Radiation Therapy Program, AS (RADT-AS-MA)

The Radiation Therapy associate degree program enables graduates to work as radiation therapists. Radiation therapy uses high energy X-rays to treat diseases, primarily cancer. Using highly specialized computerized equipment, the radiation is targeted to abnormal cells while minimizing the side effects. The Radiation Therapist is a vital member of the health care team in the Radiation Oncology Department. This individual is responsible for administering, monitoring, and documenting the prescribed course of treatment from the radiation oncologist. The Radiation Therapist is involved in assessing the physical and emotional needs of the patients and making the appropriate referrals. This unique profession combines technical and interpersonal skills and offers many career possibilities available to trained radiation therapists, including management, dosimetry, education, applications specialist, sales, and technology-related fields.

Mission

The mission of the Radiation Therapy Program is to provide an academically rigorous and innovative learner-centered JRCERT accredited educational program that will render qualified and compassionate radiation therapists for the community. 

Goals & Learning Outcomes

Goal/Outcome 1: Students will demonstrate critical thinking.

1. Students will accurately perform new patient set-ups.
2. Students will create and develop a treatment plan

Goal/Outcome 2: Students will demonstrate effective communication skills.

1. Students will utilize appropriate communication skills in the clinical setting.
2. Students will demonstrate effective written communication.
3. Students will demonstrate effective oral communication.

Goal/Outcome 3: Students will exhibit ethical and professional behaviors appropriate of a health care professional.

1. Students will display professionalism in the clinical setting.
2. Students demonstrate professional growth through participation in continuing education.

Goal/Outcome 4: Students will demonstrate specific skills necessary to be competent entry level Radiation Therapy Professionals.

1. Students will accurately perform all treatment procedures.
2. Students will demonstrate basic simulation skills.

The Radiation Therapy Program at CT State Manchester 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://ctstate.edu/academics/programs/radiation-therapy

Admission Requirements

The Radiation Therapy programs at CT State Community College are selective admission programs. Detailed information regarding selective admission events and deadlines is available on the CT State Selective Admissions Webpage.

Admissions Procedure:

1. All students must first apply to CT State College.
2. Unless waived, all applicants must take placement tests in reading, English, and mathematics.
3. Attendance at one program specific information session.
4. Students must have a 2.7 GPA
5. Complete the following prerequisite courses
   • ENG 1010 - Composition  (C or higher)
   • BIO 2111 - Anatomy & Physiology I   (C or higher taken within past five years of program start date)
     Note that enrollment in BIO 2111   may require completion of pre-requisite science courses
   • BIO 2112 - Anatomy & Physiology II   (C or higher taken within past five years of program start date)
   • MATH 1610 - Precalculus  (C or higher taken within past five years of program start date)
6. Submit official copies of all transcripts.
7. Participate in an interview.

Students in this program are 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, dosimeters, textbooks, liability insurance, Trajecsys and Castle Branch. Specific information about these costs is available on the Radiation Therapy webpage and in the Radiation Therapy Program Student Handbook. Financial aid information is available through the College Financial Aid office.

Graduation Criteria

All program students must complete the following to receive an associate degree from the program. See the student handbook for complete details.

• Complete all didactic curricula with a final grade of C (75%) or better.
• Complete all clinical curricula with a final grade of C (80%) or better.
• Complete all competency exams with a final grade of 100%.
• Maintain all hospital and program standards as outlined in the program handbook.

Graduates of the program are eligible to take the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) national certification examination.

Clinical Curriculum

The structure of the curriculum is such that courses are offered in sequence and progress in complexity. It offers appropriate didactic content and ample supervised clinical education to assure sufficient opportunity to achieve all didactic and clinical requirements established by the ARRT.

A current list of Manchester Campus clinical instruction sites is maintained on the Program Webpage.

Note: Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from class and clinical assignments.

Due to standards from The Joint Commission, students are advised that the healthcare facilities to which they are assigned for clinical rotations may require that they submit a criminal background check, required immunization records and other documentation needed to meet the standards. CT State Community College cannot be responsible for finding an alternate clinical placement for a student who fails to meet the required hospital requirements. A student who is unable to complete the required clinical experience will be unable to complete the requirements for the associate degree in Radiation Therapy but may be able to apply some or all of the credits completed to an associate degree in General Studies. Students are advised to meet with a Counselor to discuss degree completion requirements.