Associate in Science/Associate in Applied Science

Radiation Therapy (2163)

MISSION STATEMENT: Creating competent, ethical, confident entry-level health care practitioners committed to professional development through life-long learning in a positive, non-discriminatory and supportive learning environment.

THE CAREER: The radiation therapist assists in the treatment of cancer patients. Working as part of a health care team, supervised by a radiation oncologist, the radiation therapist positions the patient for treatment, performs the necessary mathematical calculations to determine the radiation dosage and delivers the radiation treatments utilizing highly sophisticated equipment.

The demand for skilled, registered radiation therapists is nationwide and expected to increase in the future. With advanced training/education, radiation therapists also have opportunities to pursue careers in dosimetry, medical physics, teaching and administration.

THE PROGRAM: This limited access program is designed for individuals who wish to become certified in radiation therapy. Graduates of the program are prepared to function as entry-level practitioners. Students are strongly advised to complete as many of the general education courses as possible before applying for the program. A minimum grade of “C” must be maintained in all radiation therapy courses in order to continue in the program.

Certification and Licensing
Upon completion of this two-year degree program, graduates are eligible to sit for the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists board examination in radiation therapy.

Application Procedure
Three courses should be completed prior to submitting an application to the program:

BSC 2085C Human Anatomy and Physiology I
CGS 1060 Introductory Computer Concepts
  or CGS 1570 Microcomputer Applications
*Mathematics

Curriculum

General Education Courses
BSC 2085C Human Anatomy and Physiology I (4)
*Mathematics (3)
ENC 1101 English Composition I (3)
*Humanities (3)
*Social and Behavioral Sciences (3)

Credit hours: 16

Professional Courses
CGS 1060 Introductory Computer Concepts (3)
  or CGS 1570 Microcomputer Applications (3)
RAT 1001 Introduction to Radiation Therapy (3)
RAT 2614 Radiation Physics (3)
RAT 2241 Radiation Biology and Safety (3)
HSC 1531 Medical Terminology (for Health Professions) (3)
SLS 1932 Student Life Skills (2)
RAT 2123 Patient Care in Radiation Therapy (3)
BSC 2086C Human Anatomy and Physiology II (4)
RAT 1804 Clinical Education I (4)
RAT 2618 Radiographic Physics II (3)
RAT 2832 Clinical Education B (4)
RAT 1021 Trends in Radiation Therapy (2)
RAT 2242 Oncology I (3)
RAT 2833 Clinical Education C (6)
RAT 2651 Dosimetry and Treatment Planning (3)
RAT 2243 Oncology II (3)
RAT 2834 Clinical Education D (6)
RAT 2061 Seminar: Registry Review (3)

Credit hours: 61

Total Credit Hours: 77

*Refer to A.S. degree General Education Requirements.

Notes
You have two options in this program: the associate in science (A.S.) degree, which can prepare you for employment or transfer to a state university, and the associate in applied science (A.A.S.) degree, which is intended primarily for students who want immediate employment after graduation. If you choose the A.S. degree you must take MAC 1105, MGF 1106 or a higher level mathematics. The A.A.S. degree requires MAT 1033 or higher. Please see an advisor to determine the option that is best for you.

Clinical agencies may require students to undergo drug screening and criminal background checks prior to placement in the agencies for clinical experiences. Students whose drug screening and criminal background checks are unsatisfactory may be denied access to clinical experiences by the clinical agencies. Withdrawal from the program may be necessary if students cannot be placed for clinical experiences.

Cost
Estimated cost of tuition* is $4,640. Estimated cost of books, materials and fees is $1,500 (*tuition rated for Florida residents, as of 7/04)