Bachelor of Science in Neurodiagnostics and Sleep Science

The NDSS Program is no longer accepting students as the program is ending Spring 2023

• Overview
• Program Information
• Curriculum
• Program Contacts
• Proctored Exams
• Delivery Methods
• Prerequisites for Participation in the Clinical Practicum
• Tuition
• Orientation

Overview

Sleep science and neurodiagnostics are unique emerging health care professions dedicated to recording and studying the electrical activity of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves, the function of the cardiovascular system, and the function of the respiratory system. These procedures are vital in diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders, diagnosis of nervous system disorders, as well as aiding in the diagnosis of behavioral, and psychiatric disorders. New technologies have stimulated a great demand for advanced level professionals.

The Neurodiagnostics and Sleep Science (NDSS) program represents advanced study in Neurodiagnostics and Sleep Science. Coursework includes:

• Advanced practice in neurodiagnostic and sleep science
• Principles of education for leaders
• Philosophy and application of scientific research
• Philosophy and principles of laboratory management, healthcare administration, and finance

The program is offered via distance education and may be pursued under part-time status. The UNC Charlotte Department of Kinesiology, in collaboration with the UNC Chapel Hill Department of Allied Health Sciences, offers this unique advanced curriculum.

Graduates of the NDSS program benefit from the unique curricula, which reflect the ever-changing nature of clinical practice and patient care. Advanced roles in neurodiagnostics and sleep science require significant levels of analysis, problem solving, and professional judgment. Graduates of the NDSS program are prepared with the knowledge and skill sets to fulfill these advanced roles. Prospective students will be motivated and qualified practitioners who want to pursue this degree to become the institutional, educational, governmental, and research leaders needed in these fields.

One hundred percent of graduates of the NDSS program are employed or in graduate school within the first year after graduation.

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Program Information

This program is a 2+2 program meaning that individuals are admitted to the University with an associate degree and they complete the last two years of the bachelor degree online through this program. The emphasis of the curriculum is to enhance and advance the student’s professional career in neurodiagnostics and sleep science with additional education in advanced practice, administration, education, research, and leadership.

Students seeking admission into this program will already be registered Polysomnographic or Electroencephalographic Technologists. The curriculum of the NDSS program combines web-based courses, clinical rotations, internship and research projects. The practicum and internship can be setup at a facility local to the student when possible and must be approved by the NDSS program director. The option to complete the practicum at the UNC Hospitals at Chapel Hill may also be discussed with the program director. The program culminates in a capstone experience that is developed around the students’ specific professional interest area.

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Curriculum

Courses and Suggested Sequence

Note: Course names and numbers reflect the UNC Charlotte catalog. Students will enroll in courses through UNC Charlotte.

Year 1

Year 2

NDSS Course Listing & Descriptions

NDSS 3101 Pathophysiology of Sleep, Neurological, and Related Disorders (3)
Description: This course is a study of diseases that affect the sleep/wake cycle, the nervous system and psychiatric and behavioral disorders. Topics include etiology, clinical manifestations, pharmacology, disease prevention, and treatment. Fall

NDSS 3102 Neurological and Sleep Diagnostic, Therapeutic, and Monitoring Services (3)
Description: This course explores current services of sleep centers and neurophysiology laboratories. Topics include quality assurance, clinical reasoning, evidence based practice, instrument performance verification, polysomnography, electroencephalography, multiple sleep latency test, maintenance of wakefulness test, long term epilepsy monitoring, and cardiopulmonary assessment and monitoring. Laboratory sessions provide practical experience in advanced clinical procedures in neurodiagnostics and sleep science. Fall

NDSS 3104 Advanced Sleep and Neurodiagnostic Clinical Procedures (3)
Description: This course explores advanced clinical procedures performed in sleep centers and neurophysiology laboratories. Topics include nerve conduction velocity testing, autonomic testing, nocturnal ventilator support, electronystagmography, troubleshooting, equipment verification and maintenance, evidence based practice, and current issues and trends. Laboratory sessions provide practical experience in advanced clinical procedures in neurodiagnostics and sleep science. Spring

NDSS 3405 Practicum (3)
Description: Sleep disorders center and clinical neurophysiology laboratory clinical experience. Summer

NDSS 4101 Principles and Practice of Healthcare Education (3)
Description: This course provides a foundation in the principles and practice of healthcare education. Topics include instructional theories, design, learning outcomes, assessments, and evaluation. Fall

NDSS 4104 Advanced Physiological Monitoring and Data Acquisition (3)
Description: This course explores the advanced clinical procedures performed in clinical neurophysiology laboratories and operating rooms. Topics include visual, brainstem auditory, and somatosensory evoked potentials, intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring, and equipment verification, troubleshooting, and maintenance. Laboratory sessions provide practical experience in neurophysiologic monitoring techniques. Fall

NDSS 4105 Leadership in Healthcare Organizations (3)
Description: This course focuses on the theories and practices of leadership in health care. Global, social, legal, political, economic, and ethical issues are explored. Spring

NDSS 4406 Internship (3)
Description: Sleep and clinical neurophysiology laboratory educational/management internship with mentoring component. Spring

NDSS 4107 Sleep and Neurodiagnostic Sciences Capstone (6)
Description: Students complete a project and presentation culminating from the undergraduate course of study. Project topics are current and relevant within the professional discipline and will provide students the opportunity to summarize, evaluate, and integrate knowledge gained throughout the undergraduate major. This course is available to seniors nearing graduation and requires permission of instructor to enroll. Spring

RESP 4102 Program Administration (3) (O)
Course Description: Administration, financial, human resource, legal, and policy concepts and issues in outpatient, inpatient, public, and private sector settings. Topics and emphases may vary. This course meets the university General Education requirements for Oral Communication in the Discipline. Prerequisite: Completion of all 3000 level courses. Fall

RESP 4103 Evidence-Based Practice (3)
Course Description: This course will provide the student with an introduction to the concept of evidence-based practice and an opportunity to acquire the skills necessary to be able incorporate evidence and best practices into professional work. These include an understanding of research methods and the approach to critical appraisal of research literature. Prerequisite: Completion of all 3000 level courses. Fall

NURN 4201. Information Technology: Applications in Health Care. (2)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of instructor. A study of the use of computers and information technology in health care. Emphasis is placed on development of the knowledge and competencies necessary for selective use of evaluation of informatics, computer technology and data management in health care. (Spring, Summer)

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Program Contacts

UNC Charlotte Distance Education: John McCulley, Senior Program Manager, jmccul18@uncc.edu, 704-687-0487

The Program Director at UNC Chapel Hill, Mary Ellen Wells, may be contacted with your specific questions about the curriculum or advising. Her email address is mwells@med.unc.edu.

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Proctored Exams

​Faculty teaching online courses as part of a distance education program may require proctored exams or writing assignments. This requirement will be noted on the course syllabus. See the Proctored Testing section of this website for detailed proctored exam information.

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Delivery Methods

Bachelor of Science in Neurodiagnostics and Sleep Science program courses are delivered 100% online using Canvas, Moodle and/or Centra. The one exception to this are the required labs that must be completed in the summer. Each course instructor determines his/her course delivery method(s). Make sure you know how your courses are delivered by viewing the University Course Schedule. Distance education courses have section numbers with an 8 as the middle digit (examples: 080, L80, 081).

Prerequisites for Participation in the Clinical Practicum

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.

IMPORTANT: Both online applications must be submitted with transcripts in order to be considered for admission to the NDSS program.

Please be aware that if you have not been enrolled for 12 consecutive months after the semester last attended at UNC Charlotte, you will need to apply for readmission to the University. Please see this link for additional information.

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Tuition

Distance education tuition and fees

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Orientation

The New and Current Student Guide is your orientation. It will prepare you for participation in UNC Charlotte distance education courses. Among the topics in this orientation are:

• Student Computing
• How to Register for Courses
• How to Order Textbooks
• Tuition
• Technical Orientation (includes learning how to use Canvas, Moodle and Centra; technical specifications for your computer system, and find a buying guide for your computer hardware and software if needed.)
• Student Services

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