Nuclear Medicine Technology (NMED)
The Nuclear Medicine Technology program offers an accredited curriculum leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science. The mission of the Nuclear Medicine Technology program is to prepare individuals with the clinical and didactic experience necessary for successful entry into the Nuclear Medicine Technology profession.
The goal of the Nuclear Medicine Technology program is to enable the student to confidently possess the knowledge and skills necessary to safely perform a wide variety of clinical procedures, effectively communicate with patients with competent skills in: radiopharmaceutical dosage, calculation and administration, the operation of imaging devices, and operation of radiation detection monitoring devices.
Contact: Norma Green
E-Mail: green@uiwtx.edu
Phone: (210) 829-3991
Nuclear Medicine Technology Links:
Nuclear Medicine Technology is a medical specialty that uses safe, micro-quantities of radioactive pharmaceuticals for diagnosis, management, treatment and prevention of many serious diseases. Nuclear Medicine Technology imaging techniques provide information about both the function and structure of every organ in the body, often identifying organ abnormalities very early in the progression of a disease. This early detection allows a disease to be treated early in its course, when there may be a more positive prognosis.
The student choosing Nuclear Medicine Technology as a career should have a strong interest in the natural sciences, mathematics, and computer technology as well as the desire for close patient contact, direct interaction with physicians and other health care professionals. Immediately upon graduation, a student is eligible to apply for national certification/registration examinations given by the Nuclear Medicine Certification Board (NMTCB) or the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).
As a highly-specialized member of the health care profession, graduates from this degree program have several vocational options, including but not limited to, Nuclear Medicine Technology (hospitals, clinics, research laboratories, regulatory agencies), entry into medical or graduate schools, and careers in education or administration in the specialty.
Faculty include mathematicians, physicists, technologists, physicians, radiopharmacists, radiation physicists, each with a special focus and integrated perspective.
Major Requirements for a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Medicine Science
| Core Curriculum and specific nuclear medicine requirements | Semester Hours |
|---|---|
| *English (Rhetoric) | 6 |
| Literature | 3 |
| Applied / Fine Art | 3 |
| History | 3 |
| Social Science | 3 |
| Intro to Philosophy | 3 |
| Bioethics | 3 |
| Religion | 3 |
| Second Language | 6 |
| *Dimensions of Wellness | 2 |
| Physical Education | 1 |
| *Anatomy and Physiology I & II with labs | 8 |
| *Chemical Principles I & II with labs | 8 |
| *General Physics I & II with labs | 8 |
| *Mathematics | 6 |
| *Computer Literacy (either by exam or course) | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Community Service | 45 (non-credit hours) |
* Prerequisite to admission to program with a minimum grade of C.
Requirements for a minor in Physics: PHYS 2305, 2306, 2105, 2106, 3311, 4344, and Math 3311
Courses in the Major
Junior Year
| NMED 3301 | Applications of Radionuclides I |
| NMED 3320 | Medical Radiation Safety |
| NMED 4322 | Radiopharmacy, Radiochemistry, and Radioimmunoassay |
| NMED 4210 | Introduction to Nuclear Medicine |
| NMED 3305 | Applications of Radionuclides II |
| NMED 4311 | Molecular Imaging and the Physics of Medical Imaging and Therapeutics I |
| NMED 4341 | Radiation Biology / Biophysics |
| NURS 3321 | Integrated Health Science |
Senior Year
| NMED 4312 | Molecular Imaging and the Physics of Medical Imaging and Therapeutics II |
| NMED 4345 | Principles of PET and PET/CT |
| NMED 4350 | Disaster Management and the Nuclear Medicine Technologist |
| NMED 4604 | Clinical Nuclear Medicine I |
| NMED 4606 | Clinical Nuclear Medicine II |
| NMED 4361 | Nuclear Medicine Registry Review |
A minimum grade of C is required in all nuclear medicine courses. In general, satisfactory completion of courses in one semester is required prior to enrolling in subsequent semesters. Failure to make a minimum grade of C in any required nuclear medicine course will prevent the student from progressing in the program. Students who fail one or more courses in the program must make application to the nuclear medicine program to continue. The student’s overall academic achievement will be considered in the decision to be retained or to be placed on enforced withdrawal from the nuclear medicine program.
