Nuclear Medicine
Degree Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences (B.S.)
Concentration: Nuclear Medicine
Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences
- Concentration: Nuclear Medicine
The University of New Mexico's Nuclear Medicine program is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology (JRCNMT). The JRCNMT is the only programmatic accrediting agency recognized to accredit nuclear medicine technologist educational programs offered through traditional and distance education formats in the United States and its territories. The JRCNMT holds recognition from the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
Admission Information
The B.S. in Radiologic Sciences with a concentration in Nuclear Medicine requires completion of preparatory courses prior to acceptance. Upon admission, the program includes a full-time 14-month curriculum of classroom and clinical training. This training provides the student with the knowledge and skills necessary to perform complex diagnostic procedures involving the in-vitro and in-vivo use of radiopharmaceuticals using state-of-the-art nuclear instrumentation. Upon successful completion of the classroom and clinical training portion, students are eligible to sit for the national certifying examination administered by the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB) and the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).
Current students, entering freshman, or those who currently hold an associate's degree or higher may apply to enter the Nuclear Medicine concentration program once preparatory courses are completed. Please seek program advisement for more information.
Program Curriculum
Credit hours required for graduation: 130.
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 |
| 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 |
| Subtotal | 13 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CHEM 121 -and- CHEM 123L |
General Chemistry I General Chemistry I Laboratory |
4 |
| CS 150L | Computing for Business Students | 3 |
| ENGL 120 | Composition III | 3 |
| PHIL 102 -or- PHIL 156 -or- PHIL 245 |
Current Moral Problems Reasoning and Critical Thinking Professional Ethics |
3 |
| STAT 145 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| Subtotal | 16 | |
| Second Year | Fall Semester | |
| BIOL 237 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I for the Health Sciences | 3 |
| BIOL 247L | Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory I | 1 |
| CHEM 122/124L -or- CHEM 212 |
General Chemistry Integrated Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry |
4 |
| ENGL 219 | Technical and Professional Writing | 3 |
| PHYC 151 | General Physics | 3 |
| UNM Core | Humanities or Fine Arts or Foreign Language | 3 |
| Subtotal | 17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BIOL 238 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II for the Health Sciences | 3 |
| BIOL 248L | Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory II | 1 |
| BIOL 239 | Microbiology for Health Sciences and Non-Majors | 4 |
| PHYC 152 | General Physics | 3 |
| UNM Core | Humanities or Fine Arts or Foreign Language | 3 |
| UNM Core | Social and Behavioral Sciences elective | 3 |
| Subtotal | 17 | |
| 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 | Healthcare Delivery and Compliance | 3 |
| RADS 406 | Community Engagement and Service Learning | 3 |
| UNM Core | Humanities or Fine Arts or Foreign Language | 3 |
| Subtotal | 12 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| RADS 398 | Topics in Healthcare Ethics and Diversity | 3 |
| RADS 405 | Introduction to Research and Medical Imaging | 3 |
| RADS 481 | Medical Imaging Pathology | 3 |
| CJ electives | Select one: CJ 314, 320, 323, 344, 450. | 3 |
| Subtotal | 12 | |
| 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 |
| Subtotal | 6 | |
| Fourth Year | Fall Semester | |
| NUCM 320 | Clinical Nuclear Technology I | 4 |
| NUCM 354 | Clinical Radiopharmacy | 3 |
| NUCM 375 | Nuclear Physics and Instrumentation | 3 |
| NUCM 380 | Nuclear Medicine Cross Sectional Anatomy | 2 |
| NUCM 396 | Essentials of Nuclear Medicine Imaging I | 3 |
| Subtotal | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| NUCM 360 | Imaging Instrumentation I | 3 |
| NUCM 365 | Clinical Nuclear Technology II | 4 |
| NUCM 385 | Imaging Instrumentation II | 3 |
| NUCM 392 | Pathology Seminar | 4 |
| Subtotal | 14 | |
| Summer Session | ||
| NUCM 400 | Clinical Nuclear Technology III | 3 |
| NUCM 412 | Nuclear Radiation Biology | 2 |
| NUCM 415 | Essentials of Nuclear Medicine Imaging II | 3 |
| Subtotal | 8 | |
| Total | 130 |
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.
Courses
NUCM 315. Radiation Safety. (2)
NUCM 320. Clinical Nuclear Technology I. (4)
NUCM 354. Clinical Radiopharmacy. (3)
NUCM 360. Imaging Instrumentation I. (3)
NUCM 365. Clinical Nuclear Technology II. (4)
NUCM 375. Nuclear Physics and Instrumentation. (3)
NUCM 380. Nuclear Medicine Cross Sectional Anatomy. (2)
NUCM 385. Imaging Instrumentation II. (3)
NUCM 392. Pathology Seminar. (4)
NUCM 396. Essentials of Nuclear Medicine Imaging I. (3)
NUCM 400. Clinical Nuclear Technology III. (3 [4])
NUCM 412. Nuclear Radiation Biology. (2)
NUCM 415. Essentials of Nuclear Medicine Imaging II. (3 [2])
RADS 330. Patient Care. (2)
RADS 331. Patient Care Lab. (1)
RADS 378. Healthcare Delivery and Compliance [Current Problems I]. (3)
RADS 381. Medical Language Systems Review. (1)
RADS 398. Topics in Healthcare Ethics and Diversity [Current Problems II]. (3)
RADS 405. Introduction to Research and Medical Imaging [Medical Imaging Theory II]. (3)
RADS 406. Community Engagement and Service Learning [Medical Imaging Theory III]. (3 to a maximum of 9 Δ)
RADS 410. Physics of Computed Tomography. (3)
RADS 411. Physics of Computed Tomography II. (3)
RADS 412. Computed Tomography Physics Review. (1)
RADS 420. Computed Tomography Clinical I. (3)
RADS 421. Computed Tomography Clinical II. (3)
RADS 422. Computed Tomography Clinical III. (3)
RADS 450. Physics of Magnetic Resonance Imaging I. (3)
RADS 451. Physics of Magnetic Resonance Imaging II. (3)
RADS 452. MRI Physics Review. (1)
RADS 460. MRI Clinical I. (3)
RADS 461. MRI Clinical II. (3)
RADS 462. MRI Clinical III. (3)
RADS *480. Human Cross Sectional Anatomy. (3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)
RADS 481. Medical Imaging Pathology. (3)
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Office of the Registrar
MSC 11 6325
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131
Phone: (505) 277-8900
Fax: (505) 277-6809