Radiation Therapy Bachelor of Science
Total Credit Hours: 142
Major Credit Hours: 99
A grade of “C” or better must be earned in a prerequisite course in order to advance to the next course in the sequence.
Students must have a minimum composite ACT score of 23 to be accepted into the Radiation Therapy Program. Transfer students must have a cumulative and biology GPA of 3.25 to be accepted. If a transfer student does not have the minimum GPA, students may become an RT major once their GPA is raised to 3.25 and mathematics through Calculus I or Calculus for the Life Sciences has been completed with a minimum grade of a “C”. Students currently attending Lewis University, who wish to declare RT as a major must meet the same requirements as transfer students. Transfer students must complete a minimum of three semesters of the program before they can apply as an affiliated student for the RT program.
It is the policy of the Biology department to support with letters of recommendation for professional school applications, only those students who have achieved a cumulative and science GPA of 3.25 by the time they complete 02-355 Biochemistry I and have no withdrawals in their records. In the event that a student has his/her request for letters of recommendation denied, he/she has the right to petition for reconsideration with the understanding that there is no guarantee that the petition will be successful. Acceptance into any professional or graduate school is solely determined by the admission committee of that school. All faculty members have the right to decline a request to write a letter of recommendation for any student.
Radiation Therapy majors may take a Biology class only two times. If a student has not achieved a minimum grade of “C” after the second attempt, the student may not repeat the class.
Students are required to shadow, observe an RT, for a day at Northwestern Memorial Hospital or show proof of such activity at another medical facility before applying to the program.
The Biology Department will award 3 hours of credit for the General Education class 02-100 (Introduction to Biology) when students have received a score of 4 or 5 on AP tests. No credit is awarded for major classes based on AP scores.
Degree Requirements
I. Core Courses (63)
II. Select one of the following: (1)
| 02-380 | Biochemistry Journal Club | 1 |
| 02-381 | Physiology Journal Club | 1 |
| 02-382 | Microbiology Journal Club | 1 |
| 02-384 | Genetics Journal Club | 1 |
III. Students must complete the Professional Phase of the program at Northwestern Memorial Hospital (36)
| 02-329 | Technical Radiation Oncology I | 2 |
| 02-331 | Principles and Practice of Radiation Therapy I | 3 |
| 02-333 | Pathology/Sectional Anatomy | 3 |
| 02-334 | Radiation Therapy Physics I | 3 |
| 02-337 | Clinical Practicum I | 2 |
| 02-338 | Medical Terminology | 1-2 |
| 02-339 | Medical Imaging/Processing | 1 |
| 02-340 | Management and Methods of Patient Care I | 1-3 |
| 02-342 | Radiation Safety and Protection | 2-3 |
| 02-431 | Principles and Practice of Radiation Therapy II | 3 |
| 02-433 | Radiation Therapy Physics II | 3 |
| 02-434 | Quality Management | 2 |
| 02-436 | Operational Issues in Health Care Environment | 1 |
| 02-437 | Clinical Practicum II | 2 |
| 02-440 | Management/Methods Patient Care II | 1-2 |
| 02-452 | Radiation Biology | 1-3 |
| 02-457 | Technical Radiation Oncology II | 2 |
III. General Education Credits (43)
IV. The advanced writing requirement of the General Education curriculum is satisfied by the successful completion of the following courses that contain strong writing components: General Biology Labs I and II, General Microbiology Lab, and Biology Senior Thesis.