Radiography Program - Gateway, AS (RDGR-AS-GW)

The mission of the Connecticut State Community College Radiography program is to provide a comprehensive radiography program that will graduate competent, entry-level radiologic technologists for the healthcare community.

Radiography or “x-ray” uses very small doses of ionizing radiation to produce images of internal structures of the body for the diagnosis of disease or injury. Radiographers are technologists who operate imaging equipment to produce quality images of the body for a Radiologist or other ordering provider to interpret. The associate degree program in Radiography prepares students for employment as entry level radiographers in hospitals, outpatient facilities, medical offices, community health agencies, or nondestructive testing industries where radiation is used for quality control. The structure of the curriculum is sequential and includes appropriate didactic content and ample supervised clinical education to assure sufficient opportunity to achieve all didactic and clinical requirements. Each campus will have some degree of differentiation in course offerings and sequencing based on clinical capacity, student enrollment and Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) approval.

Students are assigned to clinical practice at various medical facilities throughout the state of Connecticut. Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible to take the national certifying examination in radiography as administered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) in Radiography.

In addition to the College’s general education core curriculum, the Connecticut State Community College Radiography program has a set of common program courses. Additionally, each campus may have its own set of differentiated options that must be taken to be eligible for graduation. Differentiated options are courses that meet the needs of the individual campus for a variety of reasons including but not limited to clinical site requirements, clinical site capacity, campus course offerings, and clinical competency requirements. Because each campus is required to maintain an individual accreditation from the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT), they may require differentiated options, and may have differentiated course sequencing, students cannot transfer from one campus program to another campus.

The Radiography program is a competency-based program. The credits associated with each clinical practice course are not a direct reflection of contact hours. One credit of clinical practice is equal to 120 hours of clinical practice.

Students who wish to transfer to an approved four-year program in radiography to achieve advanced level certification in computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or other disciplines, or programs for health care management should consult their campus’ Radiography Program Coordinator regarding established transfer articulation agreements.

Admissions Procedure:

The Radiography programs at the Connecticut State Community College are selective admission programs. All students must first apply to the Connecticut State Community College. Unless waived, all applicants must take placement tests in reading, English, and mathematics. Students must attend a campus specific Radiography program information session within one year prior to applying to the Radiography program. Applications are available annually, starting October 1st. Students must have a 2.7 GPA (Grade Point Average), and complete the following courses prior to the February 1st application deadline:

• ENG 1010 - Composition  (C or higher)
• BIO 2111 - Anatomy & Physiology I  (C+ or higher taken within past five years of program start date)
• BIO 2112 - Anatomy & Physiology II  (C+ or higher taken within past five years of program start date) Students may apply to the Program while in the process of completing BIO 2112  during the spring semester of application year.

Detailed information regarding selective admission events and deadlines is available on the CT State Selective Admissions Webpage.

Applicants will be required to complete the TEAS within three (3) years prior to the application deadline. Official results must be provided with the program application for the specified year of application.

Students in the radiography program may be responsible for expenses including but not limited to uniforms, physical examinations and blood work, travel to clinical sites, parking, meals, CPR training, background check and toxicology screening, textbooks, liability insurance, lead markers, and online clinical management and immunization services such as Trajecsys and Castle Branch. Specific information about these costs is available on the campus specific radiography webpage and on the campus specific Radiography Program Student Handbook. Financial aid information is available through the Connecticut State Community College Financial Aid office.

Please note: 
To begin the clinical component of the Program, all accepted students will be required to:

1. Submit an updated health assessment with no restrictions
2. Submit documentation of updated vaccination requirements including blood work and titers as necessary
3. Pass a background check
4. Pass a toxicology screening

Positive toxicology screens can prevent students from participating in a clinical assignment per facility contractual agreements. The following guides the response to a positive toxicology screening for any student:

1. All specimens identified as non-negative/positive on the initial test shall be confirmed, reviewed, and interpreted by the vendor.
2. The student is required to provide documentation by a healthcare provider in the event there is a medical explanation for a positive result (i.e., the result of a prescribed medication). In accordance with federal law, a positive toxicology screen for legally prescribed marijuana can prohibit a student from being placed in a clinical setting that accepts federal funding.
3. If a student challenges a result, only the original sample can be retested.

Learning Outcomes: (Based on JRCERT accreditation standards)

Upon completion of the Program:

• Goal 1: Students will demonstrate effective communication skills

  Student Learning Outcomes:

  1: Students will use effective oral communication skills with a wide variety of audiences in the clinical setting

  2: Students will practice effective written communication skills

  Goal 2: Students will utilize critical thinking skills

  Student Learning Outcomes:

  1: Students will assess images for diagnostic quality

  2: Students will assess images and make appropriate adjustment(s) as needed

  Goal 3: Students will be clinically competent when performing entry level imaging procedures

  Student Learning Outcomes:

  1: Students will accurately position patients for radiographic procedures based on patient assessment

  2: Students will select appropriate technical factors to obtain diagnostic quality images based on patient assessment

  3.Students will utilize radiation safety for self and others

  Goal 4: Students will demonstrate professional behavior

  Student Learning Outcomes:

  1: Students will demonstrate professionalism in the program

  2: Students will participate in professional activities with state and national organizations

The Radiography Program at Gateway Community College is accredited through the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT), 20 North Wacker Drive, Suite 2850, Chicago, IL 60606-3182, Phone: (312) 704-5300, Fax: (312) 704-5304, Website: https://www.jrcert.org/, Email: mail@jcert.org, Program Website: https://gatewayct.edu/Radiography

Students will be charged the Supplemental Course (program) Fee Level 1 every fall and spring semesters while in the program.

Graduation Requirements:

• Complete the CT State general education core curriculum
• Complete the Radiography program curriculum with a grade of C or higher in each program specific course and a C+ or higher in Anatomy & Physiology I and II course and College Algebra course.
• Complete the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) Clinical Competency Requirements
• Complete American Registry of Radiologic Technology General Patient Care Competency Requirements.
• Be Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) or Basic Life Support (BLS) certified

Clinical Curriculum:

The structure of the clinical curriculum is designed to be sequential and progress in complexity. Each campus program will have their own clinical sites that are approved and recognized by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT). Students will be assigned to the clinical education sites approved for the campus program they are accepted into. Lists of current clinical sites are posted on the program webpage.