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 2 semesters of curriculum courses (RADS) and a full-time 14-month curriculum of classroom and clinical training to follow.  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 receive a BSRS - Concentration in Nuclear Medicine and 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. Refer to the Undergraduate Program section of this Catalog for information on courses that meet General Education curriculum and U.S. and Global Diversity and Inclusion requirements.

A cumulative 3.0 GPA is required to be considered for the program. The required courses found below
must be completed with a grade of “C” or better. Courses may be taken in a different order with
approval from the student’s advisor.

Credit
Hours
First Year Fall Semester
BIOL 1140L Biology for Health Sciences 3
BIOL 1140L Biology for Health Sciences Laboratory 1
ENGL 1110
-or-
ENGL 1110Y
-or-
ENGL 1110Z
Composition I

Composition I: Stretch II

Enhanced Composition
3
MATH 1240 Pre-Calculus 3
PSYC 1110 Introduction to Psychology 3
  Subtotal 13
Spring Semester  
BCIS 1110 Fundamentals of Information Literacy and Systems 3
CHEM 1215 General Chemistry I for STEM Majors 3
CHEM 1215L General Chemistry I for STEM Majors Laboratory 1
ENGL 1120 Composition II 3
MATH 1350 Introduction to Statistics 3
PHIL 1120
-or-
PHIL 1130
-or-
PHIL 2140
Logic, Reasoning, and Critical Thinking

Contemporary Moral Issues

Professional Ethics
3
   Subtotal 16
Second Year Fall Semester  
BIOL 2210 Human Anatomy and Physiology I  3
BIOL 2210L Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory 1
(CHEM 1225
-and-
CHEM 1225L)
-or-
CHEM 2120
General Chemistry II for STEM Majors

General Chemistry II for STEM Majors Laboratory 

Integrated Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry
4
ENGL 2210 Professional and Technical Communication 3
PHYS 1230 Algebra-Based Physics I 3
Humanities or Fine Arts or Foreign Language 3
   Subtotal 17
  Spring Semester
BIOL 2225 Human Anatomy and Physiology II  3
BIOL 2225L Human Anatomy and Physiology II Laboratory 1
BIOL 2305 Microbiology for Health Sciences 4
PHYS 1240 Algebra-Based Physics II  3
General Education: Humanities or Second Language or Arts and Design 3
General Education: Social and Behavioral Sciences 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  
RADS 378 Healthcare Delivery and Compliance 3
RADS 406 Community Engagement and Service Learning 3
COMM 2120 Interpersonal Communication 3
General Education: Humanities or Second Language or Arts and Design 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)



NUCM 412. Nuclear Radiation Biology. (2)



NUCM 415. Essentials of Nuclear Medicine Imaging II. (3)



RADS 330. Patient Care. (2)



RADS 331. Patient Care Lab. (1)



RADS 378. Healthcare Delivery and Compliance. (3)



RADS 381. Medical Language Systems Review. (1)



RADS 398. Topics in Healthcare Ethics and Diversity. (3)



RADS 405. Introduction to Research and Medical Imaging. (3)



RADS 406. Community Engagement and Service Learning. (3, may be repeated once 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. (2)



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. (2)



RADS *480. Human Cross Sectional Anatomy. (3, may be repeated once Δ)



RADS 481. Human Cross Sectional Pathology. (3)



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Office of the Registrar

MSC11 6325
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131

Phone: (505) 277-8900
Fax: (505) 277-6809