Course Titles and Descriptions

Below are the general education and core course titles and descriptions for the A.S. in Nuclear Medicine Technology program.

45 Clock Hours/4.5 Quarter Credit Hours

Prerequisites: None

This is a conceptual physics course for non-science majors. This course aims to facilitate students’ understanding of the rules of nature by learning the foundations.

This course covers forces and motion, conservation laws, heat, fluids, vibrations and waves, electricity and magnetism, sound, and light. Students will study the concepts of physics with minimal application of mathematics.

This is a General Education Course.

75 Clock Hours/6 Quarter Credit Hours

Prerequisites: None

Conceptual Chemistry is an introductory chemistry course designed to show how chemistry is intimately involved in many aspects of our lives. The course will cover basic concepts in chemistry and their applications.

The course covers matter and energy, atoms, ions and compounds, chemical reactions, electronic structure of atoms, states of matter including solutions, acids, and bases, and a brief introduction to nuclear chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry. Students will study the concepts of physics with minimal application of mathematics. This is a chemistry course for non-science majors.

This is a General Education Course.

75 Clock Hours/6 Quarter Credit Hours/4 Semester Credit Hours

Prerequisites: None

This course is the first of two courses covering the structure and function of human organ systems. The lecture and lab will discuss the basics of the structures and functions of the human body. Between GE 020A and GE 020B, topics on all major organ systems will be examined while considering them in the state of health versus disease.

This course is the prerequisite for GE 020B – Human Body in Health & Disease II. This is a General Education Course.

75 Clock Hours/6 Quarter Credit Hours/4 Semester Credit Hours

Prerequisites: GE 020A — Human Body in Health & Disease I.

This is the second of two courses covering the structure and function of human organ systems. The basics of structures and functions of the human body will be discussed during lectures and labs. Between GE 020A and GE 020B, topics on all major organ systems will be examined while considering them in the state of health versus disease.

This is a General Education Course.

45 Clock Hours/4.5 Quarter Credit Hours/3 Semester Credit Hours

Prerequisites: None

This course gives students the math skills that provide a foundation for more advanced courses. Students will explore writing and solving linear and nonlinear equations, powers and exponents, quadratic equations, polynomials and factoring, graphing, and linear inequalities and functions.

This is a General Education Course.

45 Clock Hours/4.5 Quarter Credit Hours

Prerequisites: None

In this course, students will explore the fundamental analog and digital skills of oral and written communication to help create professional written and verbal communication within their careers. This introduces various methods used to communicate effectively and create a language that articulates information to connect a speaker to an audience.

This is a General Education Course.

45 Clock Hours/3 Semester Credit Hours

Prerequisites: None

This course examines health law and ethics and their financial and emotional impact on healthcare professionals, patients, and healthcare facilities. Course content includes legal and compliance issues affecting both the employee and employer. Topics include administrative law, professional malpractice, patient rights, risk management, labor law, contract law, and ethical considerations.

This is a General Education Course.

100 Clock Hours/8 Quarter Credit Hours
Prerequisites: None
The course provides an overview of healthcare systems and the role of healthcare workers. Patient care principles and practices will be discussed, including ECG monitoring, vital signs, blood collection, aseptic technique, and infection control.

Content provides concepts of patient education and considerations for the physical and psychological needs of the patient and their family members. An overview of the healthcare system outlines the structure and functions of various departments within the hospital and outpatient setting.

Students will receive CPR certification.

100 Clock Hours/10 Quarter Credit Hours

Prerequisites: None

The course will give the student an overview of nuclear medicine department operations and procedures. Students will explore diagnostic and therapeutic procedures focusing on clinical indications and radiopharmaceutical selection.

Nuclear pharmacy concepts, gamma cameras, positron emission tomography (PET), and hybrid imaging equipment will be introduced. An overview of nuclear medicine clinical research and health informatics will be explored.

75 Clock Hours/7.5 Quarter Credit Hours

Prerequisites: Completion of Quarter I with a “C” or better.

The course provides an overview of the principles of radiation protection. The technologist’s responsibilities to patients, personnel, and the public are discussed. Radiation health and safety requirements of federal and state regulatory agencies, accreditation agencies, and medical organizations are included.

Principles of radiation interactions with molecules, cells, tissues, and the body, as well as the factors affecting biological response, are presented, including acute and chronic effects of radiation. The management of a radiation safety program and regulations will be discussed.

80 Clock Hours/8 Quarter Credit Hours

Prerequisites: Completion of Quarter I with a “C” or better.

The course provides students with principles of non-imaging instrumentation used in nuclear medicine. The course focuses on the function, design, and quality control practices for gas-filled detectors, scintillation detectors, pulse-height analyzers, spectrometers, and counting systems. Nuclear counting statistics will be introduced.

60 Clock Hours/6 Quarter Credit Hours

Prerequisites: Completion of Quarter II with a “C” or better.

This course provides knowledge of general nuclear physics, atomic structure, and radiation concepts. Modes of radioactive decay, radionuclide and radiopharmaceutical production, interactions of radiation with matter, and radiation units and quantities are included. Decay factors, half-life, and activity calculations will be performed.

95 Clock Hours/8.5 Quarter Credit Hours

Prerequisites: Completion of Quarter II with a “C” or better.

The course includes skeletal, pulmonary, and genitourinary imaging procedures. The course will review anatomy, physiology, and pathology for various body systems and how they are imaged in nuclear medicine.

Students will learn the radiopharmaceuticals, medications, mechanism of action, and protocols for each procedure and their contraindications. Image review and case studies are included.

75 Clock Hours/7.5 Quarter Credit Hours

Prerequisites: Completion of Quarter II with a “C” or better.

The course provides students with principles of imaging instrumentation used in nuclear medicine. The course focuses on the function, design, and quality control practices for gamma cameras, positron emission tomography (PET), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and hybrid imaging equipment. Digital imaging quality, processing, and reconstruction will be discussed.

60 Clock Hours/6 Quarter Credit Hours

Prerequisites: Completion of Quarter III with a “C” or better.

The course includes gastrointestinal, central nervous system, endocrine, and cardiac imaging and non-imaging procedures. The course will review anatomy, physiology, and pathology for various body systems and how they are imaged in nuclear medicine.

Students will learn the radiopharmaceuticals, medications, mechanism of action, and protocols for each procedure and their contraindications. Image review and case studies are included.

60 Clock Hours/6 Quarter Credit Hours

Prerequisites: Completion of Quarter III with a “C” or better.

The course provides an overview of the operations and regulations of the nuclear pharmacy and the radiopharmaceuticals used in nuclear medicine. Radiopharmaceutical topics include the production methods, characteristics, and uses within nuclear medicine.

Radiation safety regulations are included. Students will complete a project demonstrating knowledge of nuclear pharmacy operations and practices.

70 Clock Hours/7 Quarter Credit Hours

Prerequisites: Completion of Quarter IV with a “C” or better.

The course provides students with computed tomography (CT) imaging principles. This course provides an overview of CT equipment, applications, quality control, and injection techniques.

Students will learn basic scanning parameters and principles of image quality. Mathematical equations specific to CT are included.

128 Clock Hours/4 Quarter Credit Hours

Prerequisites: Completion of Quarter IV with a “C” or better.

Clinical experiences provide patient care and assessment, competent performance of diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine imaging procedures, and total quality management.

The concepts of team practice, patient-centered clinical practice, and professional development are evaluated through structured, competency-based clinical assignments. Competency levels ensure the patient’s well-being before, during, and following the imaging procedure.

48 Clock Hours/4.5 Quarter Credit Hours

Prerequisites: Completion of Quarter IV with a “C” or better.

The course provides entry-level nuclear medicine students with principles related to sectional anatomy. Course content will overview the body’s transverse, coronal, oblique, and sagittal sectional anatomy.

Anatomical landmarks, normal versus abnormal anatomy, and pathological processes will be reviewed. Correlations between 3D, CT, MRI, and PET images are explored.

60 Clock Hours/Quarter Credit Hours

Prerequisites: Completion of Quarter IV with a “C” or better.

The course provides students with principles related to positron emission tomography (PET) and PET hybrid imaging techniques in computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

This course provides instruction in PET radionuclide production, physics, instrumentation, and image fusion. Students will learn the oncologic, neurologic, inflammation/infection, and cardiac applications of PET imaging.

54 Clock Hours/4.5 Quarter Credit Hours

Prerequisites: Completion of Quarter IV with a “C” or better.

The course provides basic concepts of pharmacology, venipuncture techniques, and administering diagnostic contrast agents and intravenous medications. Students will recognize patient and scenario-specific risks, medication precautions, and contraindications.

Preparation and monitoring techniques for medication administration are emphasized. Students will perform venipuncture on a virtual simulator.

376 Clock Hours/12.5 Quarter Credit Hours

Prerequisites: Completion of Quarter V with a “C” or better.

Clinical experiences provide patient care and assessment, competent performance of diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine imaging procedures, and total quality management.

The concepts of team practice, patient-centered clinical practice, and professional development are evaluated through structured, competency-based clinical assignments. Competency levels ensure the patient’s well-being before, during, and following the imaging procedure.

352 Clock Hours/11.5 Quarter Credit Hours

Prerequisites: Completion of Quarter VI with a “C” or better.

Clinical experiences provide patient care and assessment, competent performance of diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine imaging procedures, and total quality management.

The concepts of team practice, patient-centered clinical practice, and professional development are evaluated through structured, competency-based clinical assignments. Competency levels ensure the patient’s well-being before, during, and following the imaging procedure.

36 Clock Hours/3.5 Quarter Credit Hours

Prerequisites: Completion of Quarter V with a “C” or better.

The course includes nuclear oncology, infection and inflammation, nuclear medicine therapies, miscellaneous imaging, and non-imaging procedures. The course will review anatomy, physiology, and pathology related to these procedures.

Students will learn the radiopharmaceuticals, medications, mechanism of action, and protocols for each procedure and their contraindications. Image review and case studies are included.

An overview of image artifacts, normal and altered biodistribution, normal and abnormal variants, and effects of protocol deviations for all nuclear medicine procedures will be included.

376 Clock Hours/12.5 Quarter Credit Hours

Prerequisites: Completion of QuarterVII with a “C” or better.

Clinical experiences provide patient care and assessment, competent performance of diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine imaging procedures, and total quality management.

The concepts of team practice, patient-centered clinical practice, and professional development are evaluated through structured, competency-based clinical assignments. Competency levels ensure the patient’s well-being before, during, and following the imaging procedure.

36 Clock Hours/3.5 Quarter Credit Hours

Prerequisites: Completion of Quarter VII with a “C” or better.

The course provides preparation for entry into the workforce. A comprehensive review of the program curriculum is included. Students will complete mock registry board exams. Students will be introduced to continuing education programs. Students will complete a capstone project.