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. 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.

The required courses found below must be completed with a minimum grade point average of 2.50, with each course 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.

Keys and Symbols Reference