Medical Radiation Sciences

Program Overview

Radiation Therapy students gain skills in radiation safety, patient care, and cancer management and treatment, using a Virtual Environment Radiotherapy Trainer (VERT) and working side-by-side with radiation therapists at our clinical affiliate sites.

Program Mission

The mission of the University of Vermont's Radiation Therapy program is to educate, train, and graduate professionally competent and ethical individuals committed to lifelong learning who are prepared to meet current and future workplace challenges in radiation therapy.

Curriculum

A Model Curriculum in Medical Radiation Sciences

First Year

• Psychological Science Course
• Written Expression
• Outline of General Chemistry
• Medical Terminology
• Applications to Health
• Human Cell Biology
• Fundamentals of Calculus
• Fundamentals of Nutrition
• Intro to Scientific Writing
• Cultural Anthropology

Second Year

• Human Anatomy and Physiology I
• Race Relations in the US
• Elements of Statistics
• Introduction to Public Health
• Human Anatomy and Physiology II
• Principles of Radiation Therapy
• Radiation Science

Third Year

• Dosimetry Concepts
• Intro to Human Disease
• Cross Sectional Imaging
• Intro to Clinical Practice
• Health Care Ethics
• Dosimetry
• Clinical Radiation Oncology
• CT Procedures
• Clinical Practicum II
• Essentials of Patient Care

Fourth Year

• Leadership and Management in Health Care
• Techniques in Radiation Therapy
• Clinical Practicum III
• Senior Seminar in Radiation Therapy
• Foundations of Global Health
• Final Clinical Practicum Overview
• Clinical Practicum IV
• Quality Assurance and Treatment Plan

For a more comprehensive overview of the program, please access the Radiation Therapy Student Manual (PDF) and review the University grading policy and the University of Vermont Academic Calendar. Graduation requirements are outlined in the UVM Undergraduate Catalogue. The Radiation Therapy student concern policy is described on page 11 of the student manual. 

Virtual Environment Radiation Therapy Trainer (VERT) 

UVM’s virtual environment for radiation therapy training (VERT), is a state-of-the-art teaching tool that offers a safe environment to practice simulated radiation therapy techniques with 3D views and life-size visualizations.

Clinical Practice

UVM Radiation Therapy students spend their first two semesters applying didactic skills in the clinical setting at the University of Vermont Medical Center’s Cancer Center. Students spend their final semester at a hospital affiliate site working with oncology professionals to design and administer radiation therapy treatment plans and learning to develop relationships with patients of all ages before taking the national registry (licensure) examination. Assignment of affiliate sites is completed through a lottery system. Our clinical affiliate sites are geographically dispersed, and many are more than 60 miles from campus. For the final semester of the radiation therapy program, students will be required to relocate or travel. Radiation Therapy Students are responsible for travel, lodging, all living expenses, and insurance during the off-campus experience. 

Our clinical affiliate sites are:

• University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, VT*
• Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY
• Central VT Hospital (National Life Cancer Treatment Center), Berlin, VT
• Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Hanover, NH
• Northern Light Radiation Oncology (Eastern Maine Medical Center), Brewer, ME
• Elliot Hospital, Manchester, NH
• Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
• Rutland Regional Medical Center, Rutland, VT

*Students cannot complete their final clinical practicums (RADT 3870, 3880, & 3890) at the University of Vermont Medical Center.

Certification

Program graduates may acquire certification by sitting for an exam with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. The Board of Radiologic Technology governs licensure requirements for the State of Vermont. Learn more about state licensure requirements >>

Admissions

How to Apply

All students must apply to the University of Vermont before acceptance to the Radiation Therapy Program. Radiation Therapy Program capacity is 9 students per cohort, which the JRCERT determines. 

First-time, first-year students: The UVM admissions team reviews and determines all applicants. 

Transfer students: transfer students must first meet UVM admission requirements before the application is reviewed for admission to the Radiation Therapy Program. 

View the Program admissions process (PDF)

Outcomes

Student Learning Objectives

Goal one: Graduates will be clinically competent

• Students will demonstrate competency positioning patients for accurate radiation therapy delivery.
• Students will integrate didactic and clinical course work to provide appropriate patient care.

Goal two: Students will exhibit problem solving and critical thinking skills

• Students will demonstrate critical thinking skills in CT simulation in accordance to physician directive and patient needs.
• Students will recognize and address additional patient needs when appropriate in the treatment process.

Goal three: Students will communicate clearly and effectively with faculty, patients, and clinical staff:

• Students will demonstrate effective verbal communication in the clinical setting.
• Students will demonstrate effective written communication.

Program Effectiveness Data

The Program publishes annually the Credentialing Examination Pass Rate (ARRT exam), job placement rates, and the Program Completion Rate (PDF). 

Costs and Funding

 Learn more about tuition and scholarship opportunities and tuition refund policies.

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Accreditation

Radiation Therapy Program Accreditation

The Radiation Therapy Program at UVM was re-accredited for 5-years in April 2019 by the Joint Review Commission on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT). General program accreditation information and the current accreditation award letter can be found here. The next accreditation renewal is tentatively scheduled for April 2024. The JRCERT maintains standards and reviews the program at UVM for compliance with these standards. It is the only agency recognized by the United States Department of Education for accreditation of radiation therapy programs. The JRCERT is located at 20 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 2850, Chicago, IL, 60606-3182 or at www.jrcert.org. The JRCERT can be contacted at (312) 704-5304 or mail@jrcert.org.

UVM Institutional Accreditation

The University of Vermont is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE; formerly the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, NEASC).