The Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear Medicine Technology prepares professionals who, under the direction of a nuclear medicine physician, use radioactive materials for the diagnosis and treatment of disease. After explaining test procedures to patients, technologists prepare a dosage of the radiopharmaceutical and administer it by mouth, injection, inhalation or other means. They operate cameras and use computer technology to detect and map the radioactive drug in the patient’s body to create diagnostic images. The nuclear medicine technologist has an important responsibility for the quality control of radiopharmaceuticals and instrumentation and works closely with other health care personnel to provide quality patient care.
The Curriculum
This 120-credit program consists of two phases of study.
- Phase one includes 88 credits of coursework in areas such as public speaking, chemistry, biology, physics, and math that are prerequisite to the clinical year. Additionally, students complete all of the Liberal Studies requirements while at the IUP main campus. All requirements in phase one must be completed before progressing to the affiliating school of nuclear medicine technology.
- Phase two includes 32 credits in the twelve-month clinical year, during which students attend classes and clinical experiences through either the Nuclear Medicine Institute (NMI) at The University of Findlay, Ohio, or the Nuclear Medicine Technology program at the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC). Both programs are fully accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology (JRCNMT).
A typical plan of study:
Freshman Year
| Course Name |
Credits |
Course Name |
Credits |
| BIOL 105 Cell Biology |
3 |
CHEM 102 College Chemistry II |
4 |
| *CHEM 101 College Chemistry I |
4 |
HIST 195 History: The Modern Era |
3 |
| *ENGL 101 College Writing |
4 |
Fine Arts: Introduction to Art/Music/Theater/Dance |
3 |
| Health and Wellness Requirements |
3 |
*MATH 105 College Algebra |
3 |
|
14 |
PSYC 101 General Psychology |
3 |
|
|
|
16 |
Sophomore Year
| Course Name |
Credits |
Course Name |
Credits |
| *PHYS 111 Physics I Lecture |
3 |
PHYS 112 Physics II Lecture |
3 |
| PHYS 121 Physics I Lab |
1 |
PHYS 122 Physics II Lab |
1 |
| *BIOL 150 Human Anatomy |
3 |
*ENGL 310 Public Speaking |
3 |
| *COSC/BTED/IFMG 101 Computer Literacy |
3 |
*BIOL 151 Human Physiology |
4 |
| ENGL 202 Research Writing |
3 |
Free Elective |
3 |
| Free Elective |
3 |
Free Elective |
1 |
|
16 |
|
15 |
Junior Year
| Course Name |
Credits |
Course Name |
Credits |
| SOC 151 Principles of Sociology |
3 |
Philosophy or Religious Studies Elective |
3 |
| MATH 217 Probability and Statistics |
3 |
ENGL 121 Humanities Literature |
3 |
| Social Science Elective |
3 |
Free Elective |
3 |
| Free Elective |
3 |
Free Elective |
3 |
| Free Elective |
3 |
|
12 |
|
15 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Senior Year**
| Course Name |
Credits |
Course Name |
Credits |
| NMDT 427 Nuclear Scintigraphy |
3 |
NMDT 434 Clinical Nuclear Medicine |
16 |
| NMDT 428 Radiation Physics |
3 |
|
16 |
| NMDT 429 Nuclear Medicine Instrumentation |
3 |
|
|
| NMDT 430 Radiation Biology & Radiation Protection |
2 |
|
|
| NMDT 431 In Vivo/In Vitro Non-Imaging |
1 |
|
|
| NMDT 432 Radiopharmaceutical |
3 |
|
|
| NMDT 433 Introduction to Tomographic Imaging |
1 |
|
|
| |
16 |
|
|
*NMI requires C or higher grades in these courses. For the most favorable review of the application, students are encouraged to have completed all of these courses before the application deadline. CCAC requires a minimum of C grades in several priority courses for admission although students are encouraged to earn A and B grades in math and science courses to be competitive for admission.
**IUP is affiliated with two accredited nuclear medicine technology programs. Students apply for admission to one of these programs for completion of the final year of study.
- The Nuclear Medicine Institute (NMI) at The University of Findlay, Ohio: In this program, students spend one semester at NMI, thirty-two weeks in clinical training at one of NMI’s approved clinical sites, and return to NMI for a final examination.
- The Nuclear Medicine Technology Department at the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC): In this program, students spend twelve months in classes at the CCAC Allegheny Campus and clinical training at various sites in the Pittsburgh area.
Required: One non-western culture course; two writing intensive courses
LBST 499 Senior Synthesis: Not required
Students admitted to NMI spend four months at The University of Findlay, where they study the theory of nuclear medicine. The program concludes with thirty-five weeks of clinical training in one of the many affiliating hospitals. The program concludes with one week of review and a final exam.
Students admitted to CCAC spend twelve months in the Pittsburgh area. Classes are taught at CCAC's Allegheny Campus, and clinical practice includes rotations in three of the thirteen Pittsburgh area affiliating hospitals.
Graduates of the nuclear medicine technology program are eligible to sit for the national certification examinations in nuclear medicine technology. These exams are offered by the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB) and the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). National certification in the field is required to work as nuclear medicine technologist and in some cases a state license is also required.
Career Information
Faster than average job growth will arise from technological advancement, development of new treatments, and an increase in the number of people needing these procedures. Nearly all of IUP's nuclear medicine technology majors are employed in the field soon after graduation and most new graduates find their first jobs in hospital settings. Nuclear medicine technologists also work in a variety of other settings including outpatient imaging facilities, public health institutions and government and private research institutions. Median annual earnings of nuclear medicine technologists were $62,300 in May 2006.
