2018-2019 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog
Bachelor of Science in Radiation Therapy
- Requirements for a Major in Radiation Therapy
- Suggested Order of Coursework for a Major in Radiation Therapy
Admission Criteria to the Radiation Therapy Program
Selection Factors
Grand Valley State University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity institution. It encourages diversity and provides equal opportunity in education, employment, all of its programs, and the use of its facilities. Applicants are considered without regard to age, color, disability, familial status, height, marital status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex/gender, sexual orientation, veteran status, or weight. Motivational factors, life experiences, patient care experience, maturity, and personal characteristics as assessed in personal interviews and recommendations are important factors in the selection process.
An applicant's academic record is important as an indicator of ability to succeed in an intensive and rigorous medical curriculum. A degree in radiation therapy involves a competitive admission process and completion of a secondary application. There are no waiting lists for these programs. Applications are due February 1. Admissions occur once per year beginning in the fall semester (August).
The application requires: (www.gvsu.edu/rad)
- GVSU undergraduate application - students must apply and be admitted to GVSU
- RT application
- Resume to include a specific section listing health care experience
- One to two page statement of professional goals
- Two recommendations on specific forms
- Official copies of all non-GVSU transcripts
Specific selection criteria and their weight:
- Academic grade point average from prerequisite courses (40%)
- Academic grade point average from last two calendar years in college or university (10%)
- Interview /writing assessment completed on-site at the College of Health Professions (30%)
- Health care experience - Minimum of 16 hours volunteer or paid, recommended 2-3 hours job shadow (5%)
- Recommendations (5%)
- Additional leadership considerations (10%)
Prerequisite Courses (47 credits)
- AHS 100 - Medical Terminology (3 credits)
- BMS 250 - Anatomy and Physiology I (4 credits) (prerequisite * BIO 120 - General Biology I (4 credits))
- BMS 251 - Anatomy and Physiology II (4 credits)
- MTH 122 - College Algebra (3 credits) (prerequisite ** MTH 110 - Algebra (4 credits))
- * PHY 220 - General Physics I (5 credits) (prerequisite MTH 123 - Trigonometry (3 credits))
- PHY 221 - General Physics II (5 credits)
- * PSY 101 - Introductory Psychology (3 credits)
- PSY 300 - Research Methods in Psychology (3 credits) OR AHS 301 - Introduction to Health Care Research (3 credits) OR BMS 301 - Introduction to Research in the Biomedical Sciences (3 credits)
- * SOC 105 - Social Problems (3 credits)
- * STA 215 - Introductory Applied Statistics (3 credits)
*Also fulfills general education requirements. **Math 110 may not be required based upon placement at time of admission.
Requirements for a Major in Radiation Therapy
General Education Courses - Foundations & Cultures (22 credits)
Remaining general education courses not covered in the major coursework or major prerequisites
- General education (Art) Credits: 3
- General education (History) Credits: 3
- General education (Philosophy) Credits: 3
- General education (Global Perspectives) Credits: 3
- Issues Credits: 6 (two courses which can be taken when student has 55+ credits)
Radiation Therapy Courses (66 credits, includes Issue courses)
- AHS 340 - Health Care Management (3 credits) (fulfills 1 of 2 Issue courses)
- RIT 302 - Radiation Protection Physics (2 credits)
- RIT 310 - Radiation Therapy Patient Care (3 credits)
- RIT 322 - Radiation Biology (2 credits)
- RIT 330 - Radiation Therapy Principles and Practices I (4 credits)
- RIT 331 - Radiation Therapy Principles and Practices I Laboratory (1 credit)
- RIT 332 - Radiation Therapy Principles and Practices II (3 credits)
- RIT 333 - Radiation Therapy Principles and Practices II Laboratory (1 credit)
- RIT 361 - Radiation Therapy Clinical Education I (2 credits)
- RIT 362 - Radiation Therapy Clinical Education II (4 credits)
- RIT 401 - Radiologic Information Technology (3 credits)
- RIT 420 - Radiation Therapy Physics I (2 credits)
- RIT 422 - Radiation Therapy Physics II (2 credits)
- RIT 424 - Image Guided Principles of Radiation Therapy (4 credits)
- RIT 430 - Radiation Therapy Principles and Practices III (3 credits)
- RIT 431 - Radiation Therapy Principles and Practices III Lab (1 credit)
- RIT 432 - Radiation Therapy Principles and Practices IV (3 credits)
- RIT 433 - Radiation Therapy Principles and Practices Lab IV (1 credit)
- RIT 441 - Gross Human Sectional Anatomy (4 credits)
- RIT 458 - Neoplasms (3 credits)
- RIT 460 - Radiation Therapy Clinical Education III (3 credits)
- RIT 461 - Radiation Therapy Clinical Education IV (3 credits)
- RIT 470 - Radiation Therapy Treatment Planning (2 credits)
- RIT 471 - Radiation Therapy Treatment Planning Lab (1 credit)
- RIT 472 - Introduction to Medical Dosimetry (2 credits)
- RIT 473 - Introduction to Medical Dosimetry Lab (1 credit)
- RIT 495 - Advanced Clinical Problems in Radiation Therapy (3 credits)
Suggested Order of Coursework for a Major in Radiation Therapy
Freshman Fall Semester (15 credits)
- BIO 120 - General Biology I (4 credits)
- MTH 110 - Algebra (4 credits)
- PSY 101 - Introductory Psychology (3 credits)
- WRT 150 - Strategies in Writing (4 credits)
Freshman Winter Semester (16 credits)
- General education (Arts) Credits: 3
- AHS 100 - Medical Terminology (3 credits)
- BMS 250 - Anatomy and Physiology I (4 credits)
- MTH 122 - College Algebra (3 credits)
- SOC 105 - Social Problems (3 credits)
Freshmen Spring Semester (3 credits)
Sophomore Fall Semester (15 credits)
- General education (History) Credits: 3
- BMS 251 - Anatomy and Physiology II (4 credits)
- PHY 220 - General Physics I (5 credits)
- STA 215 - Introductory Applied Statistics (3 credits)
Sophomore Winter Semester (14 credits)
- General education (Philosophy) Credits: 3
- General education (Global Perspectives) Credits: 3
AND one of the following:
- AHS 301 - Introduction to Health Care Research (3 credits)
- BMS 301 - Introduction to Research in the Biomedical Sciences (3 credits)
- PSY 300 - Research Methods in Psychology (3 credits)
Junior Fall Semester: Enrolled in Radiation Therapy Program (16 credits)
- RIT 302 - Radiation Protection Physics (2 credits)
- RIT 310 - Radiation Therapy Patient Care (3 credits)
- RIT 330 - Radiation Therapy Principles and Practices I (4 credits)
- RIT 331 - Radiation Therapy Principles and Practices I Laboratory (1 credit)
- RIT 401 - Radiologic Information Technology (3 credits)
- RIT 458 - Neoplasms (3 credits)
Junior Winter Semester (16 credits)
- RIT 332 - Radiation Therapy Principles and Practices II (3 credits)
- RIT 333 - Radiation Therapy Principles and Practices II Laboratory (1 credit)
- RIT 361 - Radiation Therapy Clinical Education I (2 credits)
- RIT 420 - Radiation Therapy Physics I (2 credits)
- RIT 424 - Image Guided Principles of Radiation Therapy (4 credits)
- RIT 441 - Gross Human Sectional Anatomy (4 credits)
Junior Spring/Summer Semester (4 credits)
Senior Fall Semester (15 credits)
- General education (Issues elective) Credits: 3
- RIT 422 - Radiation Therapy Physics II (2 credits)
- RIT 430 - Radiation Therapy Principles and Practices III (3 credits)
- RIT 431 - Radiation Therapy Principles and Practices III Lab (1 credit)
- RIT 460 - Radiation Therapy Clinical Education III (3 credits)
- RIT 470 - Radiation Therapy Treatment Planning (2 credits)
- RIT 471 - Radiation Therapy Treatment Planning Lab (1 credit)
Senior Winter Semester (18 credits)
- AHS 340 - Health Care Management (3 credits)
- RIT 322 - Radiation Biology (2 credits)
- RIT 432 - Radiation Therapy Principles and Practices IV (3 credits)
- RIT 433 - Radiation Therapy Principles and Practices Lab IV (1 credit)
- RIT 461 - Radiation Therapy Clinical Education IV (3 credits)
- RIT 472 - Introduction to Medical Dosimetry (2 credits)
- RIT 473 - Introduction to Medical Dosimetry Lab (1 credit)
- RIT 495 - Advanced Clinical Problems in Radiation Therapy (3 credits)