Programs

Overview

In the accelerated Bachelor of Science in Radiation Therapy program, students can earn a bachelor's degree in just 32 months.

Program Highlights

• Full-time 32-month accelerated program
• For incoming freshmen and transfer students
• Fall semester start
• Graduating students eligible to apply for certification through examination by the American Regis­try of Radiologic Technologists

Program Details

Radiation therapy (RTT) uses ionizing radiation in the treatment of malignant and non-malignant diseases, especially cancer. Radiation therapists require highly specialized technical skills as well as highly developed skills for interacting effectively with other members of the oncology treatment team, patients, and their families.

The 32-month BS in Radiation Therapy is an accelerated, year-round program. It integrates classroom instruction in the liberal arts, the basic and applied sciences, and the social sciences with professional course work and clinical instruction.

A typical program of study includes a first-year core curriculum of pre-professional and general education courses. Second- and third-year courses include professional course work, RTT internships, and a small number of core curriculum requirements.

In addition, students must fulfill distribution elective requirements of twelve semester hours, including three semester hours in each of these four areas: behavioral science, humanities, social science, and liberal arts.

Upon graduation from the program, students are eligible to apply for certification through examination by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists

RTT Student Learning Outcomes

 

Curriculum

Common First-Year Courses for RTT

Year I-Fall

COURSE	TITLE	SEMESTER HOURS
BIO 110	Anatomy and Physiology I (w/lab)	4
CHE 110	Basic Chemistry I (w/lab)	4
FYS 101	First Year Seminar	1
LIB 111	Expository Writing I	3
LIB 120	Introduction to Psychology	3
MAT 141	Algebra and Trigonometry	3
TOTAL		18

Year I-Spring

COURSE	TITLE	SEMESTER HOURS
BIO 210	Anatomy and Physiology II (w/lab)	4
CHE 210	Basic Chemistry II (w/lab)	4
LIB 112	Expository Writing II	3
MAT 197	Computer Applications*	3
PHY 181	General Physics	4
TOTAL		18

Year I-Summer

COURSE	TITLE	SEMESTER HOURS
LIB 133	American Culture, Identity and Public Life	3
RSC 110	Medical Terminology for the Radiologic Sciences	1
RSC 305	Patient Care in Imaging	3
RSC 325	Clinical Pathophysiology	4
TOTAL		11

Note: all Radiation Therapy students must fulfill the requirement for medical terminology prior to Clinical Internship I (RTT 201C).

Year II-Fall

COURSE	TITLE	SEMESTER HOURS
MAT 261	Statistics	3
RSC 310	Cross-Sectional Anatomy	3
RTT 201C	Radiation Therapy Internship I	4
RTT 260	Foundations of Radiation Therapy I	2
RTT 280	Medical Radiation Physics I	3
	Distribution elective	3
TOTAL		18

Year II-Spring

COURSE	TITLE	SEMESTER HOURS
RSC 287	Radiation: Protection and Biology	3
RTT 202C	Radiation Therapy Internship II	4
RTT 262	Foundations of Radiation Therapy II	2
RTT 281	Medical Radiation Physics II	3
RTT 283	Physics for Treatment Planning	2
	Distribution elective	3
TOTAL		17

Year II-Summer

COURSE	TITLE	SEMESTER HOURS
LIB 220	Introduction to Interpersonal Communication for Health Professionals	3
PSB 320	Introduction to Health Care Delivery	3
RTT 203C	Radiation Therapy Internship III	4
TOTAL		10

Year III-Fall

COURSE	TITLE	SEMESTER HOURS
RSC 315	CT Imaging	3
RTT 304C	Radiation Therapy Internship IV	6
RTT 361	Radiation Therapy I with laboratory	3
	Distribution elective	3
TOTAL		15

Year III-Spring

COURSE	TITLE	SEMESTER HOURS
LIB 512	Health Care Ethics	3
RTT 305C	Radiation Therapy Internship V	6
RTT 340	Radiation Therapy Quality Assurance and Laboratory	1
RTT 345	Brachytherapy and Hyperthermia	2
RTT 362	Radiation Therapy II with laboratory	3
	Distributive elective	3
TOTAL		18

Total credits to complete degree requirements: 125 s.h.

Click here to download the RTT Clinical Handbook.

Clinical Rotations

MCPHS Medical Imaging and Therapeutics students participate in a variety of community-based clinical settings. This opportunity supplements the clinical experience gained in the on-campus program and provides students with a broader insight into the diverse populations they may encounter in future career settings.

Students in the RTT major complete internships at hospital affiliates in the metropolitan Boston and New England. A number of clinical rotations in the required curriculum may be scheduled at some distance from the campus. This is necessary to provide a range of diverse learning experiences and ensure availability and quality of clinical rotation sites. The College makes every effort to accommodate requests regarding assignments to experiential education sites, but students generally can expect to be assigned to clinical sites at some distance from the campus for at least a portion of their required clinical rotations. In such instances, students are responsible for transportation and other related travel expenses. Possible internship sites include:

• Baystate Medical Center
• Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
• Brigham and Women's Hospital
• BW/DF Cancer Center-Milford Regional
• Commonwealth Atrius Cancer Center
• Cooley Dickson
• Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
• DFCI/BWH @ South Shore Hospital
• Lahey Clinic
• Lahey Clinic North 
• MetroWest Medical Center
• MGH North Shore Center for Outpatient 
• Mount Auburn Hospital
• North Main Radiation Oncology
• Rhode Island Hospital
• Southcoast Hospital Group
• South Suburban Oncology Center
• Shields Radiation Oncology Center
• St Vincents Medical Center
• Winchester Hospital Radiation Center

Notice on Clinical Rotations and Background Screenings

For some of MCPHS's programs placements in clinical rotations at health care providers are a required part of the MCPHS curriculum. Some of those health care providers require background screenings and a conviction for a criminal offense might present an issue. It is possible that certain types of criminal convictions, whether prior to being a student at MCPHS or while attending MCPHS, could preclude a student from being able to complete a required clinical rotation. If you have any questions, please contact the MCPHS Chief Compliance Officer.

Facilities

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) provides facilities that contribute to the overall learning experience, including laboratories specially designed for skill-building and patient assessment in the radiologic sciences.

Laboratory instruction for the radiation therapy program is provided through arrangements with each program clinical affiliate where state-of-the-art equipment is available.

The location of MCPHS in the Longwood Medical and Academic Area, as well as its affiliations with premier medical institutions located in the greater Boston area, enable students to learn in health care institutions that are among the best in the world.

Mission

The Radiation Therapy program provides a high-quality, student learner-centered environment. Students receive state-of-the-art didactic and clinical experiences enabling them to become competent entry-level professionals

Goals

• Program graduates will be competent entry level radiation therapists.
• Program graduates will possess necessary skills to effectively communicate and provide competent, empathetic patient care.
• Program graduates will possess and apply critical thinking skills required of an entry-level radiation therapist.
• Program graduates will demonstrate professional and ethical behavior.  

Outcomes

To make the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) aware of non-compliance of the standards, or to view the program's Assessment Plan, please go to http://www.jrcert.org/contact.html.

Job Placement Rate

Average 2007-2012	88.2%

Registry Pass Rate

Average 2007-2012	92%

Program Completion Rate

2012	75%
2011	81.1%
2010	78%
2009	66%
2008	85%

 

 

 

Accreditation

Radiation Therapy

The program offered for the radiation therapy major is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) is chartered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is authorized to grant undergraduate and graduate degrees in the health sciences and related fields. MCPHS is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), Inc. through its Commission on Institutions of Higher Education. 

For Transfers

MCPHS welcomes students from other institutions. Any applicant to MCPHS who has completed at least one semester of college coursework (12 credits or more) is considered to be a transfer applicant. Students who have been out of high school for more than two years are strongly encouraged to take math and science courses at another accredited college or university and then to apply for transfer to MCPHS.

The transfer requirements may be different for different MCPHS programs. To find the requirements for transferring into this program, please click the link below.

Transfer Requirements for Radiation Therapy (RTT) (BS) (Boston)