Skip to content

AS to MS in Radiologic and Imaging Sciences Bridge Program

Location: Online
Start Term: Fall, Spring, Summer

The AS to MS in Radiologic and Imaging Sciences Bridge Program is designed for technologists who want to quickly advance their career within the field. In this program, you’ll build on your associate degree to advance to the master's level without needing to first earn a bachelor’s degree. This program is the first in the nation to offer a direct pathway from the associate degree to a master’s degree specifically related to radiologic and imaging sciences.

In this online, 52-credit program, you can choose between two 9-credit tracks—one for Teaching & Learning Leadership and one for Administrative Leadership. Designed to meet your needs, the extremely flexible curriculum allows you to take courses in any order after completion of your core courses. When you graduate, you will hold a master’s degree in radiologic and imaging sciences and be able to advance into roles within research, leadership, or education.

Advantages of the Program:

Unique offering: The MCPHS AS to MS in Radiologic and Imaging Sciences Bridge Program is the only direct pathway from an associate to a master's degree in the United States.

Financial Savings: The direct pathway from AS to MS saves you thousands of dollars otherwise spent on a bachelor's degree.

Career Advancement: Having a master's degree offers you more jobs within the field, whether in research, corporate, education, and clinical or non-clinical leadership (e.g., potential as a lead technologist or director of the department).

Flexible Curriculum: Aside from the core courses, there are no prerequisites in this online program. Students can enroll in any course in any order they choose and customize the schedule that works best for them.

  • Graduated with an associate degree from one of the medical imaging or therapeutics programs (DMS, MRI, NMT, RAD, or RTT).
  • Earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) in the medical imaging or therapeutics program courses.
  • Successfully completed one of the national certification/registry examinations in a medical imaging or therapeutics modality (ARRT, NMTCB, RDMS, CAMRT).
  • A license to practice in a radiological or imaging science field or eligibility for licensure in at least one jurisdiction in the United States or Canada.
  • A minimum TOEFL score of 79 or a score of 6.5 on the IELTS (required of all candidates for whom English is not the native language.)

To be completed prior to starting MS portion of the program.*

COURSE

 TITLE

 S.H.

HSC 320

Writing for Health Professionals

3

LIB 512

Healthcare Ethics

 3

 Mat 210

Statistics

3

RSC 340

 Success in Radiologic Sciences

1

RSC 330

Healthcare Ethics

2

 

 Additional Modality Courses

 9

*Select any 3 courses for a total of 9 credits. Some courses may require additional prerequisites. The NMT and MRI courses are part of a stand-alone program and require additional courses outside these courses to meet program requirements.

COURSE 

 TITLE

 S.H.

RSC 320

CT & Cross-Sectional Imaging

3

RSC 315

CT Imaging Board Review

3

RSC 425C

CT Clinical Internship

3

RSC 452

Mammography Imaging Procedures & Patient Care

3

RSC 456C

Mammography Clinical Internship

3

RSC 450

Mammography Board Review Course

3

MRI 401

Physical Principles of MRI

3

MRI 405

MRI Safety & Applications

3

MRI 410

MRI Procedures

3

NMT 260

Fundamentals of Nuclear Medicine

3

NMT 320

Nuclear Medicine Imaging

6

NMT 305

Cardiovascular Imaging

 3

MS Courses

COURSE 

 TITLE

 S.H.

Radiologic & Imaging Sciences Core: (15 credits)

RIS 705

Diversity and Cultural Competencies

3

RIS 701

Leadership and Communication in Radiologic Sciences

3

RIS 720

Imaging Preclinical and Clinical Research

3

RIS 710

Professional Practice Trends in Imaging and Radiologic Sciences

3

RIS 800

Radiologic and Imaging Practicum

3

Radiologic & Imaging Sciences Research: (6 credits)

RIS 730

Imaging Applied Research Methodology I

3

RIS 731

Imaging Applied Research Methodology II

3

Bridge Courses: 21 credits
MS Courses: 30 credits
TOTAL: 51 credits

The first of its kind in the United States, the AS to MS in Radiologic and Imaging Sciences Bridge Program is the School of Medical Imaging and Therapeutics's direct response to the medical imaging and therapeutic needs of the healthcare community. The aim of this innovative program is to integrate scientific and technical knowledge within the liberal arts and social sciences to produce graduates with the skills necessary to meet the challenges of the future

Upon program completion, graduates will:

  • Demonstrate creditable, expert knowledge in the field of radiologic and imaging sciences, defining themselves as leaders within the profession.
  • Apply a foundation of intellectual reasoning to continuously evaluate and improve the profession.
  • Lead through effective collaboration and communication in interprofessional and intraprofessional clinical and educational settings.
  • Exhibit essential understanding, skills, and techniques to conduct research within radiologic and imaging sciences.
  • Identify trends and regulatory issues that impact the field and technologists