Carver College of Medicine

Radiation Sciences

The Radiation Sciences Program is one of five academic units in the Division of Associated Medical Sciences. For information on the division's general academic policies, see Associated Medical Sciences in the Catalog.

Radiation sciences professionals work with physicians to gather accurate patient information for diagnosis, treatment, and/or research of disease and injury. The radiation sciences professional must possess knowledge, skill, and mature judgment in order to operate complex equipment safely and efficiently and to produce quality images using multiple sources of radiation energy while delivering quality patient care during procedures.

Undergraduate Program

Bachelor of Science

Students who complete the entire program at Iowa enroll first with a radiation science interest in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, where they complete the General Education Program. During the fall semester of the first year, students apply to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Radiologic Technology Program. Admission is selective. Accepted students enroll for the second and third years as nondegree students in the Radiologic Technology Program. Finally, students must be accepted to a modality program, be admitted to the Carver College of Medicine B.S. program in radiation sciences, and complete the advanced course requirements.

Certified radiographers who hold national certification from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, or student radiographers intending to take the national certification exam, must be admitted to the Carver College of Medicine as Bachelor of Science students in the Radiation Sciences Program. They must complete the required University courses and a specialty (modality program). Admission to modality programs is selective. Applicants must meet semester-hour, grade-point average, and residency requirements.

The program plan is as follows.

GENERAL EDUCATION COURSES

Rhetoric

Natural Sciences

Social Sciences

Quantitative or Formal Reasoning

Distributed Education

For information about the General Education Program, contact the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences or visit its web site (http://www.clas.uiowa.edu).

RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM

SPECIALTY (MODALITY PROGRAM)

Nuclear Medicine Technology (074:101, 074:102, 074:103, 074:104, and 074:105) includes classes in radiopharmacy, radiobiology, radioimmunology, radiation protection, patient care, medical terminology, instrumentation, computer applications, administration, and ethics; 12-month program (30 s.h.); begins in August.

Radiation Therapy (672:803, 672:804, and 672:805) teaches theory and techniques of radiation therapy technology, with emphasis on competence in areas of oncology treatment planning, treatment delivery, dosimetry, and use of megavoltage radiation-producing equipment to administer treatment; 12-month program (30 s.h.); begins in August.

Diagnostic Medical Sonography (673:803, 673:804, 673:805, 673:806, and 673:807) focuses on principles and methods in using ultrasound and offers specialties in abdominal, pediatric, obstetric, and gynecologic imaging as well as interventional procedures and vascular technology; 18-month program (36 s.h.); begins in August.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (674:806, 674:807, and 674:808) offers intensive study and practice in magnetic resonance imaging, including computer technology, pathophysiology, physics, advanced sectional anatomy, and instrumentation; nine-month program (24 s.h.); begins in September and March.

Cardiovascular Intervention (675:808 and 675:809) teaches about imaging equipment, pharmacology, sterile techniques, cardiac monitoring, vascular anatomy and physiology, cardiovascular intervention technology imaging procedures, therapeutic intervention techniques, and digital angiography; six-month program (15 s.h.); begins in September and March.

Computed Tomography (676:100, 676:110, 676:120, and 676:130) concentrates on sectional anatomy, single and multislice computed tomography (CT), electron beam CT, physiologic and 3-D imaging, CT simulation, physics and imaging, and procedures and pathology; on-line courses (15 s.h.); 676:140 recommended elective internship (3 s.h.); begins in August and January.

Quality Management/Picture Archival and Communication Systems (678:816 and 678:817) includes courses in quality management, radiographic and mammographic quality control, research methods, federal regulations, PACS technology, networking and standards, PACS management, radiology department design and workflow, and QA for the digital department; advanced national recognition exam in Quality Management is recommended at completion; six-month program (15 s.h.); begins in August and February.

ADVANCED COURSES

ELECTIVES

Advising

Admission

Admission to the Radiologic Technology Program is competitive; enrollment is limited to 25. Student applications are accepted October through December. Students accepted to the program are admitted to the Carver College of Medicine on nondegree (special) student status and must meet specific program requirements; see Information/RT & Modality Programs on the Radiation Sciences Program web site. A g.p.a. of 2.50 in general education courses is recommended.

Admission to the Carver College of Medicine radiation sciences major requires national certification in radiologic technology from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists and a cumulative g.p.a. of at least 2.00.

Admission to specialties (modality programs) is competitive; enrollment is limited. See Prospective Students/Admission on the Radiation Sciences Program web site or contact the individual modality program directors. The application deadline is February 1. Admission to the radiation sciences major does not guarantee admission to a modality program. Cumulative grade-point averages of 2.50 are recommended. Applicants must hold national certification from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.