Curriculum

The medical radiography program curriculum includes a strong science and patient care foundation with courses specifically designed for the practice of medical radiography. The degree requirements include successful completion of 122 credit hours of course work.

Curriculum highlights

The curriculum includes a strong science foundation with courses specific to the practice of medical radiography. The number of courses, credit hours, and course content may change from time to time in order for the medical radiography program to meet changing ARRT, ASRT and/or JRCERT measurements. The degree currently requires 122 credit hours, including professional courses in:

• Medical terminology
• Introduction to radiation physics
• Introduction to Medical Radiography Clinical Practicum
• Digital Imaging
• Image acquisition
• Image analysis
• Patient care in radiologic sciences
• Clinical practicum I, II, III and IV
• Comparative pathology
• CT/MRI clinical practicum
• Computerized tomography
• Radiographic procedures I, II and III
• Radiation protection and radiobiology
• Magnetic resonance imaging
• X-ray production
• Radiologic technology symposium​

Course work includes classroom and laboratory environments where students participate in individual and small group learning activities, as well as traditional lecture classes. Students gain clinical experience in leading-edge departments throughout Tennessee and Mississippi. Clinical practicum courses include 24 hours a week of clinical experience in imaging procedures. Clinical affiliates are available in a variety of hospitals and clinics, including many Baptist Memorial Health Care locations.

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are eligible to take the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists’ national board exam. Additional examinations in computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, mammography, cardiac-interventional radiography, vascular-interventional radiography, bone densitometry, and quality management are available once requirements for these specialties are met.

A complete listing of courses and course descriptions required for the degree can be found in the College catalog.

Students are encouraged to follow a specific curriculum plan to ensure progressive learning throughout the degree program. Specific courses are required to to be completed in sequential order to enhance student learning and success within the program. A complete listing of course requirements for the medical radiography program can be found at the following link: 

SAMPLE CURRICULUM PLAN

Courses
The medical radiography courses are designed to prepare students to be able to successfully  perform medical radiographic procedures, including CT and MRI, as an entry-level radiographer. Students enrolled in medical radiography courses will experience a variety of learning opportunities through course work and clinical experience.

Course Work
Small group, instructor-led learning, Power Point presentations, and hands-on labs with operational X-ray machines and phantoms will be used.

Clinical Experience
Clinical experience is vital to the success of the students and is an integral component of the medical radiography program. The student must always display a professional appearance in dress and grooming while in the clinical setting.

The students are in the clinics 24 hours a week and are responsible for their own transportation to and from the clinic sites.
The clinical assignments provide students with the volume and variety of clinical experiences necessary to develop essential skills and successfully progress through the program. Our students benefit from the experience of rotating through a variety of settings with diverse patient populations.

Professional Credentials​

Students successfully completing all degree requirements will receive a bachelor of health sciences (BHS) degree, with a major in medical radiography. Upon successful completion of degree requirements, students can become candidates to sit for the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) Radiography (R) certification examination. Graduates who have successfully completed the required Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MR) didactic courses and seek further clinical competencies can also be candidates for the ARRT (CT) and ARRT (MR) registry after passing the ARRT Radiography (R) certification examination.  Additional requirements for licensure may be required by the state in which you practice.