Medical Technology

College of Arts and Sciences

Phone Number: (605) 626-2601

Office: Seymour 250

The medical technology student at NSU receives a solid understanding of the basic sciences (biology, chemistry and physics) as well as the clinical sciences (immunology, hematology, cytology and microbiology).

The four-year program requires three years of study on campus followed by a year in a clinical setting. The senior year is devoted to clinical study and training in a laboratory in one of the following hospitals: Sioux Valley Hospital, Sioux Falls; Rapid City Regional Hospital, Inc., Rapid City; and Marion Health Center, Sioux City, Iowa. The well-qualified and enthusiastic faculty members in the medical technology program at Northern, combined with small class sizes, personal attention from instructors, and a hands-on policy with laboratory equipment, give Northern students an edge when applying for senior internships. In recent years, the medical technology program at NSU has had 100 percent acceptance of its students into the clinical portions of the programs at these hospitals.

The NSU Science Club sponsors special lectures and other programs to encourage appreciation of math and science and to give students a chance for less formal interaction with faculty. The Pre-Health Professionals Network provides a forum for meeting and networking with students, interns and residents, and health professionals.

Note: a 2.5 minimum grade point average is required of all medical technology students at NSU.

Medical Technology (BS)

• Freshman Year
  • BIOL 151-151L, 153-153L, General Biology (8 credits)
  • CHEM 112-112L, 114-114L, General Chemistry I & II (8 credits)
  • MATH 102, College Algebra (3 credits)
  • System-wide core, institutional graduation and degree requirements (12 credits)
• Sophomore Year
  • BIOL 221-221L, Human Anatomy (4 credits)
  • BIOL 325-325L, Physiology (4 credits)
  • BIOL 367-368, Parasitology (3 credits)
  • CHEM 226-226L, Organic Chemistry I (4 credits)
  • CHEM 362-362L, Biochemistry (4 credits)
  • System-wide core, institutional graduation and degree (13 credits)
• Junior Year
  • BIOL 331-331L, Microbiology (4 credits)
  • BIOL 422-422L, Immunology (4 credits)
  • Choose one: (3-4 credits)
    • BIOL 471-471L, Genetics
    • BIOL 343, Cell and Molecular Biology
  • CHEM 332-332L, Analytical Chemistry (4 credits)
  • MIS 105, Introduction to Computers (3 credits)
  • System-wide core, institutional graduation and degree requirements (13 credits)
• Senior Year
  • Internship 40 hours
  • Students must meet all general graduation requirements except senior college credits; a minimum 2.50 grade point average is required.

Internship applications should be submitted to the Committee on Medical Education (COMTE) which will make every effort to match students with the South Dakota hospital of their choice. Direct application should be made to out-of-state hospitals with which Northern State University is affiliated. A transcript must accompany the application.

When Northern State University receives notification of the satisfactory completion of the senior year program from the affiliated hospital laboratory, the student will be recommended for graduation and will receive the Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Medical Technology.

Northern State University is affiliated with the following hospitals: Rapid City Regional Hospital, Inc., Rapid City, SD; Marion Health Center, Sioux City, Iowa; Sioux Valley Hospital, Sioux Falls, SD.

The 40 hours of internship include the following courses.

Medical Technology Orientation. Clinical laboratory, school of medical technology, basic laboratory techniques, professional ethics, and personal and professional responsibility.

Chemistry. Lecture and laboratory. Medically oriented biochemistry as applied to normal and abnormal physiology and analysis of body constituents, instrumentation, use of radionuclides in laboratory medicine.

Hematology. Lecture and laboratory. Analysis of normal and abnormal cellular elements of the blood and bone marrow, hemostatic mechanisms.

Immunohematology. Lecture and laboratory. Theory and practice of immunohematology in blood transfusion, component therapy, immunologic diagnostic procedures, and blood bank administration.

Immunology. Lecture and laboratory. Principles of immunology in serologic diagnosis.

Microbiology. Lecture and laboratory. Isolation and identification of pathogenic organisms and their susceptibility to therapeutic agents. Includes bacteriology, mycology, virology, and parasitology.

Clinical Microscopy. Lecture and laboratory. Chemical and cellular composition of body fluids and urine. Normal and abnormal kidney function.

Introduction To Administration. Lecture and/or seminars. Theory and practice of laboratory supervision, management, and/or problem solving.

Introduction To Education. Lecture and/or seminars. Didactic and practical educational evaluation, methods of instruction, and objective writing.

Introduction To Research. Directed study and/or projects in specialty area(s) of medical technology.

The basic medical technology program, with a carefully planned fourth year, may lead to other professional programs with no loss of credit.

Faculty:

• Dr. Susan Landon-Arnold (director of allied health services)

• Dr. John Naughten

• Dr. Jodie Ramsay

• Dr. Dan Tallman

• Dr. Erika Tallman

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