Nuclear Medicine Technology Major - Bachelor of Science (BS)
(College of Science and Health)
Nuclear Medicine Technology admission policy
The university sponsors up to 28 clinical interns each year. The size of the nuclear medicine technology program is limited by these internships. Students must make formal application to the program during the fall semester of either their sophomore or junior year (see advisor). Refer to the sample degree plan tab. A Nuclear Medicine Technology Professional Program Selection Committee composed of representatives from the university, healthcare community, and the program’s clinical affiliates evaluates each application on the basis of the applicant’s past academic performance (a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 is required for admission into the professional program), their references, their past work experience, and the results of a formal interview. Based on these factors, the applicants are ranked and accepted for entry into the professional program.
Nuclear Medicine Technology admission to internship and completion of degree policy
Those students admitted to the professional curriculum will be eligible for an internship upon successful completion of the on-campus course requirements and selection by a clinical affiliate. Acceptance into the professional program does not guarantee an internship at a hospital. The hospitals select students for internships. During the senior year, clinical internship students will register for (or be allowed to transfer in from Mayo's NMT program) a minimum of 34 semester credits in clinical courses and pay full tuition and fees. Upon successful completion of the internship and all other university requirements, students are awarded a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in nuclear medicine technology.
Hospital educational programs of nuclear medicine technology are accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology (JRCNMT). Graduates are eligible to take the examination for certification as a certified nuclear medicine technologist offered by the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB) or as a nuclear medicine technologist offered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).
Nuclear medicine technology affiliated internship sites:
- Mayo Clinic, School of Health Sciences, Rochester, MN1
- Froedtert Hospital, Milwaukee, WI
- Marshfield Clinic, Marshfield, WI
- Aurora St. Luke’s Hospital, Milwaukee, WI
- Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL
- UW Health Hospitals and Clinics, Madison, WI
- UM Fairview Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN
- Gundersen Health, La Crosse, WI
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Nuclear Medicine Technology students who select to complete the required year-long clinical at the Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences (MCSHS) enroll at MCSHS rather than at UW-La Crosse. The courses taken during the year-long clinical at MCSHS meet UW-La Crosse NMT program requirements. The student must request an official transcript to be sent to UW-La Crosse from MCSHS. Upon successful completion of the clinical and all other graduation requirements, the students are awarded the Bachelor of Science degree from UW-La Crosse. The Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences (MCSHS) grants a Certificate of Completion in Nuclear Medicine Technology.
Curriculum
102-106 credits, including internship
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-professional requirements | ||
| BIO 105 | General Biology 1 | 4 |
| BIO 312 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| BIO 313 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| CHM 103 | General Chemistry I 1 | 5 |
| CHM 104 | General Chemistry II | 5 |
| MTH 150 | College Algebra (or higher) 1 | 4 |
| STAT 145 | Elementary Statistics 1 | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 4-8 | |
| Physics for Nuclear and Radiological Sciences | ||
| Fundamental Physics I and Fundamental Physics II | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| General Psychology 1 | ||
| Introduction to Sociology 1 | ||
| Social Problems 1 | ||
| Professional core requirements | ||
| BIO 333 | Radiation Biology | 3 |
| CHM 300 | Fundamental Organic Chemistry | 4 |
| CHM 302 | Fundamental Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| CHM 325 | Fundamental Biochemistry | 4 |
| CHM 461 | Nuclear Chemistry | 4 |
| HP 250 | Medical Terminology for Health Professions | 1 |
| HP 310 | Pathophysiology | 4 |
| NMT 201 | Introduction to Nuclear Medicine Technology | 1 |
| NMT 314 | Cross-Sectional Anatomy | 1 |
| NMT 344 | Medical Ethics and Health Administration | 2 |
| NMT 398 | Research Writing in Nuclear Medicine Technology | 2 |
| NMT 399 | Applied Research Writing in Nuclear Medicine Technology | 1 |
| PHY 376 | Introduction to Nuclear Science | 3 |
| Recommended electives | ||
| Genetics | ||
| Biology of Cancer | ||
| Health Communication | ||
| Health Care and Illness | ||
| Death, Dying, and Bereavement | ||
| Health Economics | ||
| Safety, First Aid and CPR | ||
| Fundamentals of Microbiology | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Total Credits | 68-72 | |
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This course can also fulfill general education requirements.
It is required that students have at least 8 hours of observation in a nuclear medicine department before they apply to the professional program. Students must have completed all courses taught at UWL prior to their clinical internship experience. All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or above. A cumulative grade point average of 2.50 on a 4.00 scale is required for acceptance into the professional program, maintenance of accepted status, and for graduation with a major in nuclear medicine technology.
Clinical Internship Requirements (34 credits)
Each NMT intern will enroll in clinical courses for a minimum of 34 credits from the following selection.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NMT 401 | Management and Methods of Patient Care I | 2 |
| NMT 403 | Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology | 2-4 |
| NMT 404 | Management and Methods of Patient Care II | 3 |
| NMT 405 | Radiation Protection | 1-5 |
| NMT 407 | Clinical Instrumentation and Techniques | 2-5 |
| NMT 412 | Clinical Nuclear Practicum I | 3-9 |
| NMT 413 | Clinical Nuclear Practicum II | 3-9 |
| NMT 416 | Nuclear Medicine Quality Control Practicum | 1-3 |
| NMT 417 | Nuclear Radiation Physics and Instrumentation | 2-5 |
| NMT 418 | Clinical Procedures Review I | 1-3 |
| NMT 419 | Clinical Radiation Biology | 1-3 |
| NMT 422 | Clinical Procedures Review II | 1-4 |
| NMT 423 | Radiopharmacy and Pharmacology | 1-5 |
| NMT 427 | Clinical Evaluation of Mathematical Data in Nuclear Medicine | 1-5 |
| NMT 429 | Multimodality Imaging | 1-5 |
| NMT 499 | Independent Study | 3 |
All of the above courses are not required but a minimum of 34 credits must be earned in the array required by the clinical internship site.
All students must complete the general education, college core (waived for nuclear medicine technology majors), major/minor, and university degree requirements in order to qualify for a degree. The easiest way to track all of these requirements is to refer to the Advisement Report (AR) found in the Student Information System (WINGS) Student Center. All enrolled students have access to the AR.
Baccalaureate degree requirements
Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degrees must accomplish the following:
- Fulfill the general education requirements.
- Complete at least one ethnic studies (diversity) course.
- Complete the courses prescribed by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee for the degree desired in the respective school or college.
- Earn a minimum of 120 semester credits with at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA.1, 2
- At least 40 credits must be earned in 300/400 level courses. Transfer courses earned or transferred at the 300/400 level apply to this requirement.
- Complete major and minor requirements with at least a 2.00 GPA1, 2 in each major and minor (and concentration or emphasis, if selected).
- A minimum of 30 semester credits in residence at UWL is required for graduation. (See undergraduate resident requirement.)
- Submit an application for graduation via the "Apply for Graduation" link in the WINGS Student Center as soon as the student has registered for his or her final semester or summer term in residence. December and winter intersession graduates should apply by May 1. May and summer graduates should apply by December 1.
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Grade point average requirements for some programs will be considerably higher than 2.00. Re-entering students may be required to earn credits in excess of the 120 needed for graduation in any curriculum in order to replace credits earned in courses in which the content has changed substantially in recent years. Each case will be judged on its own merit.
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The grade point average recorded at the time the degree is awarded will not be affected by future enrollment.
No degree will be awarded unless all requirements are fulfilled and recorded within 30 days after the official ending date of each term.
Below is a sample degree plan that can be used as a guide to identify courses required to fulfill the major and other requirements needed for degree completion. A student's actual degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). Also, this sample plan assumes readiness for each course and/or major plan, and some courses may not be offered every term. Review the course descriptions or the class timetable for course offering information.
The sample degree plans represented in this catalog are intended for first-year students entering UWL in the fall term. Students should use the Advisement Report (AR) in WINGS and work closely with their faculty advisor(s) and college dean’s office to ensure declaration and completion of all requirements in a timely manner.
General Education Program
The general education curriculum (Gen Ed) is the common educational experience for all undergraduates at UWL. Sample degree plans include Gen Ed placeholders to ensure completion of the general education requirements. Courses may be rearranged to fit the needs or recommendations of the student’s program of study. Gen Ed courses may be taken during winter term (January between the semesters) and summer to reduce the course load during regular terms (fall and spring). Students should consult with their advisor and/or the college academic services director in their college/school for assistance with course and schedule planning. Refer to the general education requirements for more specific details.
At least 40 credits of the 120 credits required must be earned at the 300/400-level.
Note: New students and transfer students with less than 12 credits earned are required to take FYS 100 First-Year Seminar (3 cr.) during one of their first two semesters at UWL.
This sample degree plan does not establish a contractual agreement. It identifies the minimum requirements a student must successfully complete, to qualify for a degree, in a format intended to assist the student in planning their academic career. Actual degree plans may differ.
This major is exempt from the CSH College Core requirement.
Nuclear medicine technology sample plan
| Year 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| NMT 201 | 1 | BIO 105 (Gen Ed Natural Lab Science) | 4 |
| CHM 103 (Gen Ed Natural Lab Science)1 | 5 | PSY 100, SOC 110, or SOC 120 (Gen Ed Self & Society) | 3 |
| ENG 110 or 112 (Gen Ed Literacy-Written) | 3 | CHM 104 | 5 |
| FYS 100 (Gen Ed First-Year Seminar) | 3 | CST 110 (Gen Ed Literacy-Oral) | 3 |
| MTH 150, MTH 151, or higher2 | 3-4 | Gen Ed Arts | 2-3 |
| 16 | 17 | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| BIO 312 | 4 | BIO 313 | 4 |
| CHM 300 | 4 | STAT 145 (Gen Ed Math/Logical Systems) | 4 |
| CHM 302 | 1 | PHY 1343 | 4 |
| Gen Ed Minority Cultures | 3 | Gen Ed Health & Well-Being | 3 |
| Gen Ed World History | 3 | Gen Ed Arts | 2-3 |
| December: apply for admission to NMT Program | |||
| 15 | 17 | ||
| Year 3 | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| NMT 314 | 1 | BIO 333 | 3 |
| PHY 376 | 3 | CHM 461 | 4 |
| HP 310 | 4 | NMT 344 | 2 |
| HP 250 | 1 | NMT 398 | 2 |
| CHM 325 | 4 | NMT 399 | 1 |
| Gen Ed Global Studies | 3 | Gen Ed Humanistic Studies | 3 |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Year 4 | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Clinical Internship | 17 | Clinical Internship | 17 |
| 17 | 17 | ||
| Total Credits: 130 | |||