The
Bachelor of Science program in Radiation Therapy offers a course of study that will prepare students for careers as
Radiation Therapists. Majors will gain a strong background in the concepts of modern biology with a particular concentration in anatomy and physiology, biochemistry, and immunology. This background is further strengthened by courses in chemistry, physics, computer science, and mathematics. Students may elect to follow the paradigm for the four-year program for the
B.S. in Radiation Therapy in which the first three years of classes would be at Lewis University and the final year of classes would be at Northwestern Memorial Hospital (NMH). Admission to the final year of the program is based upon successful application to the program at NMH in the second semester of the junior year. Student applicants are considered and evaluated solely by the faculty/staff at NMH. Student admission to program at NMH is not guaranteed. Another option is for students to complete the normal four-year B.S. degree in Biology and then apply for admission to NMH for a one-year certificate program in
Radiation Therapy.
Students may also double major in Biology and Radiation Therapy. This would take five years with the first four years spent taking classes at Lewis University and the last year at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Students would apply for the
Radiation Therapy program in the spring of their fourth year with the understanding that Northwestern Memorial Hospital determines acceptance into this program.
RADIATION THERAPY/BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
Total Credit Hours: 139
Major Credit Hours: 96
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 our general education class 02-100 (Introduction to Biology) when students have received a score of 4 or 5 on AP tests. We do not award any credit for major classes based on AP scores.
I. Core Courses (95)
02-110 General Biology I (4)
02-111 General Biology I Lab (1)
02-115 General Biology II (4)
02-116 General Biology II Lab (1)
02-220 Genetics (4)
02-221 Genetics Lab (1)
02-224 Microbiology (4)
02-226 Microbiology Lab (1)
02-327 Introduction to Technical Radiation Oncology (1)
02-329 Technical Radiation Oncology I (1)
02-335 Advanced Clinical Physiology (3)
02-336 Case Studies in Human Physiology (1)
02-331 Principles and Practice of Radiation Therapy I (2)
02-333 Pathology/Sectional Anatomy (1)
02-334 Radiation Therapy Physics I (2)
02-337 Clinical Practicum I (3)
02-338 Medical Terminology (1)
02-339 Medical Imaging (2)
02-340 Management and Methods of Patient Care I (2)
02-342 Radiation Safety and Protection (2)
02-355 Biochemistry I- Molecular Biochemistry with Clinical Correlates (3)
02-356 Biochemistry I Lab (1)
02-426 Immunology (3)
02-431 Principles and Practice of Radiation Therapy II (2)
02-432 Treatment Planning (2)
02-433 Radiation Therapy Physics II (2)
02-434 Quality Management (2)
02-436 Operational Issues in Health Care Environment (2)
02-437 Clinical Practicum II (3)
02-452 Radiation Biology (2)
02-480 Department Pillars Portfolio (0)
02-457 Technical Radiation Oncology II (1)
02-494 Research Methods in Allied Health (2)
03-110 General Chemistry I (4)
03-111 General Chemistry I Lab (1)
03-115 General Chemistry II (4)
03-116 General Chemistry II Lab (1)
03-220 Organic Chemistry I (4)
03-221 Organic Chemistry I Lab (1)
13-200 Calculus I (4)
or
13-211 Calculus for the Life Sciences (4)
17-200 College Physics I (4)
17-201 College Physics I Lab (1)
17-205 College Physics II (4)
17-206 College Physics II Lab (1)
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. 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, Microbiology Lab, and Research Methods.
