Radiologic Technology, A.A.A.S.

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Academic Program Code: 305

The mission of the Grand Rapids Community College Radiologic Technology program is to demonstrate radiographic skills, critical thinking skills, communication skills, radiation safety, patient care, professional attitudes, and lifelong learning characteristics that will prepare students for entry into the workforce of diagnostic medical imaging as a registry-eligible radiographer. Graduates of this program, upon successfully completing the registry examination of the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT), are prepared for entry level positions in hospitals, clinics, private offices, and traveling technologist employment. The Radiologic Technology program at GRCC is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology.

The employment outlook continues to be favorable for Radiologic Technologists. Clinical practicums associated with GRCC’s program have been established within a 50-mile radius of Grand Rapids Community College (sites subject to change). These practical experiences seek to heighten students’ awareness of patient communication practices and to acquaint them with all phases of radiologic technology practice, which often varies from hospital to hospital. The personal contacts developed during clinical experiences often help students in securing jobs after graduation. The Radiologic Technology program is a two-year program and requires attendance for six semesters including two summer sessions.

The GRCC Radiologic Technology Program is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT), located at 20 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 2850, Chicago, IL 60606-3182. You can contact them via email at mail@jrcert.org or by phone at (312) 704-5300. Graduates will sit for their national board certification exam for the Registered Technologist in Diagnostic Radiography administered by The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).

A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the ARRT certification examination. For further information on limitations, you can contact the ARRT at 1255 Northland Drive, St. Paul, MN 55120-1155 phone 651.687.0048 to determine your eligibility.

Program Admissions Requirements

In order to be eligible for admission into the Radiologic Technology program, students must:

Be a high school graduate or have passed the high school equivalency GED (General Educational Development) Test.
Have a high school GPA of at least 2.0.
Must demonstrate math, reading and writing competency all must be within the last five years. Dependent on demonstrated competencies, a reduce timeframe may apply (for specific details/scores visit the Radiologic Technology Associate Degree Admission Criteria).
Complete BI 121 and BI 122 with a C or Higher within two attempts. This includes WD and DR attempts.
Complete and pass a 7-panel drug screen.
Complete criminal background check process. Students will not be allowed to enter the program until cleared by GRCC police.

Students have the option to take RT 100 prior to starting the Radiologic Technology Program, beginning Summer 2021.

For additional information, refer to the Health Programs general information page. In addition to tuition, fees and books, there are additional costs. Estimates of these costs may be obtained from the Radiologic Technology office.

General Education Courses

Select a minimum of 15 credit hours of course work from the General Education course list. Course work must be selected as directed from the areas below.

English Composition and Communications

EN 101 - English Composition I Credit Hours: 3
Select one (1) course from the list below.
EN 102 - English Composition II Credit Hours: 3
COM 131 - Fundamentals of Public Speaking Credit Hours: 3
COM 135 - Interpersonal Communication Credit Hours: 3

Humanities

Select one (1) Humanities General Education Elective.

Humanities General Education - Elective Credit Hours: varies by course

Social Sciences

Select PY 201 or one (1) Social Sciences General Education Elective.

PY 201 - General Psychology Credit Hours: 3
OR
Social Sciences General Education - Elective Credit Hours: varies by course

Natural Sciences and Mathematics

BI 121 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I Credit Hours: 4

General Education Total Credit Hours

15 (minimum)

Program Courses

BI 122 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II Credit Hours: 4
GH 110 - Medical Terminology I Credit Hours: 2
RT 100 - Orientation to Health Care in Radiologic Sciences Credit Hours: 2
RT 105 - Application of General Patient Care Skills Credit Hours: 1
RT 110 - Radiographic Positioning I Credit Hours: 4
RT 111 - Radiographic Exposure I Credit Hours: 4
RT 112 - Radiographic Positioning II Credit Hours: 4
RT 113 - Radiographic Exposure II Credit Hours: 4
RT 130 - Clinical Practicum in Radiologic Technology I Credit Hours: 3
RT 131 - Clinical Practicum in Radiologic Technology II Credit Hours: 4
RT 207 - Radiation Protection Credit Hours: 2
RT 210 - Radiographic Positioning III Credit Hours: 4
RT 211 - Survey of Medical-Surgical Diseases Credit Hours: 3
RT 212 - Radiographic Positioning IV Credit Hours: 4
RT 213 - Radiologic Technology Capstone Credit Hours: 2
RT 215 - Physics of X-ray Credit Hours: 4
RT 230 - Clinical Practicum in Radiologic Technology III Credit Hours: 4
RT 231 - Clinical Practicum in Radiologic Technology IV Credit Hours: 4
RT 232 - Clinical Practicum in Radiologic Technology V Credit Hours: 4
RT 240 - Sectional Anatomy Credit Hours: 2

Total Credit Hours

Program Notes

In order to be eligible for graduation, Radiologic Technology students must earn a minimum of “C-” in each Radiologic Technology program courses (RT & GH).

Life Science courses BI 121 and BI 122 must have been completed within seven years of starting the Radiologic Technology Program at GRCC (This includes Life Science courses that are transferred in from other institutions regardless of the date in which they are transferred).

In What Order Should I Take Classes?

Please select courses from the Priority I list. Select courses based on the number of credits you are taking in the semester, for example, if you are a part time student you do not have to take all of the courses listed. If you are unable to schedule Priority I courses, move to and select from the list of Priority II, Priority III, and Priority IV courses.

*Pre Program and General Education Courses:* EN 101 - English Composition I BI 121 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I BI 122 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II
Priority I	Priority II
RT 100 - Orientation to Health Care in Radiologic Sciences RT 105 - Application of General Patient Care Skills RT 110 - Radiographic Positioning I RT 111 - Radiographic Exposure I RT 240 - Sectional Anatomy	EN 102 - English Composition II OR COM 131 - Fundamentals of Public Speaking OR COM 135 - Interpersonal Communication RT 112 - Radiographic Positioning II RT 113 - Radiographic Exposure II RT 130 - Clinical Practicum in Radiologic Technology I RT 211 - Survey of Medical-Surgical Diseases
Priority III	Priority IV
RT 131 - Clinical Practicum in Radiologic Technology II GH 110 - Medical Terminology I	RT 207 - Radiation Protection RT 210 - Radiographic Positioning III RT 230 - Clinical Practicum in Radiologic Technology III PY 201 - General Psychology
Priority V	Priority VI
RT 212 - Radiographic Positioning IV RT 213 - Radiologic Technology Capstone RT 215 - Physics of X-ray RT 231 - Clinical Practicum in Radiologic Technology IV	RT 232 - Clinical Practicum in Radiologic Technology V

NOTE: This priority schedule assumes the student is prepared to take the courses listed. If prerequisites are required, additional semesters may be required to complete this degree.

Meet with an Academic Program Advisor and consult my Academic Progress for specific degree requirements.

Essential Abilities/Technical Standards

Students will be required to perform certain physical functions in order to successfully complete the program. You will perform them throughout your course work and/or clinical experience and later in your employment. These functions are not conditions for admission to the program; they are listed for the purpose of alerting you to what physical functions will be expected of you.

PHYSICAL STRENGTH

You will assist in transferring patients from the wheelchairs and beds to x-ray table and vice versa. These patients may be comatose, paralyzed or suffer from some degree of incapacity. You may have to move heavy equipment such as portable x-ray machine to different locations.

MOBILITY

In the course of performing your duties in radiography you will be expected to stand and reach overhead to position the x-ray tube hanging from the ceiling; you must move quickly in an emergency; you must perform your work standing over a long period of time.

HEARING

You must have the ability to hear sound from a distance of 15 feet–approximately the distance between the control panel and exposure switches and the x-ray table where the patient is being placed. You must also be able to hear faint sound signals emitted by a dysfunctional machine.

VISUAL DISCRIMINATION

You must have vision to enable you to differentiate changing colors of the x-ray films, to read marking on dials, digital monitors etc.

COORDINATION

Good motor skills, eye-hand coordination skills, and at least sensory function in at least one upper limb are needed to align body parts of a patient with the film. Many other functions also require dexterity, including filling syringes, putting on surgical gloves, and manipulating locks on equipment.

MANUAL DEXTERITY

Motor skills such as standing, walking, and writing are all required to perform your duties. In addition, you must have fine motor skills, such as, the ability to make insertion of IV lines, calibrate equipment, draw blood, and so on.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

You must be able to communicate in English orally and in writing. Example: You must be able to read and give directions and instructions and to record health data from patients.