Nuclear Medicine Technology

Return to: Departments and Programs

Nuclear medicine is an interdisciplinary field that combines chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer technology and medicine in using radiation to diagnose and treat disease. Though there are many diagnostic techniques currently available, nuclear medicine uniquely provides information about both the structure and function of virtually every major organ system within the body. It is this ability to characterize and quantify physiologic function which separates nuclear medicine from other imaging modalities, such as x-ray. Nuclear medicine procedures are safe, they involve little or no patient discomfort and do not require the use of anesthesia.

North Central College’s degree program in Nuclear Medicine Technology prepares students for a career as a Nuclear Medicine Technologist. The first option is a 3+1 program with Northwestern Memorial School of Nuclear Medicine. Students spend three years at North Central College, where they complete their liberal arts general education core along with prerequisite science and math courses. This is followed by a 14 month clinical experience at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The student graduates from North Central College with a liberal arts degree in Nuclear Medicine Technology. Admission to the final year of the program is based upon successful application to the program at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in the second term of the junior year. Student applicants are considered and evaluated solely by the faculty/staff at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Student admission to the program at Northwestern is not guaranteed.

Another option is for the student to complete a four-year B.S. or B.A. degree at North Central College in chemistry, biology or biochemistry, and then apply for admission to Northwestern Memorial Hospital for a one-year certificate program in Nuclear Medicine Technology.

Students intending to major in Nuclear Medicine Technology must apply for admission into the North Central College program at the end of their second year of study. Prerequisite courses and other requirements are subject to change. Keep in touch with the Pre-Professional Health Program Coordinator for the most recent information

Degrees offered: B.A. and B.S.

Programs

• Nuclear Medicine Technology, B.A.
• Nuclear Medicine Technology, B.S.

Courses

• NMT 405 - Medical Terminology
• NMT 410 - Management and Methods of Patient Care
• NMT 412 - Radiation Safety and Protection
• NMT 414 - Radiation Detection and Instrumentation
• NMT 421 - Radiation Physics and Instrumentation
• NMT 425 - Diagnostic Nuclear Imaging Clinical Practicum I
• NMT 426 - Diagnostic Nuclear Imaging Clinical Practicum II
• NMT 430 - Clinical Nuclear Imaging Procedures
• NMT 432 - Radionuclide Chemistry and Radiopharmacy
• NMT 434 - Radiation Biology
• NMT 436 - Computer Applications
• NMT 438 - Clinical Correlation - Pathology
• NMT 440 - Computed Tomography and Cross Sectional Anatomy

Return to: Departments and Programs