4 hours)
    • BAIS:1500 or CS:1020: Business Computing Essentials or Principles of Computing (2-3 hours)
    • PHYS:1400 or PHYS:1511: Basic Physics or College Physics I (3-4 hours)
    • PSY:1010: Your Brain Unlocked: Learning About Learning (1 hour)
    • Elective course (3 hours)
    • Elective course (2 hours)
  • Spring:
    • CHEM:1120: Principles of Chemistry II (4 hours)
    • Physiology with Laboratory course (4-5 hours)
    • STAT:1020: Elementary Statistics and Inference (3 hours)
    • Elective course (3 hours)
    • Elective course (2 hours)
• Third Year
  • Fall:
    • RSCT:4100: Sectional Anatomy for Imaging Sciences (3 hours)
    • RSNM:3120: Nuclear Medicine and PET Clinical Procedures I (3 hours)
    • RSNM:3121: Nuclear Medicine Technology Clinical Internship I (3 hours)
    • RSNM:3132: Radiation Safety and Regulations in Nuclear Medicine (1 hour)
    • RSNM:3140: Foundations in Nuclear Medicine and PET (1 hour)
    • RSP:2120: Patient Care for the Radiation Sciences (3 hours)
    • RSP:3130: Introduction to Radiation Safety and Radiobiology (1 hour)
  • Spring:
    • RSNM:3220: Nuclear Medicine and PET Clinical Procedures II (3 hours)
    • RSNM:3221: Nuclear Medicine Technology Clinical Internship II (3 hours)
    • RSNM:3131: Radiopharmaceuticals (3 hours)
    • RSP:3210: Medical Ethics and Law (2 hours)
    • RSRT:3220: Emotional Intelligence for the Health Care Professional (2 hours)
• Fourth Year
  • Fall:
    • RSCT:4130: Computed Tomography Physical Principles and QC (4 hours)
    • RSNM:3231: Nuclear Medicine Instrumentation (3 hours)
    • RSNM:4121: Nuclear Medicine Technology Clinical Internship IV (4 hours)
    • RSP:4110: Research Methodology for Radiation Sciences (3 hours)
  • Spring:
    • RSNM:4221: Nuclear Medicine Technology Clinical Internship V (5 hours)
    • RSNM:4222: Nuclear Medicine Technology Capstone and Certification Exam Preparation (5 hours)
    • RSP:3220: Radiation Sciences Quality Management and Health Care Administration (2 hours)