2024-2025 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog
Bachelor of Science in Radiation Therapy
Admission
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 requirements are listed as follows (or can be found online at 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 are as follows:
- Academic grade point average from prerequisite courses (40 percent)
- Academic grade point average from last two calendar years in college or university (10 percent)
- Interview /writing assessment completed on-site at the College of Health Professions (30 percent)
- Health care experience: minimum of 16 hours volunteer or paid, recommended 2 to 3 hours job shadow (5 percent)
- Recommendations (5 percent)
- Additional leadership considerations (10 percent)
Prerequisite Courses
Requires 47 credits, including:
- 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.
**MTH 110 may not be required, dependent upon placement at time of admission.
Requirements for a Major in Radiation Therapy
Foundations and Cultures Courses
Remaining courses not covered in major coursework or prerequisites include (22 to 24 credits):
- General education-Art (3 credits)
- General education-History (3 credits)
- General education-Philosophy (3 credits)
- General education-Global Perspectives (3 credits)
- Issues (6 credits) Two courses must be taken when student has 55+ credits.
- BOTH WRT 120 - Strategies in Writing - Stretch I (3 credits) AND WRT 130 - Strategies in Writing - Stretch II (3 credits)
OR ONLY WRT 150 - Strategies in Writing (4 credits)
Radiation Therapy Courses
Requires 66 credits, including:
- AHS 340 - Health Care Management (3 credits) Fulfills one of two Issues 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
Year One
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)
Winter Semester (16 credits):
- General education-Arts (3 credits)
- 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)
Spring/Summer Semester (3 credits):
Year Two
Fall Semester (15 credits):
- General education-History (3 credits)
- BMS 251 - Anatomy and Physiology II (4 credits)
- PHY 220 - General Physics I (5 credits)
- STA 215 - Introductory Applied Statistics (3 credits)
Winter Semester (14 credits):
- General education-Philosophy (3 credits)
- General education-Global Perspectives (3 credits)
- PHY 221 - General Physics II (5 credits)
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)
Year Three
Fall Semester (16 credits):
Enrollment in radiation therapy program.
- 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)
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)
Spring/Summer Semester (4 credits):
Year Four
Fall Semester (15 credits):
- General education-Issues elective (3 credits)
- 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)
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)