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Radiographic Science

Program Description

  • Our program offers a Bachelor of Science in Radiographic Science. This degree will prepare you for a career as a Radiologic Technologist. A Radiologic Technologist performs diagnostic x-ray imaging in the health care setting.
  • The duration of the program is 5 semesters beginning in the fall. First-year Junior students are in the classroom Monday, Wednesday and Friday. On Tuesday and Thursday, they are learning real-world experience in the clinical setting. Second-year Senior students are in the clinical setting Monday, Wednesday, Friday and are in the classroom on Tuesday and Thursday.
  • Upon completion of the program each student will have completed over 1,500 hours of training in the clinical setting, and will be prepared to take the national ARRT Radiography certification exam to receive the title of Radiologic Technologist RT(R).
  • Curriculum taught to prepare students to pass the ARRT exam include: patient care, patient interactions and management, radiation physics and radiobiology, radiation protection, image acquisition and technical evaluation, equipment operation and quality assurance, and imaging procedures (imaging anatomy of the head, spine, pelvis, thorax, abdomen and extremities).

Physical Requirements

You may be required to pull up or reposition patients in bed, lift supplies, place equipment on supports, push beds throughout the hospital, and perform external cardiac compressions. You must also be able to maneuver throughout halls, stairways, and patient rooms in response to hospital emergencies. You will also need to make clinical judgments using critical thinking. For a more detailed description, click here: Physical Requirements

Why Choose Radiographic Science at ISU?

  • Class sizes are small averaging 21-24 students selected each year.
  • Labs groups are small with as few as 6 students per lab.
  • Our program was the first in the state and one of the first in the nation to offer digital radiography.
  • Students will complete 1,500 hours of clinical experience which prepares them for real world experiences in Imaging.
  • Students can complete Computed Tomography (CT) competencies while in the program. This is not typical of most radiography programs.
  • For the past 5 years the ISU pass rate on the national exam administered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) is 94% passing on the 1st attempt, higher than the national average of 89%.
  • The program is programmatically accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology.

Our Mission

The Mission of the Radiographic Science Program is to provide students with both the academic and technical foundations to competently and safely perform Radiologic procedures, to prepare qualified imaging technologists who will ethically respond to the needs of patients with technical competence and compassion, and to assume a vital professional role as a medical team member.

Program Mission, Goals, Learning Outcomes, and Philosophy

JRCERT Program Effectiveness Data

The Radiographic Science Program at Idaho State University is programmatically accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT). Our current accreditation award is eight (8) years. Our most recent review was 06/2023.

https://www.jrcert.org/programs/idaho-state-university/

 

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