Curriculum

Start Date
Students who are accepted into the program are enrolled in August of the year in which their application has been made.

Plan of Instruction
The program is 21 months in length.

Phase I
The first two semesters consist of didactic course work that includes classes in clinical perfusion, pathology, pharmacology, research methodology, management, and electronics. 

Phase II 
The Summer Session, in between the first and second years, introduces the student to the applied aspects of extra-corporeal circulation through wet-lab experiences and simulated cardiopulmonary bypass procedures.

During this semester the students also continue their clinical education at The Nebraska Medical Center. 

Phase III
The remaining 8 months consist of clinical rotations (1 to 2 months in length) at outside clinical affiliate hospitals. Finalization of the student's research project is also completed. 

Outside employment is discouraged during the first year of education, and not possible during most of the second year. While every effort will be made to assist a student if a difficulty should arise due to classes or health, the student must complete the previous classes or rotations before advancing to the next semester. 

* All students do not take the CLPR 720 and 725 course each semester.  Those not taking either course will either take a second CLPR 730 or 735 class, or a Pediatric Perfusion Elective. 

For a complete list of course descriptions, click here.