The request to establish a Major in Neurodiagnostics and Sleep Science

Date: April 19, 2012
To: College of Health and Human Services
From: Office of Academic Affairs
Approved On: April 13, 2012
Implementation Date: 2012

Note: Deletions are strikethroughs. Insertions are underlined.

Summary

The Department of Kinesiology proposes to add nine new courses to the undergraduate curriculum for a B.S. degree completion program in Neurodiagnostics and Sleep Science (NDSS): NDSS 3101, NDSS 3102, NDSS 3104, NDSS 3405, NDSS 4101, NDSS 4104, NDSS 4105, NDSS 4406, and NDSS 4107. These courses are required for the major. The Department of Kinesiology also proposes to add three courses to the NDSS program that already exist on campus. Two of these courses already exist in the undergraduate Respiratory Therapy curriculum and will be used in the new NDSS program. They include: RESP 4102 and RESP 4103. The NURN 4201 is already being taught by the School of Nursing and it is currently being used in the Respiratory Therapy program as well. The NDSS program will use the NURN 4201 class as well.

Catalog Copy

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NEURODIAGNOSTICS AND SLEEP SCIENCE (NDSS)

The emphasis of the curriculum is to enhance and advance the student’s professional career in neurodiagnostics and sleep sciences with additional education skills in critical thinking and creative problem solving needed for key leadership, educational, and management positions. This degree program is offered online through the Office of Distance Education and the Department of Kinesiology in collaboration with the Dept. of Allied Health Sciences at UNC Chapel Hill. Students seeking admission into this program will already have earned their registry from Board of Registration of Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT) and/or the American Board of Electroencephalographic and Evoked Potential Technologists (ABRET). The program culminates in a capstone experience that is developed around the students’ specific professional interest area. The curriculum offers specific professional course work in advanced methods and monitoring, program administration, and clinical outcomes evaluation.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

• NDSS 3101
• NDSS 3102
• NDSS 3104
• NDSS 3405
• NDSS 4101
• NDSS 4104
• NDSS 4105
• NDSS 4406
• NDSS 4107
• NURN 4201
• RESP 4102
• RESP 4103

For all required courses for the NDSS major, the student must receive a grade of C or above to be considered successful.

ADMISSION

Students seeking admission into this program that have earned their registry from the Board of Registration of Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT) and/or the American Board of Electroencephalographic and Evoked Potential Technologists (ABRET) Sleep Technologists and Electroneurodiagnostic Technologists may apply for admission to the NDSS online degree program. Criteria for admission to the program are a current unencumbered registry as a RPSGT or R. EEG T., an earned Associate Degree with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above, and at least a C in all coursework taken by the end of the semester prior to the semester for which application is made.

Students must first apply for admission to the University, and then make a second application to the Department of Kinesiology. The final program admission decision is made by the Department of Kinesiology. Applicants are competitively reviewed for admission based on their application and cumulative GPA in all college transferable coursework. Satisfactorily completing the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission into the program. After evaluating the credentials of all applicants meeting the minimum academic requirements, the selection committee offers admission to students whose credentials demonstrate the highest level of academic achievement. Students are admitted in one cohort in the Fall semester, in which applications are accepted from November 15 to June 15. Students will be accepted directly into the program as a NDSS major. Applications are available from the Office of Student Services in the College of Health and Human Services. Admission decisions are communicated in writing by the Department. Applicants who are denied admission may reapply.

PREREQUISITES FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE CLINICAL PRACTICUM (NDSS 3405): DRUG TESTING AND CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS

Students in a professional program may be asked by a clinical facility to undergo drug testing and/or have a criminal background check before being allowed to participate in a clinical experience at that facility. Students are responsible for the cost of drug testing and criminal background checks. All NDSS students must meet the University’s immunization and health status requirements.

Suggested Program Course Sequence

* Students will receive up to 46 hours through credit by examination after successfully passing NDSS 3101 with a C or better.

COURSES IN NEURODIAGNOSTICS AND SLEEP SCIENCE (NDSS)

NDSS 3101 Pathophysiology of Sleep, Neurological, and Related Disorders (3) Course Description: Students will learn about diseases affecting the nervous system, the sleep/wake cycle, and psychiatric and behavioral disorders. Topics include etiology, clinical manifestations, pharmacology, disease prevention, and overview of treatments. Prerequisite: Admittance into NDSS program. Fall/Online

NDSS 3102 – Neurological and Sleep Diagnostic and Therapeutic Methods, and Monitoring Services (3) Course Description: Students will learn about services available at sleep andneurophysiology laboratories and interpretation of diagnostic findings. Topics include sleep procedures, electroencephalography/long-term epilepsy monitoring. Students participate in laboratory practice sessions. Prerequisite: Admittance into NDSS program. Fall/Online

NDSS 3104 – Advanced Sleep and Neurodiagnostic Clinical Procedures (3) Course Description: Students will learn advanced procedures performed in sleep centers and neurophysiology laboratories. Topics include nerve conduction velocities, electronystagmography, actigraphy, and autonomic testing techniques. Students participate in laboratory practice sessions. Prerequisite: Admittance into NDSS program and a grade of C or higher in NDSS 3101 and NDSS 3102. Spring/Online

NDSS 3405 – Practicum (3) Course Description: Sleep disorders center and clinical neurophysiologylaboratory clinical experience. Prerequisite: Admittance into NDSS programand a grade of C or higher in NDSS 3104. Summer

NDSS 4101 – Principles and Practice of Healthcare Education (3) Course Description: This course provides a foundation in the principles and practice of healthcare education. Topics include the educational process, learner characteristics, and teaching and learning theories, techniques and strategies. Prerequisite: Admittance into NDSS program and a grade of C or higher in NDSS 3101. Fall/Online

NDSS 4104 – Advanced Physiological Monitoring and Data Acquisition (3) Course Description: Students will learn advanced clinical procedures performed in clinical neurophysiology laboratories and operating rooms. Topics include evoked potentials and intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring. Students participate in laboratory practice sessions. Prerequisite: Admittance into NDSS program and a grade of C or higher in NDSS 3104. Fall/Online

NDSS 4105 – Leadership in Healthcare Organizations (3) Course Description: This course focuses on the theories and practices of leadership in health care. Global, social, legal, political, economic, and ethical issues are explored. Prerequisite: Admittance into NDSS program and a grade of C or higher in RESP 4102 and NDSS 4101. Spring/Online

NDSS 4406 – Internship (3) Course Description: Sleep and clinical neurophysiology laboratory educational/management internship with mentoring component. Prerequisite: Admittance into the NDSS program and completion of NDSS 4101 and RESP 4102 with a grade of C or better. Spring

NDSS 4107 – Sleep and Neurodiagnostic Sciences Capstone (6) (W) Course Description: Students complete a project and presentation culminating from the undergraduate course of study. Project topics provide students the opportunity to summarize, evaluate, and integrate knowledge gained throughout the undergraduate major. Prerequisite: Admittance into NDSS program and a grade of C or higher in NDSS 3405, NDSS 4104, NURN 4201, and NDSS 4105. Spring