Bachelor of Radiation Therapy at Saint Louis University

If you choose to major in radiation therapy at Saint Louis University, you will learn to treat cancer patients with high-energy radiation using highly specialized equipment. You will focus on helping plan and administer prescribed doses of radiation to affected areas as directed by a radiation oncologist.

About Radiation Therapists

A radiation therapist is a health care professional skilled in the art and science of medical radiation treatment. Therapists are primarily concerned with the design and administration of radiation therapy treatment, in addition to issues of daily well-being for patients with cancer. A therapist is responsible for administering the prescribed treatment dose of radiation using high-energy linear accelerators. These treatments are provided to cure the patient or to control the disease, thereby improving the patients' quality of life. Therapists also monitor patients' reactions for radiation side effects and keep highly accurate records of planning, treatment and equipment use.

This profession combines the great satisfaction of helping others during a difficult time in their lives with sophisticated technological equipment and scientific techniques. Radiation therapists work as part of a multidisciplinary health care team with radiation oncologists, medical physicists, dosimetrists, nurses and other medical specialists to provide the best treatment and support available to their patients.

Advantages to earning your B.S. in radiation therapy at SLU include:

• The website "Best Health Degrees" recently ranked SLU's Radiation Therapy program as the #8 ranked radiation science program in the nation.
• Opportunities to participate in professional conferences with faculty and fellow students
• A curriculum with an interprofessional focus that emphasizes a team approach to health care
• Instruction by professionally credentialed faculty
• Undergraduate opportunities to conduct research and produce projects/papers acceptable for publication and presentation at professional conferences
• Pre-med and pre-physician assistant curriculum options
• A strong science-based curriculum, which prepares students interested in postgraduate professional programs or immediate job placement
• Small class sizes and low student-faculty ratios in the professional component of the radiation therapy program provide more individualized attention to the students.

Program Effectiveness Data

Doisy College of Health Sciences Learning Outcomes

1. The radiation therapy student will be able to articulate ethical behaviors in clinical practice.
2. The radiation therapy student will evidence appropriate written communication appropriate for the profession of radiation therapy.
3. The radiation therapy student will demonstrate complex radiation therapy treatment procedures.
4. The radiation therapy student will present a complex radiation therapy treatment procedure to an audience.
5. The radiation therapy student will demonstrate professional behaviors in the clinical setting.

Radiation Therapy Programmatic Mission

The Radiation Therapy program at Saint Louis University, Doisy College of Health Sciences, is dedicated to preparing liberally educated, competent, caring and socially responsible radiation therapists, committed to clinical and scholarly excellence.

Radiation Therapy Program Learning Outcomes and Goals

Goal A: Students will be clinically competent

1. The radiation therapy student will position patients as directed in treatment record.
2. The radiation therapy student will set treatment machine as indicated in patient treatment record.
3. The radiation therapy student will practice patient confidentiality.
4. The radiation therapy student will practice proper radiation protection and safety.

 Goal B: Students will demonstrate problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

1. The radiation therapy student will demonstrate complex radiation therapy procedures.
2. The radiation therapy student will present a complex radiation therapy treatment procedure to an audience.
3. The radiation therapy student will demonstrate appropriate problem-solving skills for the practice of radiation therapy when provided with a case for analysis.

Goal C: Students will demonstrate effective communication skills.

1. The radiation therapy student will appropriately communicate with patients.
2. The radiation therapy student will show evidence of appropriate written communication for the profession of radiation therapy.
3. The radiation therapy student will demonstrate proper presentation skills.

Goal D: Students will demonstrate professional growth and development.

1. The radiation therapy student will demonstrate professional behavior.
2. The radiation therapy student will be able to articulate ethical behaviors in clinical practice.
3. The radiation therapy student will have knowledge of professional organizations.
4. The radiation therapy student will demonstrate the concepts of compassionate care.

The program annually tracks student learning outcomes as they relate to the above student goals.