Curriculum and Academic Calendar
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Curriculum Overview
The Radiation Therapy program’s 14-month competency-based curriculum provides specialized instruction and hands-on clinical experiences that prepare students for excellence in radiation therapy clinical practice. Courses are divided into four semesters and sequenced as outlined below. The first semester is accelerated and provides students with fundamental knowledge of radiation therapy and patient care practices which is contextualized through early clinical experiences. As student progress through the curriculum, they will continue to build knowledge and proficiency through more advanced coursework and broadened clinical training. Academic Calendar 2021 - 2022 Summer Semester (July 6, 2021 – August 27, 2021) Medical Terminology (pass/fail) Patient Care Medical Imaging Introduction to Radiologic Technology Introduction to Radiation Therapy (pass/fail) Introduction to Clinical Education (pass/fail) Fall Semester (August 30, 2021 – December 23, 2021) Principles and Practice of Radiation Therapy I Technical Radiation Oncology I Radiation Safety (Fall/Spring) Pathology Radiation Therapy Physics I (Fall/Spring) Clinical Practicum I Holiday Break December 24, 2021 - January 2, 2022 Spring Semester (January 3, 2022 – April 22, 2022) Technical Radiation Oncology II Principles and Practice of Radiation Therapy II Radiation Therapy Physics I/II (Spring/Summer) Radiation Biology Quality Assurance & Healthcare Operations Clinical Practicum II Summer Semester (April 25, 2022 – August 18, 2022) Principles and Practice of Radiation Therapy III Radiation Therapy Physics II (Spring/Summer) Introduction to Computed Tomography Registry Review Seminar (pass/fail) Clinical Practicum III Note: Final course sequence is subject to change. |
Academic Standing
To be considered in good standing in the School of Radiation Therapy, students must maintain a cumulative course grade average of at least a C/2.0 in all didactic and clinical courses. Students will be dismissed from the Radiation Therapy Program for failure to maintain a final course grade of a C/2.0 or better in didactic and clinical course work. Program Hours This is a full-time program. Regular program hours are from 8 am – 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. Students may need to arrive early or leave later on certain occasions. Program activities will not be scheduled on weekends, overnight shifts, or holidays observed by the sponsoring institution, including:
There will be a one-week holiday break from the end of December through early January each year. Students also have a total of 80 hours of personal time off (PTO). The program begins annually in July and ends in August of the following year. Clinical Rotations The primary site for clinical rotations is Northwestern Memorial Hospital (NMH). Students will also rotate through Rush University Medical Center, which is located less than 5 miles from NMH. There is an optional clinical rotation through Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, which is located approximately 30 miles from NMH. |
Program Grading Scale
Didactic Grading Scale Clinical Grading Scale
A+ = 100 – 98% A = 100 – 95%
A = 97.9 – 93% B = 94.9 – 87%
A- = 92.9 – 92% C = 86.9 – 80%
B+ = 91.9 – 90% F = < 80%
B = 89.9 – 87%
B- = 86.9 – 85%
C+ = 84.9 – 83%
C = 82.9 – 77%
F = < 77%
Didactic Grading Scale Clinical Grading Scale
A+ = 100 – 98% A = 100 – 95%
A = 97.9 – 93% B = 94.9 – 87%
A- = 92.9 – 92% C = 86.9 – 80%
B+ = 91.9 – 90% F = < 80%
B = 89.9 – 87%
B- = 86.9 – 85%
C+ = 84.9 – 83%
C = 82.9 – 77%
F = < 77%
