Carver College of Medicine

Nuclear Medicine Technology

The Nuclear Medicine Technology Program is one of five academic units in the Division of Associated Medical Sciences. For information on the division's general academic policies, see Associated Medical Sciences in the Catalog.

Nuclear medicine technology is a medical specialty that uses radioactive tracers for diagnostic, therapeutic, and research purposes.

Nuclear medicine technologists generally are employed in hospitals and clinics. They work hand-in-hand with nuclear medicine physicians, health physicists, radiopharmacists, and radiochemists as an integral part of a highly trained specialty team.

At the heart of nuclear medicine technology is the use of sophisticated detectors and computers to trace the movement and localization of radioactive tracers in the human body. Other job responsibilities include radiation safety; quality control testing; radiopharmaceutical preparation and administration; and general patient care.

Undergraduate Program

The Nuclear Medicine Technology Program is fully accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medical Technology (JRCNMT). Fulfillment of the requirements established by the JRCNMT Accreditation Board involves three years of preclinical work in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Carver College of Medicine, and a minimum of 12 months of professional clinical experience, available at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and the Veterans Affairs Iowa City Health Care System.

Bachelor of Science

Applicants are strongly advised to pursue a course of study that is applicable to a baccalaureate degree, most commonly in biology, chemistry, biochemistry, or microbiology. In this way, students who are not admitted to the Nuclear Medicine Technology Program can complete a degree in their chosen area.

The following are recommended courses.

FIRST YEAR

SOPHOMORE YEAR

One of these:

22C:001 Computer Literacy

3 s.h.

22C:005 Introduction to Computer Science

3 s.h.

22C:016 Computer Science I

4 s.h.

JUNIOR YEAR

029:011-029:012 College Physics

8 s.h.

One of these:

22S:101 Biostatistics

3 s.h.

22S:102 Introduction to Statistical Methods

3 s.h.

171:161 Introduction to Biostatistics

3 s.h.

Advanced courses in chemistry, biology, or physics based on alternative major, possible minors, interest, and career goals

SENIOR YEAR

The clinical year consists of these courses.

074:101 Principles of Nuclear Medicine I

6 s.h.

074:102 Introductory Clinical Nuclear Medicine

6 s.h.

074:103 Principles of Nuclear Medicine II

3 s.h.

074:104 Intermediate Clinical Nuclear Medicine

9 s.h.

074:105 Advanced Clinical Nuclear Medicine

6 s.h.

For course descriptions, see Radiology in the Catalog.

Admission

a minimum of 94 s.h. of college credit, with a cumulative g.p.a. of at least 2.50;

completion of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Program components in rhetoric, foreign language, interpretation of literature, humanities, historical perspectives, quantitative or formal reasoning, social sciences (sociology and psychology are recommended), and distributed general education;

a minimum of 20 s.h. in three science areas, including a complete introductory course with laboratory in chemistry, physics, and biology; and

a minimum of 3 s.h. in mathematics, including at least elementary functions.

A new class begins every August. Application deadline is February 1. Personal interviews are scheduled in February, and the class is selected by March 15. Class size is limited to 10 students. Prospective students are encouraged to consult the Nuclear Medicine Technology Program office to plan an appropriate preprofessional program.