Radiologic Technology Courses

RAD 101 Foundations in Radiologic Imaging (2 cr)

Based on the belief that all persons have the right to warm, personal, and quality care, this course is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills to function as caring and compassionate individuals when performing medical imaging procedures. Students will explore topics such as the history of medical imaging, the student’s role on the health care team, radiation protection procedures, ethical and legal principles, medical terminology, patient care techniques, and methods for protecting self, patient, and public from ionizing radiation. Instructor and clinical staff evaluations of student cognitive, psychomotor, and affective skills during clinical rotations are used to correlate theory to practice.

COREQUISITES: RAD 104, RAD 110.

RAD 104 Principles of Radiologic or Radiographic Imaging I (2 cr)

Producing diagnostic radiographic images involves an understanding of a multitude of technical factors and their affect on the image. Students are challenged to correlate their understanding of human anatomy and physiology to the affect of radiation on the human body. Through in-depth discussions and class activities, students will learn how to utilize technical factors to produce quality diagnostic images. These images are critical in the diagnosis of injury or disease.

COREQUISITES: RAD 101, RAD 110.

RAD 110 Applied Radiography I (3 cr)

Radiographic imaging involves much more than just bones. Imaging the intricate internal anatomy of the human body requires students to understand and utilize a wide variety of positioning techniques. Producing a diagnostic study of the hand requires a minimum of three different patient positions while imaging the digestive system requires many positions and collaboration between a radiologist, a staff radiographer, and the student to assure that all anatomy is visualized. Through the use of intensive classroom and laboratory sessions, the student is introduced to the organization and functioning of the radiology department as well as positioning techniques for the chest, abdomen, upper extremity, and lower extremity.

COREQUISITES: RAD 101, RAD 104.

RAD 111 Clinical Practicum I (2 cr)

This course is designed to introduce students to the clinical environment. Through weekly rotations, students have the opportunity to interact with staff radiographers and radiologists to begin developing clinical skills. Students will correlate theory to practice by developing a Technique Book and performing radiographic examinations on patients under the supervision of staff radiographers. Students are challenged to incorporate the core values of Mercy into their interactions with patients, patients’ families, and the health care team. Instructor and clinical staff evaluations of student cognitive, psychomotor, and affective skills during clinical rotations are used to correlate theory to practice. 

PREREQUISITES: RAD 101, RAD 104, RAD 110. COREQUISITES: RAD 114, RAD 120.

RAD 114 Principles of Radiologic or Radiographic Imaging II (2 cr)

This course is designed to build on RAD 104 and the knowledge of principles and procedures needed to image human anatomy. Previously learned factors will be reinforced, with new technical factors introduced, leading to a broad based knowledge of imaging techniques.

PREREQUISITES: RAD 101, RAD 104, RAD 110. COREQUISITES: RAD 111, RAD 120.

RAD 116 Imaging Systems (3 cr)

Through a variety of classroom activities, students will explore image processing, fluoroscopy, PACS, digital imaging, and advanced imaging procedures to correlate theory with practice. Due to the rapidly changing field of medical imaging, new and emerging imaging systems will be incorporated into this course.

PREREQUISITES: BIO 133, ENG 101, PHI 110, RAD 111, RAD 114, RAD 120. COREQUISITES: RAD 121, RAD 130.

RAD 120 Applied Radiography II (3 cr)

This course is designed to build on the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective skills learned in RAD 110. Intensive classroom and laboratory sessions will continue as students learn how to position patients for examinations of the spinal column, shoulder girdle, pelvic girdle, gastrointestinal tract, and genitourinary system. An in-depth discussion on contrast medias and their usage in medical imaging will be presented. This course will introduce students to the preparation of clinical case studies to correlate theory with practice.

PREREQUISITES: RAD 101, RAD 104, RAD 110. COREQUISITES: RAD 111, RAD 114.

RAD 121 Clinical Practicum II (2 cr)

This course allows students to continue performing radiographic examinations learned in RAD 110, begin performing examinations learned in RAD 120, and increase participation in procedures involving the gastrointestinal tract, genitourinary system, surgical procedures, trauma, and mobile examinations. The core values of Mercy will continue to be emphasized as students expand their patient care responsibilities.

PREREQUISITES: BIO 133, ENG 101, PHI 110, RAD 111, RAD 114, RAD 120. COREQUISITES: RAD 116, RAD 130.

RAD 130 Applied Radiography III (2 cr)

This course is the third in the Applied Radiography series and builds on the previous two courses as students continue to learn positioning procedures in order to produce quality diagnostic images to help radiologists and physicians interpret patients’ injuries and diseases. During this course, students will learn positioning techniques for the skull and facial bones. In addition, they will expand their knowledge of radiographic examinations by researching special imaging procedures such as myelograms, arthrograms, and venograms. Imaging techniques specific to the geriatric and pediatric patient will be presented.

PREREQUISITES: BIO 133, ENG 101, PHI 110, RAD 111, RAD 114, RAD 120. COREQUISITES: RAD 116, RAD 121.

RAD 131 Clinical Internship III (6 cr)

This course is designed to build on the knowledge, skills, and attitudes learned in RAD 111 and RAD 121. Students will continue to develop and demonstrate an increasing degree of competency in the performance of radiographic examinations. Trauma rotations will provide the student with an opportunity to learn from a variety of physicians and radiographers. Students will spend more time in clinical areas improving their technical skills, demonstrating the core values of Mercy in their patient care interactions, researching case studies, and using critical thinking and problem solving methods to produce quality diagnostic images.

PREREQUISITES: BIO 134, PSY 101, SOC 102, SPE 105, RAD 116, RAD 121, RAD 130.

RAD 202 Radiographic Pathology (3 cr)

Radiographers must understand the affect of trauma and disease on the human body. Through an in-depth study of radiographic pathology, students learn how to adjust technical factors to produce diagnostic images of intricate internal human anatomy. Knowledge of pathological conditions also enables students to care for patients’ needs, perform examinations with as little discomfort as possible, and maintain radiation exposure as low as reasonably achievable. Through the development of a portfolio, students will correlate theory to practice and augment their knowledge of the relationship between human pathology and the production of quality diagnostic images.

PREREQUISITES: RAD 131. COREQUISITES: RAD 203, RAD 205, RAD 210, RAD 211.

RAD 203 Advanced Patient Care (2 cr)

Radiographers are “first on the scene” when trauma patients are brought into a hospital and need to be able to respond quickly to emergency situations. From basic life support to advanced skills for patient assessment, students learn the techniques needed to assist the radiologist and/or emergency medical personnel during the performance of radiographic examinations. Through lecture, simulations, and skills labs, students are challenged to learn these advanced skills needed to care for patients.

PREREQUISITES: RAD 131. COREQUISITES: RAD 202, RAD 205, RAD 210, RAD 211.

RAD 205 Radiation Physics (3 cr)

Students need to know and understand the responsibilities of operating today’s million dollar imaging equipment. Based upon a review of electromagnetic radiation and an in-depth study of electricity and its components, students learn to operate radiographic equipment within safe limits. Through lectures and group activities, students learn the skills needed to evaluate basic equipment operation and understand the importance to patient care of reporting malfunctions to the proper authorities. Graduates choosing to further their education have a solid foundation to build upon as they pursue advanced specialty areas of the medical imaging sciences.

PREREQUISITES: RAD 131. COREQUISITES: RAD 202, RAD 203, RAD 210, RAD 211.

RAD 210 Applied Radiography IV (2 cr)

Physicians depend on radiographers to produce diagnostic x-ray images. These images are often the first procedures ordered for the diagnosis of a patient’s injury or disease. The purpose of this course is to provide a “real life” atmosphere in the classroom as students use their critical thinking and problem solving skills to evaluate x-ray images. In a seminar format, x-rays are presented and students are challenged to determine the diagnostic quality and discuss how the images could be improved to reduce repeated examinations. Producing diagnostic images the first time is critical in reducing patient exposure to ionizing radiation.

PREREQUISITES: RAD 131. COREQUISITES: RAD 202, RAD 203, RAD 205, RAD 211.

RAD 211 Clinical Practicum IV (3 cr)

Students will demonstrate an increased degree of speed, efficiency, and competence when positioning patients for radiographic examinations. Critical thinking and problem solving in the production of quality diagnostic images will be emphasized. Students at this level of the program are in their second year of the program and will exhibit increased independence in their clinical skills.

PREREQUISITES: RAD 131. COREQUISITES: RAD 202, RAD 203, RAD 205, RAD 210.

RAD 215 Radiation Biology (3 cr)

From Hiroshima and Nagasaki to the Chernobyl disaster, the public is well aware that ionizing radiation is dangerous if not appropriately used by educated and skilled professionals. Radiation exposures must always be kept as low as reasonably achievable with the benefits of an examination outweighing the risks of radiation exposure. This course will provide students with information about the effects of radiation on the human body. Students will explore the history of Radiologic Technology and examine protection methods to assure radiation safety practices. Graduates of the program are expected to know, understand, and utilize radiation protection devices and procedures to protect themselves, the patient, and the health care team from unnecessary radiation exposure.

PREREQUISITES: CSP 999, RAD 202, RAD 203, RAD 205, RAD 210, RAD 211. COREQUISITES: RAD 220, RAD 221.

RAD 220 Applied Radiography V (3 cr)

This course is designed to provide the student with a comprehensive review prior to sitting for the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) National Board Examination. Through intensive discussions, group activities, and mock registry examinations, students are challenged to organize their studies to determine content areas needing additional reinforcement.

PREREQUISITES: CSP 999, RAD 202, RAD 203, RAD 205, RAD 210, RAD 211. COREQUISITES: RAD 215, RAD 221.

RAD 221 Clinical Practicum V (3 cr)

Students at this level of the program are finishing their clinical competency requirements and preparing for graduation from the program. All previous knowledge, skills, and attitudes related to producing quality diagnostic images are reinforced. The core values of Mercy are once again stressed as students prepare to enter the professional workplace.

PREREQUISITES: CSP 999, RAD 202, RAD 203, RAD 205, RAD 210, RAD 211. COREQUISITES: RAD 215, RAD 220.