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Radiologic Technology

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AAS Degree - Code #0628

Jenna Zetwick, Program Director
Email address: zetwicjk@alfredstate.edu

Radiologic technology is a two-year AAS degree program preparing qualified students to become health care professionals who administer ionizing radiation to produce photographic and digital anatomical images for diagnostic, therapeutic, and research applications. The program coordinates on-campus didactic and laboratory classes and clinical experiences at area hospitals to which students are responsible for their own transportation. Students must be able to demonstrate technical standards and pass clinical competencies as described by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) and the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT), recognized by the United States Department of Education as the national accreditation agency of programs for radiographers. Upon graduation, students are prepared to take the American Registry Certification Exam administered by ARRT and be granted New York State licensure through the New York State Department of Health.

Clinical education is assigned to provide experiences consistent with the student’s level of achievement in different hospital environments. Through clinical assignments, students have opportunities to work with the most modern and specialized equipment available and knowledgeable staff with a wealth of experience in imaging. Clinical education assignments include eight clinical hours per week during the second semester of study and 24 clinical hours per week the third and fourth semesters. In addition, a 15-week (40 hours per week) summer session is required and provides valuable experience in developing clinical competency skills. Clinical placements are in hospitals near Alfred State, so students completing the summer session will require housing close enough to their clinical placements to travel there on a daily basis. For those who need it, summer housing is available at Alfred State; contact the Office of Residential Services for details.

The program currently admits 35 students each year, with a fall semester start date only.  Four student placements are reserved for an on-campus curriculum change, with the remaining 31 placements being filled by Admissions. 

Advantages

  • Prepares the student for the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists’ certification examination and New York State licensure.
  • Energized laboratory on campus.
  • Low student-to-faculty ratio.
  • Major emphasis in the required courses is gaining proficiency in the technical skills necessary for radiologic technology.
  • Extensive clinical experience in area hospitals.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

  • Demonstrate appropriate technical and affective skills in the clinical setting.
  • Apply appropriate radiation protection techniques.
  • Demonstrate patient-centered, age-specific skills.
  • Analyze images to determine diagnostic quality.
  • Demonstrate proper work ethics.
  • Examine the value of leadership, professional development, and growth.
  • Demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving skills in both the didactic and clinical setting.
  • Apply written communication skills to the construction of documents of record that are established professional guidelines.
  • Apply oral communication skills to the explanation of ideas and scientific terminology.
  • Using technological resources effectively and appropriately, synthesize theory and concepts from the liberal education domain and other professions into radiologic technology.
  • Explain cultural diversity and evaluate the role of cultural competency, values, and ethics in the patient care setting.

Mission Statement

The radiologic technology program embraces the mission and vision statements of Alfred State. It enables students to become competent, efficient, and caring radiographers. The program also has the primary responsibility to ensure that the student has acquired the positive characteristics of dedication to duty, quality care, teamwork, and high ethical standards as they relate to the patient, their families, physicians, and other health care providers. The program embraces the mission and core values of Alfred State in its education of students enrolled in the program.

Program Goals

  • To develop competent practitioners capable of functioning in the highly technical and dynamic field of radiologic technology.
  • To develop competent practitioners who demonstrate proficiency in communication skills.
  • To develop competent practitioners who demonstrate proficiency in critical thinking skills and problem-solving skills.
  • To develop practitioners who model professionalism.

Direct Entry Into Baccalaureate Degree Programs

Alfred State radiologic technology graduates who pass their ARRT exam may enter directly into the imaging sciences BTech with the option of either computed tomography, MRI, or healthcare management concentration.

Accreditation/Certification

The radiologic technology program at Alfred State is fully accredited by JRCERT (the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology) through 2025.  JRCERT is the only agency recognized by the US Department of Education for accreditation of educational programs in radiologic technology.

JRCERT
20 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 2850
Chicago, IL, 60606-3182
Phone: 312-704-5300
Fax: 312-704-5304
Email: mail@jrcert.org
http://www.jrcert.org

Program Effectiveness Data

ARRT Examination Pass Rate
Year Number of Students
Attempting Exam
Number of Students
Passing Exam on First Attempt
 Average
2017 11 8 73%
2018 16 13 81%
2019 14 14 100%
2020 14 11 79%
2021 17 14 82%
Five Year Average     83.3%

Program Completion Rate

Year Number of Students
Beginning the Program
Number of Students
Graduating From the Program
Percent Completion
2017 13 11 85%
2018 20 16 80%
2019 18 14 78%
2020 19 14 74%
2021 18 17 94.4%
Five Year Average    

82.3%

Job Placement Rate

Year Number of Students
Actively Seeking Employment
Number of Students
Employed Within 12 Months
Percentage
2017 11 11 100%
2018 15 16 94%
2019 14 14 100%
2020 12 12 100%
2021 16 16 100%
Five Year Average     98.6%

The job placement rate is the number of graduates employed in the radiologic sciences compared to the number of graduates actively seeking employment in the radiologic sciences within twelve months of graduating.

Employment Statistics

Employment and continuing education rate of 100 percent – 93 percent are employed; 7 percent continued their education. 

Entrance Requirements/Recommendations

Applicants for the radiologic technology program must possess a recognized high school diploma or its equivalent. A standardized test (SAT or ACT) is not required but recommended. Specific high school course requirements and recommendations are:

Required: Algebra, Geometry, Algebra 2, Biology, Interview with the academic department.
Recommended: Chemistry and Physics

Applicants with previous college experience must submit an official college transcript, as their success at the college level will be an admissions consideration. Due to the technical and science rigor, entrance requirements are higher than those of the institution.

Technical Standards

To participate in the program, the applicant must possess specific non-academic skills. The technical standards described below are consistent with the duties of an entry-level sonographer in a professional position and are required in order to provide adequate patient care and produce a diagnostic image.

The applicant should have the:

  • Ability with reasonable accommodation, if necessary, to reach and position the patients on the exam table.
  • Ability with reasonable accommodation, if necessary, to move, adjust, and manipulate equipment to perform imaging procedures.
  • Ability to review and evaluate recorded images to determine the quality of the image with reasonable accommodation.
  • Ability to communicate effectively with patients, doctors, and other personnel so that the patient is not placed in an “at-risk” situation.
  • Ability to make proper decisions involving patient and co-worker safety.
  • Ability with reasonable accommodation, if necessary, to hear sounds that are necessary to assess patient’s health status.

Facilities

The program is located in the radiologic technology suite, which includes two lecture classrooms connected to a non-energized and an energized radiology laboratory. Clinical experience is at various local hospitals and clinic sites.

Continuing Education Opportunities

The program allows graduates to transfer to a two-year program in radiologic science such as ultrasound, advanced radiologic imaging, nuclear medicine, and radiation therapy.

Occupational Opportunities

  • Hospital Radiology Department staff technologist
  • Advanced imaging modalities - CT, cardiovascular intervention, mammography
  • Radiology education
  • Radiology Department management
  • Industry
  • Private physician offices

Required Equipment

A tier 1 laptop computer is required for students entering this degree program. Laptop specifications are available at www.alfredstate.edu/required-laptops

Office of Accessibility Services

Students who believe they need a reasonable accommodation to properly participate in this program may contact Melanie Ryan in the Office of Accessibility Services. This office may be contacted by email at oas@alfredstate.edu  or by phone at 607-587-4506. Please keep in mind that some accommodations may take time to implement, so students seeking accommodations are encouraged to contact OAS as early as possible.

Radiologic Technology - AAS Degree

TYPICAL FOUR-SEMESTER PROGRAM

First

BIOL 1404 Anatomy & Physiology I 4
RADT 1013 Fundamentals of Radiologic Sci 3
RADT 2023 Radiographic Procedures I 3
RADT 2021 Radiographic Procedures I Lab 1
RADT 1001 Radiology Observation 1
MEDR 1133 Medical Terminology 3
      15

Second

RADT 2003 Radiobiological Protection 3
RADT 3013 Radiographic Procedures II 3
RADT 3011 Radiographic Procedures II Lab 1
RADT 2041 Radiology Clinical I 1
BIOL 2504 Anatomy & Physiology II 4
RADT 1003 Radiation Physics 3
      15

Summer

RADT 2044 Radiology Clinical II 4

Third

RADT 3023 Diagnostic Imaging I 3
COMP 1503 Writing Studies 3
RADT 3043 Radiology Clinical III 3
BIOL 4403 Pathophysiology 3
MATH xxx3 College Algebra or higher 3
      15

Fourth

RADT 4023 Diagnostic Imaging II 3
GLST 2113 Global & Diverse Perspectives 3
RADT 4043 Radiology Clinical IV 3
PSYC 1013 General Psychology 3
SPCH 1083 Public Speaking 3
      15

Policy: Academic Standards and Grading

Students who do not maintain at least a C+ grade in all RADT and BIOL courses will not meet program requirements and will be unable to progress further into the program.  Students are subject to warnings, probation, mandatory remedial study and/or dismissal if multiple failures (two or more courses) exist.  A student will not be able to continue in the program until the prerequisites for the previous class have been successfully completed. Student support services and counseling are available for all students.

Grading Scale

A = 90 and above
B+ = 85-89
B = 80-84
C+ = 75-79
C = 70-74
D+ = 65-69
D = 60-64
F = 60 and below

Be advised that a prior felony conviction may impede a student’s ability to participate in a required clinical experience.

 

 

Graduation Requirements

The AAS degree in radiologic technology has finely prescribed courses reflective of accreditation standards for students to be prepared for admission to the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists' Certification Examination and New York State licensure granted by the Department of Health. Specific graduation requirements are:

  • 64 total semester credit hours
  • Minimum of 20 credit hours of liberal arts and sciences from three of the 10 SUNY General Education categories
  • 2.0 cumulative GPA and a grade of “C+” or better in the core science courses (RADT and BIOL prefixes)
  • Approval of department faculty