Radiation Science Technology

  What is Radiation Science Technology?

The radiation science technology program is designed to respond to changing health care needs. It focuses on workforce development and the preparation of competent health care workers for a high-tech environment. Program courses can be taken to meet continuing education requirements needed to maintain registered status while working toward completion of the baccalaureate degree.

The program allows students the opportunity to pursue competency in areas of specialized technology. It expands upon both the radiologic technology and radiation therapy technology programs to provide advanced skills in these areas. Students benefit from a multi-disciplinary education and experience that will increase employment opportunities. The curriculum is designed to prepare them for the certification exam in computed tomography or the exam in medical dosimetry.

Possible concentrations include sectional imaging, professional practice and medical dosimetry. In addition, students may choose radiography or radiation therapy. The medical dosimetry and radiography options are available only for radiation therapists. The radiation therapy option is available only for radiographers. All concentrations include specialized courses and internship opportunities. In addition, approved electives are included to allow the student to tailor the program to meet their professional goals. All graduates complete a core of general education and radiation science courses. The program provides opportunities in multi-modality or specialized areas of employment as well as opportunities for leadership roles in supervisory or educational positions.

  Success Factors

Students entering this program must be registered in radiography or radiation therapy. Successful professionals must want to help others, be able to work as part of a team and as a leader, possess good verbal and nonverbal communication skills and have a professional demeanor. 

  Career Possibilities

Sectional imaging is a one-year concentration that focuses on computed tomography or CT. In CT, the computer processes information that is collected as an X-ray beam is rotated around the patient. The images created are termed cross-sectional and demonstrate the internal structures of the body as in an image analogous to a “slice.” CT images are used for diagnosis of many diseases, including cancer, and are utilized in radiation therapy treatment planning.

The one-year professional practice concentration is designed to prepare professional leaders in the radiation sciences. Professional practice courses focus on supervisory and instructional skills. These skills are designed to enhance careers in areas such as shift supervisors, chief technologists, clinical supervisors, clinical instructors and classroom instructors. 

The two-year medical dosimetry concentration is designed for radiation therapists only. Areas of study include calculating and generating radiation dose distributions in accordance with the treatment prescribed by a radiation oncologist. Courses in physics, applied anatomy and radiobiology are included to help students learn to design optimal treatments in cooperation with a medical physicist.

The two-year concentrations in radiologic technology or radiation therapy are designed to educate multi-credentialed radiation science professionals for practice in both the diagnostic and therapeutic work environments. Radiation therapists will acquire skills in radiography, and radiographers will acquire skills in radiation therapy, allowing for flexibility in employment.

  Majoring in Radiation Science Technology

The ultimate goals of the baccalaureate program in radiation science technology are to educate and prepare students to meet the needs of the health care community in leadership and specialized technological positions in the radiation sciences. The general education component is designed to reinforce the technical experience and develop skills in critical thinking, effective communication, knowledge integration and social responsibility.

• The graduate will be prepared to practice in a leadership or specialized technological position in the radiation sciences.
• The graduate will demonstrate problem-solving and critical-thinking skills in leadership and/or specialized radiation science technologies.
• The graduate will communicate effectively in a variety of professional settings.
• The graduate will synthesize professional knowledge and be able to evaluate diverse viewpoints.
• The graduate will demonstrate high standards of social responsibility by practicing in a professional and ethical manner.

  Curriculum

This curriculum information is intended as a general information guide for students considering enrollment in this program. These online tools are designed to assist you, but are not a substitute for planning with an academic or faculty advisor.

If you are currently confirmed or enrolled, you can check your degree requirements online. If you are considering transferring to this major from another school use the Course Applicability System (CAS) to see how credits you have earned will apply to this major at UC. For course descriptions by college, click here.

Freshman Year                                                                      

Course Name	Course Number	Credits
English Composition I, II	ENGL 101, 102	6
Anatomy & Physiology I, II, III	BIOL 201, 202, 203	12
General Education Eectives*		9
Introductory Computer course**	OATN179	3
First Emergency Responder	EMS 181	3
Radiologic Technology or Radiation Therapy Courses		13
TOTAL		46

 Sophomore Year                                                                    

Course Name	Course Number	Credits
Radiologic Technology or Radiation Therapy Courses		41
Intermediate Composition	ENGL 289	3
TOTAL		44

Junior Year                                                                            

Course Name	Course Number	Credits
Concentration Courses and Approved Electives		36-39
General Education Electives *		6
Ethics in the Radiation Sciences	RDSC 498	3
TOTAL		45-48

Senior Year                                                                            

Course Name	Course Number	Credits
Concentration Courses and Approved Electives		36-39
General Education Electives *		6
Radiation Science Capstone I	RDSC 496	1
Radiation Science Capstone II	RDSC 499	2
TOTAL		45-48

* Select from:

• one course to meet the Fine Arts or Historical Perspectives requirement
• one course to meet the Literature requirement
• one course to meet the Humanities requirement
• one course to meet the Social Sciences requirement
• one course to meet the Quantitative Reasoning requirement
• one course to meet the Diversity & Culture requirement
• one course to meet the Social & Ethical Issues requirement 

** Microcomputer Office Applications, Intro to Computer Science:  Survey 

Concentration Areas:

• Sectional Imaging
• Medical Dosimetry (two-year concentration for radiation therapists only)
• Professional Practice
• Radiologic Technology or Radiation Therapy

Sectional Imaging Concentration    

Course Name	Course Number	Credits
Human Sectional Anatomy	BIOL270	4
Introduction to Computed Tomography	RDSC 411	3
Imaging Procedures in Computed Tomography	RDSC 412	3
Computed Tomography Physics & Instrumentation	RDSC 413	3
OR Topics in Sectional Imaging I, II, III*	RDSC 414, 415, 416	9
Internship in Sectional Imaging I, II	RDSC 417, 418	4-8
Venipuncture & IV Therapy	ALH 411	3
Communication & Imaging Systems in Radiologic Science	RDSC 471	3
Approved Electives		11-14
TOTAL		36-39

*The Topics in Sectional Imaging course sequence (RDSC 414, 415, 416) may be substituted for the Computed Tomography course sequence (RDSC 411, 412, and 413).                                                                 

 

Professional Practice Concentration    

Course Name	Course Number	Credits
Health Care Delivery Systems	ALH 421	3
Economic & Financial Aspects of Health Care	ALH 422	3
Legal Aspects of Health Care	ALH 423	3
Clinical & Laboratory Supervision & Assessment	ALH 424	3
Presentation Strategies in Health Care	ALH 425	3
Internship in Professional Practice I, II	RDSC 427, 428	4-8
Curriculum Design & Instruction in the Radiologic Sciences	RDSC421	3 (optional)
Communication & Imaging Systems in Radiologic Science	RDSC 471	3 (optional)
Approved Electives		10-20
TOTAL		36-39

Medical Dosimetry Concentration *                                                        

Course Name	Course Number	Credits
Windows	OATN 225	3
College Algebra I, II	MATH 173, 174	6
Trigonometry	MATH 181	3
Object Oriented Programming I, II	CS 141, 142	6
Introduction to Unix	CS 186	3
Medical Dosimetry I, II, III	RDSC 431, 432, 433	15
Medical Physics I, II, III	RDSC 441, 442, 443	15
Medical Dosimetry Clinical Practicum I, II, III	RDSC 331, 332, 333	3
Quality Assurance and Radiation Safety in Medical Dosimetry	RDSC 445	3
Internship in Medical Dosimetry I, II, III, IV	RDSC 437, 438, 439, 440	16
TOTAL		73

Radiologic Technology Concentration*                                                  

Course Name	Course Number	Credits
Basic Elements of Radiologic Technology	RDTN 171	3
Radiography I, II, III	RDTN 241, 424, 243	11
Clinical Practicum I, II, III, IV, V, VI	RDTN 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216	16
Introduction to Clinical Practice	RDTN 181	3
Radiographic Image Analysis	RDTN 271	2
Human Sectional Anatomy	BIOL 270	4
Radiologic Science & Imaging I, II, III	RDTN 251, 252, 253	15
Radiographic Pathology	RDTN 296	3
Advanced Imaging & Patient Care	RDTN 298	3
Issues in Radiologic Technology	RDTN 286	3
Radiography Review	RDTN 297	3
Approved Electives		9
TOTAL		75

Radiation Therapy Concentration**                                        

Course Name	Course Number	Credits
Basic Elements of Radiation Therapy I, II	RDTH 141, 142	4
Clinical Practicum I, II, III, IV, V	RDTH 221, 222, 223, 224, 225	15
Human Sectional Anatomy	BIOL 270	4
Clinical Oncology I, II, III	RDTH 201, 202, 203	15
Radiation Therapy Physics I, II	RDTH 205, 206	8
Radiation Physics & Treatment Planning I, II	RDTH 281, 282	8
Simulation Lab I, II, III	RDTH 211, 212, 213	3
Patient Care in Radiation Therapy	RDTH 278	1
Radiation Biology	RDTH 243	3
Radiation Protection	RDTH 272	2
Radiation Therapy Review	RDTH 291	1
Approved Electives		9
TOTAL		73

* This two-year concentration is available for radiation therapists only.

** This two-year concentration is available for radiographers only.

  UC Advantages and Special Opportunities

The program faculty are experts in the fields of medical imaging and radiation therapy. Internships allow students the opportunity to work closely with leaders and experienced practicing professionals in the radiation sciences.

  Special Programs

The baccalaureate level course work in the program incorporates all of the University of Cincinnati general education Breadth of Knowledge requirements. Students will also be required to complete concentration electives to enhance their academic experience. A methodology course titled Ethics in the Radiation Sciences and the Radiation Science capstone course provide the culminating baccalaureate experiences for students in the program, including a research project and formal presentation.

  Admission Requirements

IMPORTANT NOTE: Students without prior radiologic technology or radiation therapy education and credentialing should initially pursue entrance into one of these associate degree programs. 

Prior to enrolling in the courses listed in this program, students are required to meet with an academic adviser to plan their academic course work. This program is designed for students who plan to complete or have already completed a two-year program in radiation therapy, radiography or an equivalent medical imaging program (i.e. nuclear medicine technology). Up to 54 transfer credits may be awarded for previous educational experiences in these areas upon submission and review of appropriate documentation. Additional credits may be awarded for equivalent college courses taken at accredited institutions listed in the curriculum upon review of official transcripts.  The following requirements must be met in order to be eligible for the allied health and concentration courses in the junior and senior years of the program:

• Cumulative GPA of a 2.5 or better upon completion of radiation therapy or radiologic technology program
• Proof of registered status and appropriate state license, or "registry eligible"* as a radiologic technologist in radiation therapy or radiography and appropriate state license
• Completion of the following courses with a "C" or better:
  • English Composition I, II, III
  • Anatomy & Physiology I, II, III
  • Introductory computer course (3 credits minimum)
  • First Emergency Responder or equivalent patient care course
  • Qualify for college algebra on the RWC math placement test 

* Students may provide a written notice from their program director to verify "registry eligible" status. Students must be registered in the appropriate discipline and hold a state license in order to participate in internship courses required in most concentrations.

Some clinical education settings may require students to undergo drug testing and/or background checks at the students’ expense. Failure to meet the clinical education setting requirements may prohibit students from completing clinical competencies necessary for successful completion of the program. Any student found to be under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs while in the classroom, laboratory, or clinical setting will be subject to disciplinary action and/or dismissal from the clinical portion of the program.

Acceptance to the BRST program does not guarantee placement in the medical dosimetry concentration. Due to the limited availability of clinical internships, enrollment in the medical dosimetry concentration is selective. The following minimum requirements should be met by March 1 for a candidate to be considered. Students who apply after the deadline will be considered on a space available basis only.

• Grades greater than or equal to an overall average of a 3.0 in the following radiation therapy courses: Clinical Oncology, Radiobiology/ Radiation Protection, Radiation Physics, and Radiation Physics Treatment Planning.
• Within the past two years, qualify for college algebra I on the RWC math placement test, or complete intermediate algebra with a "C" or better.
• Submit three professional letters of recommendation, preferably written by a radiation therapy program director, a certified medical dosimetrist, and/or a previous physics instructor.

If the number of candidates meeting the minimum requirements exceeds the number of available clinical internship spaces, then the above criteria will be used to rank the candidates. In addition, overall GPA, attendance at an informational meeting, the number of required junior and senior courses already completed, and the number of years of work experience as a radiation therapist will be considered when ranking students. Accepted students will be notified by July 1.

In order to maintain acceptance to the medical dosimetry concentration, the student must obtaina minimum of a "C" in each of the following courses: College Algebra I & II, Trigonometry, Medical Physics I - IV, Clinical Practicum I - III, Medical Dosimetry I - IV, Quality Assurance, Internship I - IV.

In order to participate in the radiologic technology or radiation therapy concentrations, students must meet the specific requirements for entrance into the appropriate associate degree or certificate program. These processes may involve placement on a waiting list.

  Graduation Requirements

To qualify for the degree, students must fulfill the requirements of the technical baccalaureate in radiation science technology program and must have at least a 2.5 cumulative college grade point average. They must also obtain a grade of "C" or better in all required ALH or RDSC designated courses and all required concentration courses. Upon matriculation, all students must earn at least 60 of the required baccalaureate degree credits at Raymond Walters College to be eligible for graduation. Anyone who changes programs or extends work beyond four years for the baccalaureate degree must meet the published requirements of the program in the year of expected graduation. 

  Accreditation

The University of Cincinnati is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Application for accreditation by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) has been submitted for the medical dosimetry concentration. Approval is pending. Information regarding accreditation status is available on the JRCERT Web site at www.jrcert.org.