Radiation Therapy

Return to: Departments and Programs

Radiation Therapy is an interdisciplinary field that combines chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer technology and medicine in the use of radiation to diagnose and treat disease. Radiation Therapy uses high energy X-rays, electron beams or radioactive isotopes as cancer-killing agents. These therapies change the direct physical process of individual cells. The radiation therapist is a highly specialized healthcare professional who is an important part of the healthcare team. The team includes physicians, physicists and nurses. Radiation therapy is one of the most effective treatments today for many cancers and an increasing number of other medical conditions. The radiation therapist delivers highly technical skills to patients requiring specialized care.

North Central College’s degree program in Radiation Therapy prepares students for a career as a Radiation Therapist. The first option is a 3+1 program with Northwestern Memorial School of Nuclear Medicine. Students spend three years at North Central College, where they complete their liberal arts general education core along with prerequisite science and math courses. This is followed by a 14 month clinical experience at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The student then graduates from North Central College with a liberal arts degree in Radiation Therapy. Admission to the final year of the program is based upon successful application to the program at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in the second term of the junior year. Student applicants are considered and evaluated solely by the faculty/staff at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Student admission to the program at Northwestern is not guaranteed.

Another option is for the student to complete a four-year B.S. or B.A. degree at North Central College in chemistry, biology or biochemistry, and then apply for admission to Northwestern Memorial Hospital for a one-year certificate program in Radiation Therapy.

Students intending to major in Radiation Therapy must apply for admission into the North Central College program at the end of their second year of study. Prerequisite courses and other requirements are subject to change. Keep in touch with the Pre-Professional Health Program Coordinator for the most recent information.

Degrees offered: B.A. and B.S.

Programs

• Radiation Therapy, B.A.
• Radiation Therapy, B.S.

Courses

• RDT 410 - Management and Methods of Patient Care I
• RDT 412 - Radiation Safety and Protection
• RDT 413 - Medical Imaging
• RDT 414 - Pathology
• RDT 416 - Radiation Physics
• RDT 418 - Radiation Therapy Physics
• RDT 420 - Radiation Biology
• RDT 422 - Introduction to Technical Radiation Therapy
• RDT 430 - Principles and Practice of Radiation Therapy I
• RDT 431 - Principles and Practice of Radiation Therapy II
• RDT 434 - Quality Management
• RDT 435 - Technical Radiation Therapy I
• RDT 436 - Technical Radiation Therapy II
• RDT 440 - Operational Issues in Radiation Therapy
• RDT 442 - Clinical Practicum I
• RDT 443 - Clinical Practicum II

Return to: Departments and Programs