Overview
Designed specifically for students with a bachelor's degree in another field, this 21-month postbaccalaureate bachelor of science degree program provides a fast-track option for students ready to transition to a career in radiation therapy (RTT).
Program Highlights
- Full-time, year round, 21-month accelerated program
- For students with an earned baccalaureate degree who have satisfactorily completed prerequisite courses
- Summer 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.
Students in the 21-month Postbaccalaureate BS in Radiation Therapy
program develop these skills through intensive coursework and through clinical
internships under direct supervision of registered radiation therapists. This
accelerated, year-round program is designed for students who have already earned
a bachelor's degree or the equivalent.
The typical program of study consists
of professional coursework and RTT internships with clinical affiliates. This
major begins in the summer during which students take a five-week patient-care
course before beginning fall professional courses.
Upon graduation, students are eligible to apply for certification through
examination by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.
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:
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Mount Auburn Hospital
- Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
- MetroWest Medical Center
- Lahey Clinic
- North Shore Medical Center
- Radiation Oncology Associates
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 Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health
Sciences (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.
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.
Admission Requirements
Many of our programs have different admission requirements and deadlines. To see the specific admission requirements for this program, please click on the link below.
Transfer Requirements for Radiation Therapy (RTT) (Postbaccalaureate BS) (Boston)