Nuclear Medicine

Degree and Certificate Offered

Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences (B.S.)
Concentration: Nuclear Medicine
Certificate in Nuclear Medicine Imaging (CERT)

Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences

Concentration: Nuclear Medicine

Admission Requirements

Students choosing the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree path must first complete the first two years of course work listed in the degree plan. In the spring semester of the second year, application is made to the Radiologic Sciences department for acceptance into the Bachelor of Science degree program. Please seek program advisement by contacting the Radiologic Sciences department.

Individuals who have completed a certified Nuclear Medicine Imaging program may also apply for admission to complete the degree requirements for the Bachelor of Sciences degree. Applicants must complete a departmental application, an application to the University of New Mexico, be accepted and submit copies of all transcripts to the Radiologic Sciences department. Please seek program advisement by contacting the Radiologic Sciences department.

Program Curriculum

Credit hours required for graduation: 132.

NOTE: To count towards graduation credit hours, the minimum grade point average must be 2.50 and each course must be completed with a grade of “C” or better (does not include “C-”). Courses may be taken in a different order with approval from the student’s advisor.

		Credit Hours
First Year	Fall Semester
BIOL 123/124L	Biology for Health Related Sciences and Non-Majors/Lab	4
CHEM 121 -and- CHEM 123L	General Chemistry I General Chemistry I Laboratory	4
ENGL 110 (or ENGL 112; or ENGL 113)	Accelerated Composition (or Composition II; or Enhanced Composition)	3
MATH 150	Pre-Calculus Mathematics	3
PSY 105	General Psychology	3
		17
	Spring Semester
BIOL 237	Human Anatomy and Physiology I for the Health Sciences	3
BIOL 247L	Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory I	1
CS 150L	Computing for Business Students	3
ENGL 120	Composition III	3
PHIL 102 -or- PHIL 245	Current Moral Problems Professional Ethics	3
STAT 145	Introduction to Statistics	3
		16
Second Year	Fall Semester
BIOL 238	Human Anatomy and Physiology II for the Health Sciences	3
BIOL 248L	Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory II	1
ENGL 219	Technical and Professional Writing	3
PHYC 151	General Physics	3
UNM Core	Humanities or Fine Arts or Language elective	3
		13
	Spring Semester
BIOL 239L	Microbiology for Health Sciences	4
CHEM 122/124L -or- CHEM 212	General Chemistry Integrated Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry	4
PHYC 152	General Physics	3
UNM Core	Social and Behavioral Sciences elective	3
		14
	Note: At this point, the student's completed and proposed course work must be approved by the selection committee prior to continuing this program.
Third Year	Fall Semester
CJ 221	Interpersonal Communication	3
RADS 378	Current Problems I	3
UNM Core	Humanities or Fine Arts or Language elective	3
UNM Core	Humanities or Fine Arts or Language elective	3
		12
	Spring Semester
CJ 344	Interviewing	3
RADS 398	Current Problems II	3
RADS 405	Medical Imaging Theory II	3
RADS 406	Medical Imaging Theory III	3
RADS 481	Medical Imaging Pathology	3
		15
	Summer Session
NUCM 315	Radiation Safety	2
RADS 330	Patient Care	2
RADS 331	Patient Care Lab	1
RADS 381	Medical Language Systems Review	1
		6
Fourth Year	Fall Semester
NUCM 320	Clinical Nuclear Technology I	4
NUCM 354	Clinical Radiopharmacy	3
NUCM 360	Imaging Instrumentation I	3
NUCM 375	Nuclear Physics and Instrumentation	3
NUCM 380	Nuclear Medicine Cross Sectional Anatomy	2
		15
	Spring Semester
NUCM 365	Clinical Nuclear Technology II	4
NUCM 385	Imaging Instrumentation II	3
NUCM 390	In Vitro Nuclear Medicine	2
NUCM 392	Pathology Seminar	4
NUCM 396	Essentials of Nuclear Medicine Imaging I	3
		16
	Summer Session
NUCM 400	Clinical Nuclear Technology III	4
NUCM 412	Nuclear Radiation Biology	2
NUCM 415	Essentials of Nuclear Medicine Imaging II	2
		8
	Total	132

Note: When all of the above course work has been satisfactorily completed, the student is eligible to take the certification examinations from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) and the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB). The student is strongly encouraged to take these examinations at this point.

Certificate in Nuclear Medicine Imaging

Introduction

Nuclear Medicine Technologists require a wider base of skills with which to compete in today’s job market. The goal of the Nuclear Medicine program is to provide the technologist with skills necessary to perform the complex diagnostic procedures involved with this field.

This Higher Learning Commission (HLC)-accredited program in Nuclear Medicine Imaging provides the student with the knowledge and skills necessary to perform complex diagnostic procedures involving the in vitro and in vivo use of radiopharmaceuticals and state-of-the-art nuclear instrumentation. Enrollment is limited to two to eight students each year. The course of study begins in the summer and ends after four consecutive terms of clinical and didactic experience at the University of New Mexico Hospital, Presbyterian Hospital and Veterans Administration Medical Center.

Upon successful completion of the program, the student receives a certificate in Nuclear Medicine Imaging and is eligible to sit for national certifying examinations given by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists and the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board.

Admission Requirements

Applicant must meet the University of New Mexico admission requirements (refer to Admissions section of this Catalog).
While competitive grade point averages are usually higher, each applicant must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 in post-secondary course work.
A completed application, three letters of recommendation, three reference forms, and official transcripts must be received by the first Friday of April for acceptance into the program the following summer.
The program selection committee conducts a personal interview with each qualified student candidate.
Applicant must complete program advisement for certificate prerequisites.
Employment reference checks may be required for application process. A background check is performed through the State of New Mexico upon acceptance into the program.
If completing the Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences with a concentration Nuclear Medicine, course work is determined based upon prior courses completed.
The University of New Mexico and the Radiologic Sciences program does not discriminate against any applicant based on sex, age, race, religion, creed, or national origin.

Pre-professional Curriculum - Required Prerequisites

		Credit Hours
	Basic Sciences
	Biology	4
BIOL 123 -and- BIOL 124L	Biology for Health Related Sciences and Non-Majors Biology for Health Related Sciences and Non-Majors Lab
	Anatomy/Physiology	8
BIOL 237 -and- BIOL 247L	Human Anatomy and Physiology I for the Health Sciences Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory I
BIOL 238 -and- BIOL 248L	Human Anatomy and Physiology II for the Health Sciences Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory II
	Physics/General	6
MATH 150	Pre-Calculus Mathematics
PHYC 151	General Physics
	Chemistry	8
CHEM 121 -and- CHEM 123L	General Chemistry I General Chemistry I Laboratory
(CHEM 122 -and- CHEM 124L) -or- CHEM 212	(General Chemistry II General Chemistry II Laboratory) Integrated Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry
	Microbiology	4
BIOL 239L	Microbiology for Health Sciences and Non-Majors
	Liberal Arts
	English	6
ENGL 110 (or ENGL 112; or ENGL 113) -and- ENGL 120	Accelerated Composition (or Composition II; or Enhanced Composition) Composition III
	Professional Ethics	3
PHIL 102 -or- PHIL 245	Current Moral Problems Professional Ethics
	General Psychology	3
PSY 105 -or- SOC 101	General Psychology Introduction to Sociology
	Computer Science	3
CS 150L -or- CS 261	Computing for Business Students Mathematical Foundations of Computer Science

Program Curriculum*

		Credit Hours
	Fall Semester
RADS 378	Current Problems I	3
RADS 405	Medical Imaging Theory II	6
		6
	Spring Semester
RADS 398	Current Problems II	3
RADS 406	Medical Imaging Theory III	3
		6
	Summer Term
NUCM 315	Radiation Safety	2
RADS 330	Patient Care	2
RADS 331	Patient Care Lab	1
RADS 381	Medical Language Systems Review	1
		6
	Fall Semester
NUCM 320	Clinical Nuclear Technology I	4
NUCM 354	Clinical Radiopharmacy	3
NUCM 375	Nuclear Physics and Instrumentation	3
NUCM 360	Imaging Instrumentation I	3
NUCM 380	Nuclear Medicine Cross Sectional Anatomy (2nd 8 weeks)	2
NUCM 412	Nuclear Radiation Biology (1st 8 weeks)	2
		17
	Spring Semester
NUCM 365	Clinical Nuclear Technology II	4
NUCM 385	Imaging Instrumentation II	3
NUCM 390	In Vitro Nuclear Medicine	2
NUCM 392	Pathology Seminar	4
NUCM 396	Essentials of Nuclear Medicine Imaging I	3
		16
	Summer Term
NUCM 400	Clinical Nuclear Technology III	4
NUCM 415	Essentials of Nuclear Medicine Imaging II	2
		6