Radiologic Science Major: Radiation Therapy Emphasis - Bachelor of Science (BS)

(College of Science and Health)

Admission

Admission to the program is on a competitive basis. The number of students admitted to the major is dependent on the number of clinical internship sites and their student capacity. Class sizes are approximately 20-25. Admission to the major is on a competitive basis. Applications are available on the Radiation Therapy Program's website.

  1. Students are advised to apply for admission to the professional program early in the late fall prior to desired admission, after having taken or registered for all general education and pre-professional requirements. Deadline is mid-December.
  2. Applicants are required to have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale and a grade of "C" or higher in all general education and pre-professional courses. Applicants are required to have a minimum pre-professional grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale.
  3. Applicants are required to successfully complete 10 hours of observation in two different radiation therapy departments, if possible, as well as online observation modules. See the Radiation Therapy Program website for observation requirements. Students are encouraged to plan to visit during summer, spring break or between semesters. Some sites may require that the student have had a set of immunizations prior to the visit to comply with hospital policy. Additionally, students are encouraged to obtain entry level, healthcare work experience. 
  4. Applicants are considered without regard to sex, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, disability, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status, or parental status.
  5. Students for whom English is a second language must earn a minimum score of 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based), or 100 (internet-based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a score of 6.5 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam within two years prior to application to the program.
  6. Applications must be submitted in full by mid-December deadline to the Department of Health Professions office.
Selection process

A selection committee will be appointed to review all completed applications, interview all qualified candidates and make selection decisions. The committee carefully considers each applicant, looking at academic performance, personal characteristics, and experiences that predict success in the field.

Acceptance is effective at the beginning of the junior year conditional upon successful completion of courses in progress at the time of notification of acceptance. Selection is also conditional upon students' compliance with state laws for caregivers including submission to a criminal background check. Students take the professional core courses in La Crosse.

Students who successfully meet program requirements in the professional core courses will interview with the clinical internship sites and upon selection by one of the sites will be placed for the clinical internship. While student preferences in internship site are taken into account, students cannot be guaranteed that they will be assigned in accordance with their choices of clinical site.

Radiation Therapy Program affiliated clinical internship sites:
  • Advocate-Aurora Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, IL
  • Ascension-Columbia St. Mary's Hospital, Milwaukee, WI
  • Aspirus Regional Cancer Center, Wausau, WI
  • Froedtert Hospital and the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
  • Gundersen Health System, La Crosse, WI
  • Marshfield Clinic, Marshfield, WI
  • University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Madison, WI

Writing in the major

This major incorporates a significant amount of writing through the required courses instead of identifying particular courses as writing emphasis courses. Students who complete this major will fulfill the general education writing emphasis requirement.

Curriculum

112 total credits including internship

Retention of good standing in the program requires that students maintain a grade of "C" or higher in all required courses, as well as a semester and cumulative grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale.

Pre-professional requirements
BIO 105General Biology 14
BIO 312Human Anatomy and Physiology I4
BIO 313Human Anatomy and Physiology II4
CHM 103General Chemistry I 15
CHM 104General Chemistry II5
MTH 151Precalculus 24
STAT 145Elementary Statistics 14
PHY 134Physics for Nuclear and Radiological Sciences 34
Select one of the following:3
General Psychology 1
Introduction to Sociology 1
Social Problems 1
Total Credits37
Professional core requirements:
BIO 306Genetics4
BIO 333Radiation Biology3
BIO 432Biology of Cancer2
HP 250Medical Terminology for Health Professions1
PHY 386Radiation Physics3
RT 310Pathophysiology4
RT 325Radiation Therapy Readings, Writing, and Research3
RT 330Professional Issues in Radiation Therapy2
RT 350Patient Care Issues3
RT 370Health Care Systems and Human Resources in Radiation Therapy2
RT 390Medical Imaging3
RT 400Clinical Internship Seminar1
Total Credits31
Clinical internship requirements:
RT 401Introduction to Radiation Therapy3
RT 411Principles and Practice of Radiation Therapy I4
RT 412Principles and Practice of Radiation Therapy II4
RT 421Cross Sectional, Topographic and Radiographic Anatomy3
RT 431Radiation Therapy Physics3
RT 435Dosimetry and Treatment Planning3
RT 437Quality Management in Radiation Therapy2
RT 471Clinical Practicum I3
RT 472Clinical Practicum II6
RT 473Clinical Practicum III6
RT 474Clinical Practicum IV4
RT 481Seminar in Radiation Therapy3
Total Credits44
Recommended electives:
Introduction to Health Related Careers
Lifespan Development
Health Psychology
Group Dynamics
Empathic Listening Skills
Health Care and Illness
Death, Dying, and Bereavement
Independent Study in Radiation Therapy
1

This course will also fulfill general education requirements.

2

Students whose math placement exam places them in MTH 207 are not required to take MTH 151, but are required to take STAT 145 and meet minimum requirements of the General Education: Mathematical/Logical Systems and Modern Languages Category.

3

Transfer students must complete the equivalent of PHY 103 and PHY 104 in order to fulfill the PHY 134 requirement. 

All students must complete the general education, college core (waived for radiologic science majors), major/minor, and university degree requirements in order to qualify for a degree. The easiest way to track all of these requirements is to refer to the Advisement Report (AR) found in the Student Information System (WINGS) Student Center. All enrolled students have access to the AR.  
 

Baccalaureate degree requirements

Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degrees must accomplish the following:

  1. Fulfill the general education requirements.
  2. Complete at least one ethnic studies (diversity) course.
  3. Complete the courses prescribed by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee for the degree desired in the respective school or college.
  4. Earn a minimum of 120 semester credits with at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA.1, 2
  5. At least 40 credits must be earned in 300/400 level courses. Transfer courses earned or transferred at the 300/400 level apply to this requirement.
  6. Complete major and minor requirements with at least a 2.00 GPA1, 2 in each major and minor (and concentration or emphasis, if selected).
  7. A minimum of 30 semester credits in residence at UWL is required for graduation. (See undergraduate resident requirement.)
  8. Submit an application for graduation via the "Apply for Graduation" link in the WINGS Student Center as soon as the student has registered for his or her final semester or summer term in residence. December and winter intersession graduates should apply by May 1. May and summer graduates should apply by December 1.
1

Grade point average requirements for some programs will be considerably higher than 2.00. Re-entering students may be required to earn credits in excess of the 120 needed for graduation in any curriculum in order to replace credits earned in courses in which the content has changed substantially in recent years. Each case will be judged on its own merit.

2

The grade point average recorded at the time the degree is awarded will not be affected by future enrollment.

No degree will be awarded unless all requirements are fulfilled and recorded within 30 days after the official ending date of each term.

Below is a sample degree plan that can be used as a guide to identify courses required to fulfill the major and other requirements needed for degree completion. A student's actual degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). Also, this sample plan assumes readiness for each course and/or major plan, and some courses may not be offered every term. Review the course descriptions or the class timetable for course offering information.

The sample degree plans represented in this catalog are intended for first-year students entering UWL in the fall term. Students should use the Advisement Report (AR) in WINGS and work closely with their faculty advisor(s) and college dean’s office to ensure declaration and completion of all requirements in a timely manner.

General Education Program
The general education curriculum (Gen Ed) is the common educational experience for all undergraduates at UWL. Sample degree plans include Gen Ed placeholders to ensure completion of the general education requirements. Courses may be rearranged to fit the needs or recommendations of the student’s program of study. Gen Ed courses may be taken during winter term (January between the semesters) and summer to reduce the course load during regular terms (fall and spring). Students should consult with their advisor and/or the college academic services director in their college/school for assistance with course and schedule planning. Refer to the general education requirements for more specific details.

At least 40 credits of the 120 credits required must be earned at the 300/400-level. 

Note: New students and transfer students with less than 12 credits earned are required to take FYS 100 First-Year Seminar (3 cr.) during one of their first two semesters at UWL.

This sample degree plan does not establish a contractual agreement. It identifies the minimum requirements a student must successfully complete, to qualify for a degree, in a format intended to assist the student in planning their academic career. Actual degree plans may differ.

 This major is exempt from the CSH College Core requirement.

Year 1
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
CHM 103 (Gen Ed Natural Lab Science)5BIO 105 (Gen Ed Natural Lab Science)4 
MTH 151 (Gen Ed Math)4CHM 1045 
CST 110 (Gen Ed Literacy-Oral)3ENG 110 or 112 (Gen Ed Literacy-Written)3 
Gen Ed World History3FYS 100 (Gen Ed First-Year Seminar)3 
 Gen Ed Arts2-3 
 15 17  
Year 2
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
BIO 3124BIO 3134 
PSY 100, SOC 110, or SOC 120 (Gen Ed Self & Society)3Gen Ed Humanistic Studies3 
Gen Ed Minority Cultures3PHY 1344 
STAT 1454Gen Ed Arts2-3 
Gen Ed Global Studies3Gen Ed Health & Well-Being3 
December: apply for admission to Radiation Therapy Program   
 17 16  
Year 3
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
BIO 3064BIO 4322Clinical Education at Hospital Site 
RT 3302RT 3903RT 4013
RT 3104BIO 3333RT 4713
RT 3253RT 3503 
PHY 3863RT 3702 
HP 2501RT 4001 
 17 14 6
Year 4
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
Clinical Education at Hospital Site Clinical Education at Hospital Site Clinical Education at Hospital Site 
RT 4114RT 4124RT 4744
RT 4213RT 4353RT 4813
RT 4313RT 4372 
RT 4726RT 4736 
 16 15 7
Total Credits: 140