Undergraduate study in nuclear medicine technology is guided by the academic rules and procedures outlined under Undergraduate Rules and Procedures in the Carver College of Medicine section of the Catalog.

The Bachelor of Science with a major in nuclear medicine technology requires a minimum of 120 s.h. of credit. Work for the degree includes a set of courses that are prerequisite to entering the major, 61 s.h. of coursework in the major, and elective coursework sufficient to complete the minimum of 120 s.h. required for graduation. Students must maintain a cumulative g.p.a. of at least 2.00 and a grade of C or higher in each course required for the major (61 s.h.).

Students who plan to complete all requirements for the degree at the University of Iowa enter the University as students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) with a nuclear medicine technology interest. As CLAS students, they complete the coursework that is prerequisite to entering the major.

Admission to the major is competitive; the program accepts a maximum of eight students per year. Students must apply to the major by January 15 of the year in which they wish to enter the program. Personal interviews with qualified applicants are scheduled in February, and the class is selected by March 15. The program begins the following fall semester and lasts two years.

Applicants for admission to the University of Iowa whose first language is not English are strongly encouraged to complete the University of Iowa English Proficiency Evaluation and satisfy the University's English Proficiency Requirements before they apply to a professional program. Students must have permission to register for a full academic load before they may be admitted to the Nuclear Medicine Technology Program.

The nuclear medicine technology major requires students to complete a minimum of two years of a high school world language, or college-level coursework deemed by the University as equivalent, prior to admission.

Students who are admitted to the major become Carver College of Medicine students. Upon completing the program successfully, they are granted a Bachelor of Science degree. Graduates are eligible to apply for the nuclear medicine technology national certification examinations.

The program strongly advises students entering the University to pursue a course of study that is applicable to another major, most commonly biochemistry, biology, chemistry, or microbiology, so that if they are not admitted to the Nuclear Medicine Technology Program, they still may complete a major and receive a bachelor's degree.

The Bachelor of Science with a major in nuclear medicine technology requires the following work.

Prerequisites to the Nuclear Medicine Technology Major

Students must complete the following prerequisite courses and must have earned 60 s.h. of college credit with a cumulative g.p.a. of at least 2.50 before they may enter the nuclear medicine technology major. In addition to providing a foundation for the major, the prerequisite courses are good preparation for other majors.

Rhetoric

RHET:1030Rhetoric4-5

Culture, Society, and the Arts

See GE CLAS Core (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences) in the Catalog for approved courses in the culture, society, and the arts areas.

Students complete two courses for 3 s.h. each in two of these areas (total of 6 s.h.).

  • Diversity and Inclusion approved coursework.
  • Historical Perspectives approved coursework.
  • International and Global Issues approved coursework.
  • Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts approved coursework.
  • Values and Culture approved coursework.

Mathematics

One of these:
MATH:1020Elementary Functions4
MATH:1440Mathematics for the Biological Sciences4
A more advanced mathematics course

Introductory Chemistry with Laboratory

This course:
CHEM:1110Principles of Chemistry I4

Introductory Physics

One of these:
PHYS:1400Basic Physics3-4
PHYS:1511College Physics I4

Psychology

This course:
PSY:1001Elementary Psychology3

Medical Terminology

This course:
CLSA:3750Medical and Technical Terminology2

Anatomy with Laboratory

One of these options:
ACB:3110 & HHP:1110Principles of Human Anatomy - Human Anatomy Laboratory4
HHP:1100 & HHP:1110Human Anatomy - Human Anatomy Laboratory4
HHP:1150Human Anatomy Lecture with Lab4
HHP:3115Anatomy for Human Physiology with Lab5

Physiology with Laboratory

One of these options:
HHP:1300 & HHP:1310Fundamentals of Human Physiology - Human Physiology Laboratory4
HHP:1350Fundamentals of Human Physiology with Laboratory4
HHP:3500 & HHP:1310Human Physiology - Human Physiology Laboratory4
HHP:3550Human Physiology with Laboratory5

Recommended Pre-Major Courses

The Nuclear Medicine Technology Program strongly recommends that students who intend to apply to the major take the following coursework in addition to the required prerequisite courses listed above.

Both of these:
CHEM:1120Principles of Chemistry II4
RSP:1100Introduction to the Radiation Sciences1
One of these:
BIOL:1140Human Biology: Nonmajors4
BIOL:1411Foundations of Biology4
HHP:1400Human Anatomy and Physiology3
One of these:
STAT:1020Elementary Statistics and Inference3
STAT:3510Biostatistics3
STAT:4143Introduction to Statistical Methods3
One of these:
BAIS:1500Business Computing Essentials2
CS:1020Principles of Computing3

Prospective students are encouraged to consult the Nuclear Medicine Technology Program office to plan an appropriate pre-major program of study.

Coursework in the Major

Students admitted to the nuclear medicine technology major spend two years in a clinical curriculum that is organized in accordance with the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology (JRCNMT) Accreditation Standards for Nuclear Medicine Technologist Education. They complete coursework in the following areas: radiopharmacy, radiation safety and radiobiology, patient care, nuclear medicine and positron emission tomography (PET) procedures, radiation physics and instrumentation, administration and management, medical and professional ethics, research methodology, and computed tomography (CT). Practical clinical rotations focus on nuclear medicine, PET and CT imaging, nuclear medicine therapy, clinical radiopharmacy, nuclear medicine computer applications, and quantification of radioactivity in vivo and in vitro.

Students must earn a grade of C or higher in each course required for the major.

The following coursework is required.

RSNM:3120Fundamentals of Nuclear Medicine and PET3
RSNM:3121Nuclear Medicine Technology Clinical Internship I3
RSNM:3131Radiopharmaceuticals3
RSNM:3220Nuclear Medicine and PET Clinical Procedures3
RSNM:3221Nuclear Medicine Technology Clinical Internship II3
RSNM:3231Nuclear Medicine Instrumentation3
RSNM:3321Nuclear Medicine Technology Clinical Internship III6
RSNM:4121Nuclear Medicine Technology Clinical Internship IV4
RSNM:4221Nuclear Medicine Technology Clinical Internship V4
RSNM:4222Nuclear Medicine Technology Capstone and Certification Exam Preparation6
RSCT:4100Sectional Anatomy for Imaging Sciences3
RSCT:4120Computed Tomography Procedures I4
RSCT:4130Computed Tomography Physical Principles and QC4
RSP:2120Patient Care for the Radiation Sciences3
RSP:3130Radiation Safety and Radiobiology2
RSP:3210Medical Ethics and Law2
RSP:3220Radiation Sciences Quality Management and Health Care Administration2
RSP:4110Research Methodology for Radiation Sciences3
Total Hours61

The Nuclear Medicine Technology Program has a stellar record of job placement. Graduates typically work as nuclear medicine technologists, beginning as entry-level staff at hospitals or clinics. With experience, many earn advanced degrees in areas such as radiation biology, health physics, or medicine. Some work in the private sector as sales or marketing specialists in nuclear medicine.

Graduates also find career opportunities in education as instructors, coordinators, or program directors; and in administration, industry, or research and development. Those pursuing government-related jobs might find positions as regulatory agency inspectors or radiation safety officers. See the Occupational Outlook Handbook for nuclear medicine technologists on the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics website for career information and outlook.

The Pomerantz Career Center offers multiple resources to help students find internships and jobs.

Sample Plan of Study

Sample plans represent one way to complete a program of study. Actual course selection and sequence will vary and should be discussed with an academic advisor. For additional sample plans, see MyUI.

Nuclear Medicine Technology, B.S.

Plan of Study Grid (Manual)
Academic Career
Any SemesterHours
Students apply to the Nuclear Medicine Technology B.S. program through a selective process. Acceptance is not guaranteed. a
Students must earn a grade of C or higher in all RS** courses.
The Nuclear Medicine Technology professional program is two years in duration.
 Hours0
First Year
Any Semester
Recommended: health care experience (e.g. CNA), job shadowing in nuclear medicine and PET
 Hours0
Fall
RHET:1030 Rhetoric 4
HHP:1400
Human Anatomy and Physiology b
or Human Biology: Nonmajors
3 - 4
PSY:1001 Elementary Psychology 3
RSP:1100 Introduction to the Radiation Sciences c 1
GE: General Education course (DI, IGI, HP, LVPA, or VC) d 3
Admission Application: students may be eligible to apply for early acceptance (due January 15) e
 Hours14-15
Spring
Human Anatomy and Lab f 4 - 5
CLSA:3750 Medical and Technical Terminology 2
MATH:1020
Elementary Functions g
or Mathematics for the Biological Sciences
4
GE: General Education course (DI, IGI, HP, LVPA, or VC) d 3
Elective course 2
 Hours15-16
Second Year
Fall
CHEM:1110 Principles of Chemistry I h 4
PHYS:1511
College Physics I
or Basic Physics
3 - 4
BAIS:1500
Business Computing Essentials c
or Principles of Computing
2 - 3
Elective course 3
Elective course 2
Admission Application: begin preparing materials for NMT program application (due January 15) e
 Hours14-16
Spring
CHEM:1120 Principles of Chemistry II c 4
STAT:3510
Biostatistics c
or Introduction to Statistical Methods
or Elementary Statistics and Inference
3
Human Physiology and Lab i 4 - 5
Elective course 3
Elective course 2
 Hours16-17
Third Year
Any Semester
The curriculum shown in the third and fourth years on this plan begins upon acceptance into the Carver College of Medicine, Nuclear Medicine Technology Professional Program.
 Hours0
Fall
RSNM:3120 Fundamentals of Nuclear Medicine and PET 3
RSNM:3121 Nuclear Medicine Technology Clinical Internship I 3
RSNM:3131 Radiopharmaceuticals 3
RSP:3130 Radiation Safety and Radiobiology 2
RSP:2120 Patient Care for the Radiation Sciences 3
 Hours14
Spring
RSNM:3220 Nuclear Medicine and PET Clinical Procedures 3
RSNM:3221 Nuclear Medicine Technology Clinical Internship II 3
RSNM:3231 Nuclear Medicine Instrumentation 3
RSP:3210 Medical Ethics and Law 2
RSCT:4100 Sectional Anatomy for Imaging Sciences 3
 Hours14
Summer
RSNM:3321 Nuclear Medicine Technology Clinical Internship III 6
 Hours6
Fourth Year
Fall
RSNM:4121 Nuclear Medicine Technology Clinical Internship IV 4
RSP:4110 Research Methodology for Radiation Sciences 3
RSCT:4130 Computed Tomography Physical Principles and QC 4
RSCT:4120 Computed Tomography Procedures I 4
 Hours15
Spring
RSNM:4221 Nuclear Medicine Technology Clinical Internship V 4
RSNM:4222 Nuclear Medicine Technology Capstone and Certification Exam Preparation 6
RSP:3220 Radiation Sciences Quality Management and Health Care Administration 2
Exam: Upon completion of the program students are eligible to apply to take certification exams.
Degree Application: apply on MyUI before deadline (typically in February for spring, September for fall) j
 Hours12
 Total Hours120-125
a
The Academic Advising Center advises Nuclear Medicine Technology Interest students on prerequisite course planning. Students are advised for success, based on academic strength, not necessarily for a four year plan. Prerequisites may take more than two years to complete.
b
One of these courses is strongly recommended to prepare for the anatomy and physiology courses.
c
This course is recommended not required.
d
Students must complete 6 s.h. by taking 3 s.h. courses from two of the following areas: Diversity and Inclusion, Historical Perspectives, International and Global Issues, Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts, or Values and Culture.
e
Please see the Radiation Sciences Programs' website and your academic advisor for detailed application instructions and deadlines.
f
Choose from: HHP:1150, HHP:3115, HHP:1100 and HHP:1110, ACB:3110 and HHP:1110.
g
Enrollment in math courses requires completion of a placement exam.
h
Enrollment in chemistry courses requires completion of a placement exam.
i
Choose from: HHP:1350, HHP:3550, HHP:1300 and HHP:1310, HHP:3500 and HHP:1310.
j
Please see Academic Calendar, Office of the Registrar website for current degree application deadlines. Students should apply for a degree for the session in which all requirements will be met. For any questions on appropriate timing, contact your academic advisor or Graduation Services.