Students interested in the pre-health major in clinical radiation sciences must complete the one-year program requirements for application to the Bachelor of Science degree program in clinical radiation sciences offered by the VCU College of Health Professions. The pre-health major in clinical radiation sciences program requires specific prerequisite courses (outlined below). Once accepted, students will spend three years in the clinical radiation sciences degree program, which begins in the fall.
At the time of application, normally fall of the freshman year, the student will be able to indicate their choice of concentration: diagnostic medical sonography, nuclear medicine technology, radiography or radiation therapy. All concentrations require the same academic prerequisite courses listed below.
Completion of the pre-health major in clinical radiation sciences does not guarantee admission to the program for the B.S. in Clinical Radiation Sciences nor does it result in a college degree. Students must be admitted to and complete the baccalaureate program to earn a B.S. degree in clinical radiation sciences. Admission into the program is based on scholastic record, demonstrated aptitude and interest, and a personal interview conducted by the departmental admissions committee.
Students are strongly encouraged to consult with a UAA pre-health major academic adviser to learn about admission requirements that are specific to the program and to speak about alternate/parallel majors. For more information about the admission requirements for the B.S. in Clinical Radiation Sciences, visit the department’s website.
Requirements for the pre-health major in clinical radiation sciences
It is recommended that applicants select a challenging course load of science and math courses each semester to ensure adequate preparation for the academic rigor of the concentrations within the Bachelor of Science in Radiation Sciences.
Students interested in the pre-health major in clinical radiation sciences must complete biological concepts with laboratory, human anatomy (lab included), human physiology with laboratory, and a physics course with laboratory. The non-science prerequisites for the pre-health major in clinical radiation sciences are: UNIV 111 and UNIV 112, college algebra, introduction to psychology and a selection from VCU’s general education curriculum.
Although not required as prerequisites, courses in writing and rhetoric, introduction to clinical radiation sciences, a visual or performing art class, medical terminology, and basic practice of statistics are highly recommended.
Many students will require an additional year of study before applying to the clinical radiation sciences degree program. All students admitted to a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Radiation Sciences must demonstrate aptitude, abilities and skills in the following categories: sensory, communication, physical/mobility, cognitive and behavioral/social. These categories are further delineated in the Technical Standards for Admission and Graduation documentation.
Following a review of admissions credentials, an interview with the admissions committee will be required for most applicants. If needed, the department will contact the student to schedule an interview. Following admission, successful completion of a criminal background check and drug testing will be required (at student expense) for participation in clinical education courses. Failure to pass one of these tests will prevent the student from successfully completing the clinical education requirements and, therefore, the program.
Changing to the pre-health major in clinical radiation sciences from another major
Current VCU students who wish to change their major to the pre-health major in clinical radiation sciences must meet the following criteria to be considered for the major:
- Minimum GPA of 2.8
- No more than 75 credits completed
Students who do not meet these requirements may see a pre-health adviser, but they will not be assigned to a pre-health adviser in Navigate.
Progression policy
Students interested in pursuing the B.S. in Clinical Radiation Sciences are admitted initially into the pre-health major in clinical radiation sciences, which is not a degree-granting major. In order to remain in the pre-clinical radiation sciences program, students must meet the following criteria.
- Students must maintain a minimum 2.8 VCU cumulative GPA.
- If a student's VCU cumulative GPA drops below 2.8, they will be placed on pre-health probation and allowed one semester to raise their cumulative GPA to 2.8 — provided it is mathematically possible to do so. If it is not mathematically possible to do so, or if the student fails to raise their minimum cumulative GPA to 2.8 during their probationary semester, they will be removed from the pre-clinical radiation sciences major and transitioned into their secondary major. If no secondary major exits, students will be moved into the Discovery program (undeclared major) where they will receive assistance with selecting another major.
- Pre-health probation students: Students must meet with their pre-health adviser prior to the add/drop deadline of the pursuant semester in order to adjust their class schedule and to create an action plan.
- By the time a student has attempted1 45 credits, if they have not successfully matriculated into the clinical radiation sciences major, they must declare a secondary major related to their parallel plan.
- If a student exceeds 75 attempted1 credits and has not successfully matriculated into the clinical radiation sciences major, they will be removed from the pre-clinical radiation sciences major and their secondary major will become their primary major.
Details of special requirements for admission to the clinical radiation sciences program can be found on the degree requirements tab of the clinical radiation sciences concentration pages of this Bulletin.
Transfer students who are admitted to the pre-health major in clinical radiation sciences must apply to the B.S. in Clinical Radiation Sciences degree program following the minimum number of semesters needed to complete the prerequisite courses required for admission. Transfer students must adhere to the same guidelines outlined above (re: declaring secondary majors, developing action plans, etc.).
Students may appeal the removal from the pre-health major in clinical radiation sciences via the associate director of pre-health advising in University Academic Advising. Students must initiate the appeal with their assigned academic adviser. The associate director may, at his or her discretion, extend the time period needed to meet the requirements, generally by only one semester. A student who wishes to appeal must submit his or her appeal at least one week prior to the start of the next semester in which they register for classes.
Attempted hours include credit hours from courses in which a W, an F or any other grade has been assigned. This is reported on the transcript as “overall attempted hours.”
Prerequisites for the clinical radiation sciences program
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| VCU courses | ||
| BIOL 205 | Basic Human Anatomy 1 | 4 |
| MATH 141 | Algebra with Applications (satisfies general education quantitative foundations) | 4 |
| PHIS 206 & PHIZ 206 | Human Physiology and Human Physiology Laboratory | 4 |
| Select one of the following (Note the lecture component satisfies general education BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning.): | 4 | |
| Foundations of Physics and Foundations of Physics Laboratory 2 | ||
| OR | ||
| General Physics I 2 | ||
PSYC 101  Play course video for Introduction to Psychology | Introduction to Psychology (satisfies general education BOK for social/behavioral sciences and AOI for diversities in the human experience) | 4 |
| UNIV 111 Play course video for Focused Inquiry I | Focused Inquiry I (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| UNIV 112 Play course video for Focused Inquiry II | Focused Inquiry II (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 29 | |
The minimum total of credit hours required (for admission to clinical radiation sciences program) is 29.
Sample curriculum outline
| Freshman year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall semester | Hours | |
| BIOL 101 | Biological Concepts (satisfies general education BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) | 3 |
| BIOZ 101 | Biological Concepts Laboratory | 1 |
| MATH 141 | Algebra with Applications (satisfies general education quantitative foundations) | 4 |
| PSYC 101 Play course video for Introduction to Psychology | Introduction to Psychology (satisfies general education BOK for social/behavioral sciences and AOI for diversities in the human experience) | 4 |
| UNIV 111 Play course video for Focused Inquiry I | Focused Inquiry I (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| BIOL 205 | Basic Human Anatomy | 4 |
| UNIV 112 Play course video for Focused Inquiry II | Focused Inquiry II (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| Select one of the following (Note the lecture component satisfies general education AOI for scientific and logical reasoning.): | 4 | |
| PHYS 101 & PHYZ 101 | Foundations of Physics and Foundations of Physics Laboratory | |
| OR | ||
| PHYS 201 | General Physics I | |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 14 | |
| Summer semester | ||
| PHIS 206 & PHIZ 206 | Human Physiology and Human Physiology Laboratory | 4 |
| Term Hours: | 4 | |
| Total Hours: | 33 | |
The minimum number of credit hours required (for admission to clinical radiation sciences program) is 29.