Radiography

The Radiography Program provides educational experiences for students within a classroom and clinical setting.

Radiographers perform x-ray imaging in hospitals and clinics and work directly with patients of all ages and in all clinical settings including surgery and trauma. Administering ionizing radiation, the radiographer produces images of any designated body part, to include bones, joints, and internal organs. Emphasis is placed on radiation protection and quality patient care.

Successful students demonstrate an aptitude for science and a desire to work with people and technology in a clinical healthcare setting. The radiographer instructs and positions patients, manipulates x-ray equipment, selects appropriate exposure factors, provides radiation protection for the patient and self, processes images, evaluates radiographic image quality and carries out quality control activities.

The Radiography Program consists of six semesters (2 fall and spring semesters, and 2 summer terms) in which theory and clinical courses are offered. The clinical courses component requires that you travel off campus, in which sites will largely be in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa. For your experience in the clinical setting, students may be expected to handle stressful situations and make multiple decisions regarding patient care. Any alteration in the program sequencing of courses may delay your graduation.

Graduates will be eligible to write the national certification examination of the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. The curriculum will prepare the graduate to enter advanced medical imaging schools in diagnostic medical sonography and in radiation therapy. Advanced imaging certificates are planned to computed tomography CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and mammography.

The program will be available first on the Winona campus with the Red Wing campus to follow. The program’s state of the art energized x-ray laboratory will offer computed radiography.

The demand for radiographers is expected to rise nationally from 196,000 in 2006 to 226,000 in 2016 - a 15% increase (Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition).