B.S. in Nuclear Medicine
The Nuclear Medicine Program at UNLV is fully accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Nuclear Medicine.
Nuclear Medicine is the medical specialty that utilizes the nuclear properties of radioactive and stable nuclides to make diagnostic evaluations of the anatomic and/or physiologic conditions of the body and to provide therapy with unsealed radioactive sources.
The Nuclear Medicine Technologist is an allied health professional who, under the direction of an authorized user, is committed to applying the art and skill of diagnostic evaluation and therapeutics through the safe and effective use of radionuclides.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to patient interviews and instruction, preparation, quality control testing, and administration of radioactive compounds, execution of patient imaging procedures including computer processing, image enhancement and laboratory testing.
The mission of the B.S. in Nuclear Medicine Program is to provide a high-quality undergraduate education experience for students in the diagnostic and therapeutic applications of nuclear medicine.
The education experience is accomplished through rigorous classroom instruction, clinical experiences at local imaging facilities, and mentoring. The products of this experience are entry-level professionals capable of critical thinking, devoted to a lifetime of learning, able to effectively communicate with patients and medical personnel, committed to the ethical standards of their profession, and highly sought after by employers.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the University does not guarantee admission to academic programs within the Department of Health Physics.
Applicants to the B.S. in Nuclear Medicine Program must fulfill the following admission requirements:
1. A cumulative high school GPA of at least 3.00/4.00, or
2. A cumulative GPA of 2.75/4.00 or higher for credits taken at UNLV or accepted in transfer by the university.
Applicants not meeting these requirements may be admitted on a probationary status and must complete 30 credits in the Program and/or University required courses at UNLV with a cumulative GPA of 2.50/4.00 or above in order to remain in the Program. Previous coursework will be evaluated by an advisor.
Interested students must complete a B.S. in Nuclear Medicine Program Application Form and submit it to the Department of Health Office either by mail, fax (895-4819), or email to doris.coomes@unlv.edu .
Pre-Nuclear Medicine Majors (NUCPRE)
All applicants meeting the above admission requirements will
be accepted into the B.S. in Nuclear Medicine Program initially
as a pre-nuclear medicine (NUCPRE) major. Each NUCPRE student
is assigned an academic advisor upon admission to the Program.
NUCPRE students are encouraged to meet with their advisor at
least once a semester to determine which classes they should
take in order to meet the requirements for full acceptance
into the nuclear medicine major (NUC), as well as for general
professional advisement. A B.S. in Nuclear Medicine Program
Checklist is used as an advising tool during these sessions.
Note that NUCPRE majors will not be allowed to take nuclear
medicine courses with a NUC prefix at this time without the
permission of their advisor or the Program Director.
Nuclear Medicine Majors (NUC)
Students interested in seeking full acceptance into the nuclear
medicine major (NUC) must have a cumulative GPA of 2.75/4.00
or higher in 60 credits taken at UNLV or accepted in transfer
by the university. Applicants must submit a NUC Application
Form to be considered for admission as a NUC major to the Nuclear
Medicine Program Director by noon on the last Friday in February each year for possible
entrance the following Fall semester. Note that acceptance
to the NUC major is a competitive process and that successful
completion of the NUC admission requirements does not guarantee
acceptance as a NUC major.
UNLV Admission Information for International Students
Progression Requirements
Students must:
1. Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.50/3.00 or higher each semester
enrolled and have no negative grade points.
2. Receive a grade of C or better in all required CMI, HPS,
or NUC courses.
3. Not register for the same CMI, HPS, or NUC course more than two times (except CMI 480 and CMI 485)
Degree Requirements:
| English Composition and Literature ENG 101, ENG 102, and ENG 404, or a literature elective |
9 credits |
| Logic or Finite Mathematics | 3 credits |
| Mathematics MAT 128 |
5 credits |
| Computer Science | 3 credits |
| Statistics | 3 credits |
| Constitutions | 4 credits |
| Social Sciences | 9 credits |
| Fine Arts | 3 credits |
| Humanities | 6 credits |
| Multicultural | (see note 1) |
| International | (see note 1) |
| Sciences BIO 189, BIO 223, BIO 224, CHE 115, CHE 116, PHY 151 |
24 credits |
| Nuclear Medicine Science Core HPS 102, HPS 420, CMI 310, CMI 376 CMI 479, CMI 480 (see note 2), NUC 315, NUC 320, NUC 390, NUC 450, NUC 474, NUC 480, NUC 487 |
47 credits |
| Electives Must be approved by the student's advisor |
8 credits |
| Total | 124 credits |
Notes:
1. Every student must complete a three-credit multicultural course
and a three-credit international course. Courses satisfying
other requirements may simultaneously satisfy the multicultural
and international requirements except one course cannot satisfy
both the multicultural and international requirements.
2. CMI 480 must be taken for a minimum of three semesters.
Suggested 4 Year Course of Study (pdf)
NUC Advising Sheet (pdf)
Description of the above courses may be found on-line. (PDF File Format)
