OVERVIEW
- In addition to the resident campus programs in Augusta, Augusta University's Nuclear
Medicine Technology programs are offered via distance learning through multiple instructional
formats to many cities in Georgia. Several clinical sites are available as practice
settings to allow students flexibility and convenience close to home.
- All distance candidates must meet the same entrance requirements as Augusta students.
Total program capacity is limited to sixteen students admitted to each entering class
in Georgia. Each junior class generally includes eight distance students and eight
campus students. You are encouraged to contact program faculty to ask about program
logistics, requirements, and personal feasibility. Program clinical faculty will be
happy to help arrange shadowing opportunities and to put you in contact with admissions
counselors who can help you through the prerequisite requirements and application
process.
- All students (including on campus students in Augusta) must be proficient with computers,
as much of the didactic learning requires online research, case study review and analysis,
and collaborative communication and discussion. All testing is done online and a laptop
computer is recommended for program success.
- To meet the needs of students who must maintain employment, the program is flexible,
but full-time employment is discouraged as it is generally difficult to achieve success
under program time requirements. Previous students who have attempted to juggle a
job and the NMT program strongly recommend against working more than 16 hours a week
in order to maintain course and clinical success. Students in the BSRS program train
at Augusta University-affiliated clinical sites.
FACULTY SUPPORT
- The Augusta University NMT program employs a faculty member in Atlanta to oversee
specific distance student learning needs and maintain efficient and frequent contact
with the Program Director. Students from Athens, Gainesville, Columbus, and Atlanta
come to the Gwinnett Medical Center in Lawrenceville, Ga. every two weeks for scheduled
tutorials and advisement to supplement their online lecture materials. Distance students
also have high levels of interaction and access to primary program faculty via email
and online discussion forums.
INSTRUCTIONAL FORMATS
- Traditional Classroom Lecture via ECHO 360: This cutting edge technology allows flexible
delivery of the traditional classroom experience to fit busy lifestyles. If you're
a distance student in Columbus, Gainesville, Athens, or Atlanta, you'll access prerecorded
classroom lectures from the comfort of your own home and interact with faculty online
to clarify teaching points and answer questions you may have.
- Web-Based Online Learning and Research: The Augusta University NMT program has developed
one of the most robust and comprehensive online learning management systems available
for technologist education. All lecture materials, professional networking forums,
and faculty and classmate communication is available from any Internet-connected computer.
This NMT Instructional Portal offers online testing during the program and access
to certification examination practice questions upon graduation. The D2L format is
familiar to most students who have used WebCT or Blackboard learning platforms. Because
much of the coursework requires online research and web-based assignments, a personal
computer with a fast Internet connection is MANDATORY. In addition to these hardware
and software requirements, your computer must be able to handle the high-end video
and audio files of our ECHO 360 Web Learner system.
DISTANCE OPTIONS FOR CLINICAL ROTATIONS
- We attempt to provide a varied and comprehensive clinical experience to maximize the
entry-level skills needed to begin NMT practice upon graduation. Students are expected
to complete a minimum of 20-30 hours of hands-on clinical experience each week during
the program to be eligible to sit for national credentialing examinations. All clinical
sites have received clinical affiliation approval from the Joint Review Committee
on Nuclear Medicine Technology Programs and provide supervised learning by experienced
and credentialed practitioners in the profession. Clinical attendance is mandatory
and is closely monitored by program clinical coordinators.
BSRS: Augusta University-affiliated clinical sites: Approved clinical sites
DEMO DAYS
- All students must attend the one week orientation in Augusta at the start of each
year. One to two on-campus seminars are conducted each semester and faculty visit
every clinical site. Despite the "distance" aspects of the program, class cohesiveness
is high, and is maintained by on-campus meetings where all students and faculty work
closely to clarify challenging course content and do procedural simulation, testing,
and competency evaluation. Social events during demo days and online email among students
in all locations creates fellowship that lasts long after graduation.
GUIDED CLINICAL ASSIGNMENTS
- Laboratory assignments are frequently conducted within the familiar clinical setting
using equipment which students are comfortable with through their regular practicum
experience. These are highly participatory projects facilitated by clinical personnel,
based on discovery of information through action rather than by direct demonstration
or lecture. These assignments, along with the student-centered learning model, form
the foundation of our program's instructional philosophy.
A.S. to B.S. COMPLETION BRIDGE PROGRAM FOR CREDENTIALED NMTs and MILITARY TRAINED
NMTs
- Augusta University offers a three semester B.S. degree for individuals already certified
or registered as Nuclear Medicine Technologists by the NMTCB or ARRT, or have completed
military Nuclear Medicine Technology training. This program can be completed at Augusta
University NMT clinical affiliates or at your place of employment if you have access
to PET/CT and Nuclear Cardiology practice settings with liability coverage. All didactic
courses are delivered online, and no on-campus visits are required. Contact program
faculty for further information.