Overview
The Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Medicine Imaging Sciences Program has the following requirements for consideration for admission to the program:
- Meets all admission requirements general to the UAMS College of Health Professions
- A cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
- A cumulative undergraduate math and science GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
- Successful completion of specific coursework
- Completion of the required amount of professional observation
- Meets specific technical standards
- Submission of a personal statement
International Students
The Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Medicine Imaging Sciences Program is unable to accept applications from international students with F-1 visas.
Admission Factors
Criteria
Admission to the Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Medicine Imaging Sciences Program is a highly selective and competitive process. Selection is based on a combination of the following criteria:
- Academic performance
- Life experiences
- Performance during the interview
Competitive Attributes
A competitive applicant will possess the following attributes:
- Strong written and oral communication skills
- High level of professionalism
- Ability to work on a team and collaborate with others
Non-Discrimination Policy
Applicants are considered without regard to race, color, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion, national origin or disability status as a criterion in deciding against any individual in matters of admission, placement, transfer, hiring, dismissal, compensation, fringe benefits, training, tuition assistance and other personnel or educationally-related actions.
Required Coursework
The following 80 semester credits1 are required for admission to the Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Medicine Imaging Sciences Program. All listed courses are required from an institutionally accredited post-secondary academic institution and must fulfill all college requirements regarding acceptance of transfer credit.
Fulfillment of the prerequisite courses for the Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Medicine Imaging Sciences Program does not guarantee admission.
A final grade of C or better is required in each of the prerequisite courses.
Actual course titles may vary among institutions. If in doubt about the suitability of the following prerequisite courses, please contact the College of Health Professions Admissions Office.
General Education Coursework Requirements
| Typical Course Title | Area | Required Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Two-semester Sequence of English Composition | English and Communication | 6 |
| Fundamentals of Speech or Speech Communication2 | English and Communication | 3 |
| College Algebra (or Higher-level Mathematics) | Mathematics | 3 |
| Fine Arts (Art, Music or Theatre) | Fine Arts and Humanities | 3 |
| Humanities (History, Humanities, Literature, Philosophy or Political Science) | Fine Arts and Humanities | 3 |
| History of the United States or National Government | Social Sciences | 3 |
| Social Sciences (Anthropology, Economics, Geography, Psychology or Sociology) | Social Sciences | 6 |
| Total General Education Hours | 27 |
Program-Specific Coursework Requirements
| Typical Course Title | Area | Required Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Two-semester Sequence of Human Anatomy and Physiology with Lab3 | Science | 8 |
| Biological Sciences or Microbiology with Lab4 | Science | 4 |
| General Chemistry I with Lab5 | Science | 4 |
| General Physics I with Lab6 | Science | 4 |
| Electives7 | General | 33 |
| Total Program-Specific Hours | 53 |
Summary of Coursework Requirements
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
| General Education Prerequisites | 27 |
| Program-Specific Prerequisites | 53 |
| Total Prerequisite Hours | 80 |
Credit by Examination
The Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Medicine Imaging Sciences Program will not accept Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or College Level Examination Program credits to fulfill the required math and science coursework.
The program will accept AP, IB or CLEP credits awarded by other institutionally accredited post-secondary academic institutions to fulfill the general education coursework. To be considered for credit transfer, the official transcript from the awarding institution must reflect the AP, IB or CLEP credits.
Refer to the UAMS College of Health Professions Future Students website for details about credit by examination.
Notes
1 Up to three semester credit hours of coursework indicated may be taken as co-requisites during the fall semester only, and will be at the program’s discretion. No math or science courses may be taken as co-requisites. Those applicants who have completed 80 semester credit hours or more of the prerequisite curriculum prior to enrollment will have priority in admission decisions.
2 Due to rules set forth by the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology, speech communication is a required prerequisite and cannot be substituted by an additional fine arts or humanities course.
3 Coursework must cover all body systems and include laboratory credit.
4 Biology courses taken as prerequisites to the human anatomy and physiology courses will satisfy this requirement.
5 Coursework must include laboratory credit. Chemistry courses designed specifically for nursing and other allied health technology students may meet this requirement; however, overview or preparatory chemistry courses will not.
6 Coursework must be algebra-based, at a minimum, and include a laboratory section for credit. Physics courses completed in an accredited radiography program may be considered as a substitute on a case-by-case basis. Must have at least four semester credit hour equivalent of radiography physics to be considered.
7 Eighty credit hours are required for admission to the Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Medicine Imaging Sciences Program, 47 credit hours of which are required general education and math and science courses. With the assistance of the student’s academic advisor, it is recommended to ensure that the 33 elective hours are part of the student’s 35 lower division core or state-required electives and meet the requirements for graduation with a specific degree at the college or university. General education elective courses can come from the following subjects: English, social science, humanities, fine arts, liberal arts, business, communication, foreign language, health and behavioral science. Math and science electives should include advanced coursework in biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics and may include introductory coursework in statistics and computer sciences. Only one activity course (physical education, applied music, applied art, religion, etc.) will be accepted for transfer.
Professional Observation
Applicants to the Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Medicine Imaging Sciences Program must complete a minimum of four hours of observation of a registered nuclear medicine technologist in a hospital department where nuclear medicine imaging is practiced.
All observations should be completed at a facility affiliated with the UAMS nuclear medicine program. If this is not possible, please be aware that the facility chosen may have additional requirements to be completed prior to performing the observation.
During the observation, applicants should gain an understanding of the responsibilities and duties of a nuclear medicine technologist and become acquainted with routine nuclear medicine procedures. This includes experiencing as many of the procedures listed below as possible.
- Bone
- Liver-spleen
- Hepatobiliary
- Cardiac
- Brain
- PET CT
- Thyroid
- Lung
- Gastrointestinal
- Renal
- Abscess/Infection
- Dose Administration
Additionally, applicants are encouraged to discuss the profession with current nuclear medicine technologists in the field.
This observation time must be recorded on the Professional Observation Form. Once completed, the form should be submitted using our online Professional Observation Submission Form.
For more details about this requirement, please contact the program.
Technical Standards
In order to be admitted to the Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Medicine Imaging Sciences Program, applicants must possess certain physical, cognitive and behavioral abilities necessary to complete the curriculum. These requirements exist to ensure that students are able to effectively acquire the knowledge and skills needed to become competent and successful nuclear medicine technologists. Please visit the Technical Standards page for details.
Personal Statement
The personal statement is used to make the interview process flow more smoothly.
The statement should include information about you, your academic career, work background, how you became interested in nuclear medicine and your future goals. You may include hobbies, outside interests or anything else you think would be of interest to the selection committee. These statements will be read by the College of Health Professions Admissions Office and the interview selection committee.
A suggested length is one to two pages (250 to 500 words). Please use Microsoft Word or Notepad to create your statement and upload it to your application prior to submission.