Radiological Sciences

MISSION STATEMENTS

EFFECTIVENESS DATA

The Radiography Program at Indiana University South Bend reports the credentialing examination pass rate, job placement rate, and program completion rate annually to the JRCERT. Data for all JRCERT accredited Radiography Programs can be found at www.jrcert.org/resources/program-effectiveness-data.

Radiography Program Effectiveness Data 

PROGRAM GOALS

1.  The student will graduate clinically competent.
2. The student will be able to effectively communicate.
3. The student will develop and apply effective critical thinking skills.
4. The student will develop lifelong learning

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Student Learning Outcome 1

The student will obtain and assess radiographs of acceptable diagnostic quality.

The student will apply the principles of radiation safety.

The student will deliver effective patient care to a diverse population.

Student Learning Outcome 2

The student will communicate effectively as a part of the healthcare team.

The student will communicate effectively in writing.

Student Learning Outcome 3

The student will be able to adapt radiographic procedures for non-routine situations.

The student will critique images for diagnostic quality and devise necessary factors for quality improvement.

Student Learning Outcome 4

Students will determine the importance of continued professional development.

Students will attend a radiology conference.

Programmatic Goal Radiography Program

Board Eligibility

All graduates of the radiography program are eligible to take the national credentialing examination administered by The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) immediately after graduation.

ESSENTIAL ABILITIES FOR ADMISSION AND RETENTION OF STUDENTS IN THE PATIENT CARE PROGRAMS

The Radiologic Sciences faculty has specified the following nonacademic criteria (essential abilities) which all applicants and enrolled students are expected to meet in order to participate in the Radiologic Sciences programs and professional practice.

Observation: The applicant/student must be able to participate actively in all demonstrations, laboratory exercises, and clinical experiences in the professional program component of the degree and to assess and comprehend the condition of all patients assigned to him/her for examination, diagnosis and treatment. Such observation and information usually requires the functional use of visual, auditory, and somatic sensations.

Communications: The applicant/student must be able to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients in order to elicit information, describe changes in mood, activity and posture; assess non-verbal communications, and be able to effectively and efficiently transmit information to patients, fellow students, faculty and staff, and all members of the health care team. Communication skills include speaking, reading and writing, as well as the observations skills described above.

Motor: The applicant/student must have sufficient motor function to elicit information from patients by appropriate diagnostic or therapeutic maneuvers; be able to perform basic tests; possess all skills necessary to carry out diagnostic or therapeutic procedures; be able to interpret appropriate examinations and procedures, and be able to execute motor movements reasonably required to provide general care and emergency treatment to patients.

Intellectual/Conceptual Integrative and Quantitative Abilities: The applicant/student must be able to measure, calculate, reason, analyze, evaluate, and synthesize. Problem solving, the critical skill demanded of radiologic sciences practitioners, requires all of these intellectual abilities. In addition, the applicant/student must have the capacity to perform these problem solving skills in a timely fashion.

Behavioral and Social Attributes The applicant/student must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of his or her intellectual abilities; the exercise of good judgment; the prompt completion of all responsibilities attendant to care of patients; and the development of mature, sensitive and effective relationships with patients and others. Applicants must also be able to tolerate taxing workloads, function effectively under stress, adapt to changing environment, display flexibility, and learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in clinical problems of many patients. Compassion, integrity, concern for others, commitment and motivation are personal qualities which each applicant/student should possess.

Please refer to Radiography Essential Abilities

Admissions into the Radiography Program

Apply and be admitted to Indiana University South Bend.

After being admitted to the University, apply to the Radiography Program by completing an application. The application opens February 1^st of each year and closes on April 1^st.

Admission Rating System

At the conclusion of the spring semester of program application, students in the applicant pool are scored to determine their rank order. The criteria for admission consideration is based on a 4.0 scale as follows:

• Application GPA (the weighted GPA of all program prerequisite courses): 45%
• Essay (the average of reviewers’ scores): 15%
• Radiography Module (an assessment in Canvas about profession and program): 10%

The top ranked applicants (max. of 35) will be selected for an individual interview (30%). The individual interviews will score applicants on:

• Knowledge of the Profession
• Communication
• Responsibility/Decision-making
• Motivation

Students admitted to the Radiography program will be determined by the combination of their pre-interview score (70%) and their interview rank (30%).

Admission Policies and Procedures

The following academic policies and procedures for the Radiography Program have been developed to ensure that program graduates demonstrate competencies in the cognitive, psychomotor and effective skills necessary of individuals who perform quality diagnostic radiographic procedures.

Admission to the Clinical/Professional Program is based upon each applicant’s admission grade point average (AGPA) of the completed preradiography general-education core courses, repeat factor, a personal statement (essay), and an interview. A maximum of 24 students are admitted each fall semester.

STANDARD I: Prerequisite Coursework

Applicants for the Radiography Program must be high school graduates or the equivalent. They must apply and be admitted to Indiana University South Bend prior to or concurrent with the application for the Radiography Program.  Applicants must meet the academic standards for the College of Health Sciences and must apply to the Program between February 1^st and April 1^st. 

Applicants must complete the program's prerequisite courses before admission to the Radiography Program. Students may apply for the program and still be completing courses in the spring semester the year of anticipated entry. All prerequisite courses must be completed by the end of the spring semester. Prerequisite general education courses can be taken on a part-time basis and do not have to be completed at IU South Bend.

Applicants must pass the required prerequisite coursework by the second completed attempt.

Prerequisite courses for the Radiography Program (19 cr):

ENG-W131:  Reading, Writing & Inquiry I (3 cr.)

SPCH-S121: Introduction to Public Speaking (3 cr.)

MATH-M111:  Mathematics in the World (3 cr.) or approved substitution

ANAT-A210:  Human Anatomy (3 cr.)

ANAT-A211:  Human Anatomy Lab (2 cr.)

PHSL-P 130 Human Biology (3 cr)

AHLT-R185: Medical Terminology (2 cr.)

Specific grades in these courses are used as a part of the student’s admission profile number.  

STANDARD II: Grade Requirements

To be considered for admission to the Radiography Program, all applicants must: 

Have a cumulative high school G.P.A. (excluding non-academic coursework) of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

STANDARD III: GPA Altering Policies

The student’s cumulative GPA for purposes of admission to the program will be based on all past academic courses taken at accredited colleges or universities.  This admission GPA will exclude developmental coursework. The admission GPA will only come from the required prerequisite coursework.

STANDARD IV: Credit by Examination

Applicants to the Radiography Program who have received “credit by examination” in a course that meets a program prerequisite will be viewed as meeting this specified requirement.  Any “credit by examination” hours received by the student must be transferred onto the student’s university transcript before it can be considered as meeting the Program’s admissions prerequisite.  Credit can be earned from a variety of sources.

STANDARD V: Testing

No special testing procedures are utilized in the admission process.

STANDARD VI: Essential Abilities for Admission & Retention

Essential abilities for admission and retention have been developed and are utilized by the Radiography Program.  These are sent to all applicants upon receipt of an application. Once admitted, students are expected to meet these program standards. 

Please refer to Radiography Essential Abilities Policy

STANDARD VII: Additional Requirements

Health and Age Requirements Students are required to show proof that they have met the immunization and health requirements for the Program as well as CPR certification. Additionally, all students must be 18 years or older.  Specific information is provided to all accepted students prior to enrolling in clinical coursework.

Criminal History Check – A criminal history check is required prior to beginning clinical experience.  A positive background check may make a student ineligible for clinical coursework.

Drug Screening Policy-Students are required to have a drug screen prior to attending clinical experience and annually. It may be also be required on demand under certain situations in the clinical site.  A positive drug screen will result in removal from the clinical site and possible dismissal from the program.

Health Insurance Requirement-Students are required to show proof that they have health insurance.

STANDARD VIII: Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Policy

Indiana University prohibits discrimination based on arbitrary consideration of such characteristics as age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Admission Profile Number

Candidates are ranked according to a calculated Admission Profile Number developed by the Program Admission Committee.  The academic and interview profile numbers are combined to provide a TOTAL ADMISSION PROFILE NUMBER for each candidate. 

The total admission profile number is calculated through the admission rating system.

STANDARD IX: Admission to Program

Students offered a clinical position within the associate degree program must formally accept or decline admission, in writing, to the program prior to the beginning of the semester to which they are admitted. Students offered a position in the Clinical/Professional Program but decline acceptance or become academically ineligible can reapply to the program the following year. They must compete with the applicant pool for the semester in which they request entrance with no preference or wait listing given. Students have only three opportunities to decline admission in writing prior to losing their eligibility to apply.

A list of anticipated expenses outside of tuition, textbooks, and dorm or rent fees has been compiled for students to assist with financial planning. This list should not be viewed as all-inclusive, rather a guide to help in planning student-related expenses associated with the clinical professional program. 

AS IN RADIOGRAPHY ESTIMATED PROGRAM COSTS

This list does not include tuition or fees. Information about tuition and fees is listed on the Office of the Bursar website at: https://southbend.iu.edu/administration/bursar/index.html

*Tuition and fees are assessed on credit hours enrolled per semester and may include parking, activity, and computer/laboratory fees. 

*This list does not include travel expenses or fuel costs associated with traveling to/from campus to affiliated clinical agencies. 

**The total cost is an estimate and could be subject to change without notice. 

Satisfactory completion of 75 credit hours, to include 19 credit hours of general education courses and 56 credit hours of clinical/professional courses, must be completed in compliance with the academic and professional policies of the school and individual programs in order to graduate. Students must achieve a grade of C (2.0) in each required course.

LENGTH OF PROGRAM

The length of the Radiography Program is 22 months beginning at the end of August. Radiography students graduate in May of their senior year.

The total time to earn an Associate of Science in Radiography is 3 years; an estimated 1 year of general education courses and 2 years in the professional program.

STRUCTURE OF THE PROGRAM

The Radiography Program is a full-time clinical/professional program that provides the academic and clinical education required for a career as a diagnostic radiographer. The program consists of highly focused college coursework designed to complement clinical experience course work. Clinical experience courses are completed at various off campus locations within the regional community. Students attend class on-campus and clinical practicum courses at affiliated clinical agencies throughout the region.