Nuclear Medicine Science
Nuclear Medicine Science Course Descriptions
The Nuclear Medicine Science program offers an accredited curriculum leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science. The mission of the Nuclear Medicine program is to prepare individuals with the clinical and didactic experience necessary for successful entry into the Nuclear Medicine profession.
The goal of the Nuclear Medicine 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.
Nuclear Medicine is a medical specialty that uses safe, micro-quantities of radioactive pharmaceuticals for diagnosis, management, treatment and prevention of many serious diseases. Nuclear Medicine 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 Technology 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 includes toxicologists, technologists, physicians, radiopharmacists, radiation physicists, each with a special focus and integrated perspective.
NOTE: To provide the student with the most current academic curriculum and to meet accreditation standards, the programs within the Ila Faye Miller School of Nursing and Health Professions use the degree plan and catalog requirements on the date in which the student is admitted to the program and/or major, not the university matriculation date. Students who leave the program and/or major and are re-admitted must follow the degree plan and catalog requirements at the time of re-admission.