Nuclear Medicine Technology Major - Bachelor of Science (BS)
(College of Science and Health)
Nuclear Medicine Technology admission policy
The university sponsors up to 30 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 academic performance (a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 is required for admission into the professional program), references, volunteering, 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
- Sanford USD Medical Center, Sioux Falls, SD
- UM Fairview Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN
- Sanford Medical Center, Fargo, ND
- Emplify 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
104-108 credits, including internship
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-professional requirements | ||
| BIO 105 | General Biology 2 | 4 |
| BIO 312 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| BIO 313 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| CHM 103 | General Chemistry I | 5 |
| CHM 104 | General Chemistry II | 5 |
| CHM 300 | Fundamental Organic Chemistry | 4 |
| CHM 302 | Fundamental Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| MTH 150 | College Algebra (or higher) 2 | 4 |
| STAT 145 | Elementary Statistics | 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 2 | ||
| Introduction to Sociology 2 | ||
| Social Problems 2 | ||
| Professional core requirements | ||
| 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 | 2 |
| NMT 344 | Medical Ethics and Health Administration | 2 |
| NMT 360 | Computed Tomography | 2 |
| NMT 391 | Theranostics | 1 |
| NMT 317 | Nuclear Physics and Instrumentation | 3 |
| NMT 329 | Medical Radiobiology and Dosimetry | 1 |
| NMT 388 | Professionalism in Nuclear Medicine | 1 |
| NMT 398 | Research Writing in Nuclear Medicine Technology | 2 |
| Recommended electives | ||
| Introduction to Health Related Careers | ||
| Safety, First Aid and CPR | ||
| Analytical Chemistry | ||
| Biology of Cancer | ||
| Lifespan Development | ||
| Health Psychology | ||
| Empathic Listening Skills | ||
| Health Communication | ||
| Health Care and Illness | ||
| Death, Dying, and Bereavement | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Total Credits | 70-74 | |
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May also satisfy Core General Education Requirement (CGER).
Students are required to have at least eight hours of observation in a nuclear medicine department before they apply to the professional program. All required Core General Education Requirements (CGER), pre-professional, and professional coursework must be completed prior to beginning the clinical internship coursework. All CGER, pre-professional, professional, and clinical internship coursework must be completed with a grade of "C" or higher. 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 | 1-3 |
| NMT 403 | Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology | 2-6 |
| NMT 404 | Management and Methods of Patient Care II | 1-3 |
| NMT 405 | Radiation Protection | 1-5 |
| NMT 406 | Clinical Physics and Instrumentation | 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 418 | Clinical Procedures Review I | 1-4 |
| 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 433 | Clinical Analysis and Decision-Making | 1 |
| NMT 490 | Applied Clinical Research | 1-2 |
| NMT 497 | Advanced Practice Analysis and Board Preparation | 3-6 |
| NMT 499 | Independent Study | 1-3 |
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, major/minor, and university degree requirements to qualify for a degree. All enrolled students have access to a degree audit to track all of these requirements.
Baccalaureate degree requirements
Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degrees must accomplish the following:
- Fulfill the Core General Education Requirements (CGER).
- 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 "Submit Intent to Graduate" 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 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 their degree audit and work closely with their advisor(s) and college dean's office to ensure declaration and completion of all requirements in a timely manner.
Core General Education Program
The Core General Education Requirement (CGER) is the common educational experience for all undergraduates at UWL. Sample degree plans include CGER placeholders to ensure completion of the core general education requirements. The CGER category listed in parentheses indicated the recommended course to help complete CGER and the program requirements. Transferred courses may alter the plan. Courses may be rearranged to fit the needs or recommendations of the student’s program of study. CGER 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 Core 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 The Eagle Advantage for College Success (UWL 100, 2 cr.) or 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 |
| CHM 103 (CGER NSWL-ES Natural Science & Wellness: Experiential Science)1 | 5 | BIO 105 | 4 |
| ENG 110 (CGER CL-WL Communication & Literacy: Written Literacy) | 3 | PSY 100, SOC 110, or SOC 120 (CGER SBS-BS Social & Behavioral Science: Social & Behavioral Studies) | 3 |
| MTH 150, MTH 151, or higher (CGER MQR-QR Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning: Quantitative Reasoning)2 | 4 | CHM 104 | 5 |
| NMT 201 | 1 | CST 110 (CGER CL-SL Communication & Literacy: Spoken Literacy) | 3 |
| CGER CP-CW Civics & Perspective: Cultures of Our World | 3 | UWL 100 or FYS 100 (CGER SBS-FS Social & Behavioral Science: Social Foundation for Success) | 2 |
| 16 | 17 | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| BIO 312 | 4 | BIO 313 | 4 |
| CHM 300 | 4 | STAT 145 | 4 |
| CHM 302 | 1 | PHY 1343 | 4 |
| CGER CP-CU Civics & Perspective: Communities of the United States | 3 | CGER HA-PDU Humanities & Arts: Pasts that Define Us | 3 |
| CGER CL-SWT Communication & Literacy: Stories We Tell | 3 | ||
| December: apply for admission to NMT Program | |||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Year 3 | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| NMT 314 | 2 | NMT 329 | 1 |
| NMT 317 | 3 | NMT 344 | 2 |
| HP 310 | 4 | NMT 360 | 2 |
| HP 250 | 1 | NMT 388 | 1 |
| CHM 325 | 4 | NMT 391 | 1 |
| CGER HA-AA Humanities & Arts: Arts & Aesthetics | 3 | NMT 398 | 2 |
| CHM 461 | 4 | ||
| CGER NSW-MBP Natural Science & Wellness: Mind, Body, & Planet | 3 | ||
| 17 | 16 | ||
| Year 4 | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Clinical Internship | 17 | Clinical Internship | 17 |
| 17 | 17 | ||
| Total Credits: 130 | |||