Mar 29, 2024  
2017-18 Academic Catalog 
    
2017-18 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Radiologic Technology - DMIR.AS


At Springfield Technical Community College, the Radiologic Technology Program’s mission is to educate radiologic technology students in the knowledge and skills to become qualified, professional practitioners who provide quality service and care to the community. In addition to the education in radiologic technology, the program, in conjunction with Springfield Technical Community College, offers a base of liberal arts education courses designed to broaden intellectual perspectives, stress ethical and humane values and prepare students to be productive and responsible citizens who adequately respond to diverse populations with respect to age, social, cultural and economic conditions.

Upon completion of the Radiologic Technology program from Springfield Technical Community College, graduates will be awarded an Associate in Science degree (DMIR.AS) and will be eligible to apply for the Certifcation and Registration examinations administered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.

The College provides all didactic and laboratory classes. An energized x-ray unit, various phantoms (artificial body parts), and auxiliary equipment allow the student the development of psychomotor skills prior to patient exposure.

 

Upon successful completion of the requirements of the program, the degree of Associate in Science in Diagnostic Medical Imaging will be awarded.

Accreditation and Program Outcomes


The program is fully accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) www.jrcert.org/.

Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology
20 North Wacker Drive, Suite 2850
Chicago, Illinois 60606-3182
312-704-5300     FAX: 312-704-5304  mail@jrcert.org

Copies of the Standards for an Accredited Educational Program for the Radiographer are available from the office of the program director.

 

STCC’s Radiography program makes available to the general public program effectiveness data on an annual basis.

Credentialing Examination Pass Rate (5-year average): The number of graduates who pass the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) examination in Radiography on their 1st attempt within 6 months of graduation compared with the total number of examinees. Our goal is to maintain a minimum pass rate of 75% or better.

5-year average 2012-2016: 76%, 41 of 54 examinees passed the ARRT exam on their 1st attempt within six months of graduation.

 

Job Placement Rate (5-year average): The number of graduates employed within 12 months of graduation compared with the number of graduates actively seeking employment in the field of radiology. Our goal is to maintain a minimum placement rate of 75% or better.

5-year average 2012-2016: 94%

48/51 are employed 

 

Annual Program Completion Rate: The number of students who complete the program within 150% of the program’s timeline compared with the total number who enrolled initially. Our goal is to maintain a minimum graduation rate of 75%.

2016: 67%; 14 of the initial 21 students completed the program.

5-year average: 75%

 

Program Goals


1. Students will effectively utilize critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

1.1. Students will evaluate images for diagnostic quality.

1.2. Students will modify imaging parameters for non-routine procedures.

1.3. Students will demonstrate critical thinking through problem solving exercises.

2. Students will demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills.

2.1. Students will communicate effectively with patients.

2.2. Students will demonstrate effective written communication skills.

2.3. Students will demonstrate effective listening skills.

3. Students will be clinically competent.

3.1. Students will demonstrate proper positioning skills.

3.2. Students will employ appropriate radiation protection.

3.3. Students will apply appropriate technical factors.

3.4. Students will demonstrate effective patient care.

4. Student and community needs will effectively be served by the program.

4.1. Students will complete the program.

4.2. Graduates will pass the ARRT national certification exam.

4.3. Graduates pursuing employment will be gainfully employed in the field or will continue with  their education.

4.4. Graduates will indicate satisfaction that the program prepared them as entry-level practitioners.

4.5 a. Employers will be satisfied with program graduates.

4.5 b. The minutes from Advisory Board meetings will express satisfaction with overall quality of program.

5. Students will participate in professional activities.

5.1 Students will follow clinical affiliates’ rules and regulations.

5.2. Students will demonstrate professional growth.

Student Learning Outcomes  

Applying to this Program


  • All applications for consideration for acceptance into the program should be received by the Admissions Office no later than March 31 of the application year.
  • Fall start only, day program
  • This is a competitive program, a maximum of 15 students accepted each fall.  Student applications will be evaluated and scored based on the admission pre-requisites as noted below:

Admission Prerequisites:

  • Proof of High School transcript, GED or HISET
  • English
    • Completion of 4 yrs. of high school English (grade of C or higher); OR
    • Placement examination score  at ENG-101  level: OR
    • Successful completion of DWT-099  or a college level English ( grade of C or higher)
  • Math
    • Completion of Technical Math 1 (MAT-124 ) (grade of C or higher within 5 years) OR
    • If completing Math requirement outside of STCC, a 4 credit Pre-Calculus course from an accredited college with a grade of C or higher within 5 years (one of these is needed to meet pre-requisite requirements for Physics 213/213L)
  • Medical Terminology
    •  Completion of Medical Terminology MED-100   (grade of C or higher); OR
    •  Passing score on  the STCC MED-100  challenge exam
  •  Biology
    •  Completion of high school Biology with a lab (grade of C or higher within 5 years); OR
    • Completion of a college level Biology with a lab (such as BIO-101  , BIO-201  , BIO-231  ) (grade of C or higher within 5 years)
  • Chemistry
    • Completion of high school Chemistry with a lab (grade C or higher, within 5 years); OR
    • Completion of a college level Chemistry with a lab  (grade C or higher, within 5 years)
  • Admission Checklist (click here to download/print)
    • In order to strengthen your application, it is strongly recommended you submit this document along with all other requirements.
Notes:
  • Effective Fall 2018 prerequisite courses must be current within 5 years from the start of the program (fall of application year)
  • Mid-semester grades for applicable spring courses will be considered. Students requesting consideration for course work being performed outside of STCC must submit a mid-term grade report to the Admissions office along with their application.
  • Conditional acceptances will be given for applicants who have incomplete courses in the spring semester. The condition will state what final grade must be earned to gain full acceptance. Students not meeting stated conditions will not be granted admission to the program.
  •  Program Length and Hours: The curriculum includes a summer session, (May- August, 12 weeks of 40 hours/week)
  • Programmatic Technical Standards: Students with disabilities must be able to meet the technical standards of the program with reasonable accommodations as defined by the ADA.  
  • Applicants who have completed the following will strengthen their application:
    • Anatomy & Physiology 1, (B or higher, within 5 years)
    • Anatomy & Physiology 2, (B or higher, within 5 years)
    • College-level English Composition 1 & 2 (B or higher, within 5 years)
    • Work experience in health related field/customer service experience (please submit a letter from an employer as evidence of employment with your application)

Applying for Re-Admission to this Program


Students who leave this health program before completing it may apply for re-admission.  Students reapplying to the program must resubmit an application, all supporting documents and essay with updated official transcripts. Students will be eligible to receive up to a maximum of one re-admission. Click here  for information about the re-admission policy and process. 

Additional Requirements for Accepted Students


Deposit: If offered admission, a non-refundable $50.00 deposit will be required to secure your acceptance to this Program.

Mandatory Health Records:  All required health records, immunizations, and physicals MUST be filed in the STCC Health Services office by July 1 of the admission year. The Health Office is located in the Building 20 Suite, room 320 (third floor center) (413-755-4230). The college/program reserves the right to rescind the admission status of any student not meeting, as well as not submitting, all post-admission requirements in a timely manner. 

Background Check: Students enrolled in Health Professions Programs that involve potentially unsupervised contact with children, the disabled, or the elderly, or which includes a clinical affiliation, internship, or field placement with a private or public health care provider, will be required to undergo state-wide and/or national criminal background checks, including but not limited to  Massachusetts Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) and Sex Offender Record Information (SORI), Seven (7) year residential Search, and FBI Fingerprinting checks. Depending on the results of the background checks, a student may be deemed ineligible to participate in such academic or clinical activities, which may impact a student’s ability to complete program requirements. Furthermore, please be advised that eligibility to participate in College academic and/or clinical activities following a background check does not guarantee your eligibility to sit for a professional credentialing examination(s) or employment upon graduation.  It is your responsibility to contact the certification or licensure board for your particular health care profession to determine  the standards that must be met for credentialing, licensing and/or employment  in that field.

Drug Screening Policy for Clinical Placement: The School of Health & Patient Simulation is committed to high quality education and providing excellent clinical experiences to students in the health professions. Students are expected to perform at their highest functional level during all educational and clinical experiences in order to maximize the learning environment and ensure patient safety. Thus a student’s performance at all times must be free of any impairment caused by prescription or non-prescribed drugs or alcohol use. Students enrolling in Health Professions programs are required to undergo and pass a drug and/or alcohol screening analysis in order to be eligible for placement in a clinical facility. Students assigned to clinical education experiences at our contracted facilities may also be required to undergo and pass random drug screening analysis in order to remain at that clinical facility and in the program.  Students who fail a screening, or refuse to submit to a screening within the designated time frame will be ineligible for clinical placement, which will affect their status in the program. Students with a positive drug test may challenge the results of the test within five (5) days of notification of the drug test results. This challenge must be in writing and delivered to the college’s Director of Health Services. Students may re-apply for re-entry into a health program after one year.  Requests for re-admission will be considered on a case by case basis.

Students who are notified of a “negative-dilute” result will submit to a random drug test within 24 hours of the previous test in order to confirm the negative status of the screening. Additional random testing may also be required under the guidelines listed in your program’s handbook. A student who claims that he/she tested positive due to a prescription drug and was unable to clarify this matter with the medical review officer (MRO) from the drug testing lab shall be required to provide evidence from a health care provider of the type of prescription, dates of permissible use and dosage amounts within five (5) days of notification of the drug test results to the college’s Director of Health Services. Failure to complete this notification will result in the student being ineligible for clinical placement, which will affect their status in the program.

Students who test positive for marijuana are unable to continue in a clinical placement, which will affect their status in the health program. A student who has a prescription for Medical Marijuana and tests positive for marijuana will also be ineligible to participate in clinical placement due to the federal restriction on the use of marijuana. While the use of Medical Marijuana is permitted in Massachusetts, marijuana remains classified as a controlled substance under federal law and its use, possession, and/or cultivation at educational institutions remains prohibited.

Programmatic Technical Standards: Technical Standards reflect performance abilities  and essential skills that are necessary for a student to successfully complete the requirements of a specified program. Students with disabilities must be able to meet the technical standards of the program with reasonable accommodations as defined by the American with Disabilities Act (ADA.)  See the link below. Program Technical Standard forms found in your admission acceptance packet must be submitted to the Office of Health Services by July 1. Health Services office is located in building 20,  room 320 (413 755-4230)

Health Program Latex Policy  

Program Requirements and Advancement


  • Minimum Grade Requirements: To continue in the progression of courses offered in the Radiography program a student must achieve a minimum grade of “C” (73)  or better in all courses. Student not meeting the minimum grade requirement will be withdrawn from the program. Failure in an affiliation course will result in dismissal from the program. Grades lower than “C” (73) will not be accepted for transfer credit.
  • Graduates of this accredited program are eligible to take the national certification exam administered by American Registry of Radiologic Technologist, (ARRT)
  • Students must adhere to the strict attendance policy in lecture, lab and clinical practicum in order to graduate.

 

(DMIR.AS) Curriculum


Total: 18 credits


Total: 15 credits


Semester 2S (Summer)


Total: 4 credits


Total: 15 credits


Total: 13 credits


Total (DMIR.AS) Curriculum Program Credits: 65


Notes:


  1. General Psychology (PSY-101 ) or Introduction to Sociology (SOC-101 ).

Department Personnel


Name Title Office Phone Email
Sheryl Fullen
Program Chair
 20/302F 413-755-4850 safullen@stcc.edu