Course Sequence
Acceptance to the program is required before an applicant will be permitted to register for RT courses.
This is a 73-credit-hour, 2-year accredited degree program that can be completed in four semesters and two summers and includes:
- 17 credit hour of general education course
- 56 credit hours of general education courses
The curriculum includes biological and social sciences, RT technical courses and assigned clinical experiences.
Radiologic Technology Degree (0028)
General Education Courses
General education courses can be completed prior to admission. These courses can be taken at the Belleville, Sam Wolf Granite City, Red Bud campuses or online. If general education courses are not completed prior to admission, they must be completed during the semesters indicated.
Radiologic Technology Courses
The Radiologic Technology program courses begin each summer for those applicants accepted into the program. These courses are only offered at the Belleville Campus during the day, with some evening opportunities available.
Clinical Education Experiences
Clinical practice courses begin in the first fall semester during the day and continue every semester until program completion. Clinical experience courses are completed off campus in various RT employment settings in southern Illinois and in the St. Louis region. Students may be required to travel outside the college district for clinical experience courses. Students will be required to complete some (approximately five) evening assignments during the second year. Backgrounds check and drug testing are required prior to the first clinical course. Specific clinical placement cannot be guaranteed.
Time Commitment
First-Year Students
- Summer Semester: Classroom and lab Monday through Thursday
- Fall Semester: Classroom, lab and 15 clinical hours per week
- Monday-Thursday: two days clinical and two days classroom
- Spring Semester: Classroom, lab and 15 clinical hours per week
- Monday-Thursday: two days clinical and two days classroom
Second-Year Students
- Summer Semester: 30 hours clinical experience per week for eight weeks
- Fall Semester: Classroom and 20 clinical hours per week
- Monday-Thursday and 1/2 Friday: two days classroom and two-and-a-half days clinical
- Spring Semester: Classroom and 20 clinical hours per week
- Monday-Thursday and 1/2 Friday: two days classroom and two-and-a-half days clinical
Throughout the program, clinical assignments for students are limited to not more than 10 hours per day and total didactic and clinical involvement to not more than 40 hours per week.
Program Capacity
Belleville Campus
The Radiologic Technology program generally accepts 50 students each summer semester at the Belleville Campus.
Certification Requirements
Upon successful completion of the RT curriculum, graduates are awarded an Associate in Applied Science degree and are eligible to take the national examination for the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).
Individuals applying to take the American Registry of Radiologic Technology certification exam may need to complete a Pre-Application Review to determine ethics eligibility. State agencies governing the practice of radiographers may deny an individual licensure, even if the individual has completed all course work and graduated from the program, if the individual has a criminal history, has been convicted or pleads guilty or solo contender to a felony or other serious crime.
Certification Pass Rate
The SWIC graduate certification pass rate averaged over the past five years (2020-2024) is 92%.
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Areas of study offered
Computer Tomography (CT) Certificate
Upon successful completion of the RT program, graduates can complete the Computed Tomography Certificate. The certificate prepares students for the CT registry examination.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Certificate
Upon successful completion of the RT program, graduates can complete the Magnetic Resonance Imaging Certificate. The certificate prepares students for the MRI registry examination.
Program Policy & Requirments
Breast Imaging Policy
The program’s policy regarding student clinical rotations in breast imaging is based on the sound rationale presented in a position statement adopted by the Board of Directors of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) at its October 2021 meeting. The JRCERT position statement is included in the policy below and is also available on the JRCERT Web site, www.jrcert.org, Programs & Faculty, Program Resources.
View the Radiologic Technology program’s Breast Imaging Policy.
Health Insurance
Health insurance is required during clinical education courses. Students are personally responsible for any costs incurred for injuries occuring during their clinical experience courses.
Medical/Health Requirements
RT students will be required to posses current CPR certification at the Health Care Provider level, show proof of immunizations, tuberculosis test, physical examination and health insurance coverage before beginning any clinical experience course. These requirements do not have to be fulfilled prior to admission and are further explained at the program orientation meeting
Background Checks and Drug Testing
Criminal background check, random drug test and name search on government registries which prohibit employment in health care professions are required in our health science programs. Program start is contingent upon meeting deadlines for completion of the screening and results which allow the student to participate in the clinical portion of the program.
Curriculum
Course Sequence
The program can be completed in four semesters and two summer; however, it is recommended that students who wish to maximize points on the application complete General Education Courses (HRO 100, BIOL 105, ENG 101, PSYC 151, COMM 151/155 and human relations course) prior to entrance into the program and follow the appropriate course requisites. For information on course requisites, please refer to the Course Description Guide (yellow section) in the catalog. All RT prefix courses must be completed during the listed semesters, unless permission is given by the program coordinator.
*See beginning blue AAS degree pages in the College Catalog for listing of all Human Relations course options.
**BIOL 105 can be replaced by BIOL 157/158.
***Distance education course
First Year
| Total Semester Credits: | 8 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| Course | Course Description | Credits |
| RT 100 | Radiologic Technology I | 2.5 |
| RT 101 | Radiographic Positioning I | 3.5 |
| RT 102 | RT Math Computations | 1 |
| HRO 100 | Medical Terminology | 1 |
| Total Semester Credits: | 18 | |
| Fall Semester | ||
| Course | Course Description | Credits |
| BIOL 105 | Human Biology** | 4 |
| RT 110 | Radiologic Technology II | 3 |
| RT 111 | Radiographic Positioning II | 4 |
| RT 112 | Clinical Experience I | 3 |
| RT 131 | X-ray Physics I | 4 |
| Total Semester Credits: | 17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Course | Course Description | Credits |
| ENG 101 | Rhetoric & Composition I | 3 |
| RT 150 | Radiologic Technology III | 3 |
| RT 151 | Radiographic Positioning III | 4 |
| RT 152 | Clinical Experience II | 3 |
| RT 180 | X-ray Physics II | 4 |
Second Year
| Total Semester Credits: | 3 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| Course | Course Description | Credits |
| RT 160 | Clinical Experience III | 3 |
| Total Semester Credits: | 12 | |
| Fall Semester | ||
| Course | Course Description | Credits |
| PSYC 151 | General Psychology | 3 |
| RT 230 | Pathology for Radiographers*** | 1 |
| RT 241 | Clinical Experience IV | 3 |
| RT 242 | Clinical Modalities I | 1 |
| RT 244 | Radiobiology | 4 |
| Total Semester Credits: | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Course | Course Description | Credits |
|
COMM 151 OR COMM 155 |
Fundamentals of Public Speaking OR Interpersonal Communication |
3 |
| RT 297 | Radiologic Technology Review | 4 |
| RT 296 | IT for Radiographers | 1 |
| RT 298 | Clinical Modalities II | 1 |
| RT 299 | Clinical Experience V | 3 |
| Human Relations Elective* | 3 | |
| Total Program Credits: | 73 |
