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Degree Offered

Master of Perfusion Science (MPS)
Additionally, the CPE Program offers an online Masters of Perfusion Science (MPS) Degree Advancement Option (DAO) for those who have already completed a CAAHEP-accredited perfusion education program. DAO participants are part-time students and are allowed up to five years to complete a 17-hour curriculum.

Length of Program

The Clinical Perfusion Science Education (CPE) Program at UNMC is 21 months in length. Upon successful completion of the program, UNMC awards the Master of Perfusion Science degree, making graduates eligible for national certification. The first two semesters (Phase I) consist of didactic coursework with an introduction to perfusion science. The remaining 11 months (Phase II and III) consist of clinical rotations, a research project, and elective courses.

Degree Requirements

Graduation requirements include successful completion of the following:

  1. Pass, with a greater than 70% grade, a comprehensive written objective test that focuses on problems encountered in the practice of clinical perfusion.
  2. Complete thorough and comprehensive evaluations of different patients who are to undergo clinical perfusion. The student must be able to differentiate between abnormal and normal variations and to design a pump circuit that would meet the physiological needs of the patient undergoing surgery. Demonstrate through appropriate consultation with the faculty member that a suitable circuit has been selected and that the patient can be safely supported on cardiopulmonary bypass.
  3. Meet all standards as established by the clinical competency committee.

Clinical Perfusion Website

Clinical Perfusion Education

The mission of admissions in the College of Allied Health Professions is to advance evidence-based recruitment and admissions practices that are inclusive, equitable and balanced with respect to experiences, attributes and metrics to recruit and admit applicants for the purpose of preparing highly competent, collaborative and compassionate professionals dedicated to improving the health and healthcare of all individuals and communities. 

For specific Clinical Perfusion admissions, application, and timelines, visit: Clinical Perfusion Admissions.

Curriculum

Plan of Instruction

The program is 21 months in length.

Phase I
The first two semesters consist of clinical experience plus 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 the program. 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.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredit Hours
CLPR 502 INTRO PERFUSION TECHNOLOGY 2
CLPR 505 PERFUSION CONCEPTS I 4
CLPR 506 APPLIED CLINICAL PRACTICES 2
CLPR 702 PERFUSION SEMINAR I 1
PAMM 690 BIOLOGY OF DISEASE 5
CAHP 723 PRINCIPALS OF CRITICAL INQUIRY 2
CAHP 630 SCANNING HEALTH CARE ENVIRONMENT 3
 Credit Hours19
Spring
CLPR 512 PERFUSION TECHNIQUES 2
CLPR 515 PERFUSION CONCEPTS II 4
CLPR 520 THESIS DEVELOPMENT 1
CLPR 703 PERFUSION SEMINAR II 1
CLPR 705 PEDIATRIC PERFUSION 3
PHAR 507 PHARMACOLOGY 5
CAHP 631 MANAGEMENT IN HEALTH CARE 3
 Credit Hours19
Summer
CLPR 501 ELECTRONICS & BIOMED MONITORING 3
CLPR 701 IN VITRO/IN VIVO LAB PROCEDURES 2
CLPR 708 JOURNAL REVIEW 1
CLPR 710 THESIS DEVELOPMENT II 1
CLPR 715 CLINICAL ROTATION PERFUSION I 5
CLPR 718 CLINICAL ROTATION PERFUSION II 5
 Credit Hours17
Second Year
Fall
CLPR 711 THESIS DEVELOPMENT III 1
CLPR 720 CLINICAL ROTATION PEDIATRIC PERFUSION I 5
CLPR 722 PERFUSION SEMINAR III 1
CLPR 730 CLINICAL ROTATION PERFUSION III 5
CAHP 626 HEALTH CARE ETHICS AND CRITICAL THINKING 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring
CLPR 712 THESIS DEVELOPMENT IV 1
CLPR 723 PERFUSION SEMINAR IV 1
CLPR 725 CLINICAL ROTATION PEDIATRIC PERFUSION II 5
CLPR 735 CLINICAL ROTATION PERFUSION IV 5
 Credit Hours12
 Total Credit Hours82

Clinical Perfusion Website