The Radiation Biology Program

Are you interested in working in the medical profession? Do you want practical, hands-on experience in a hospital setting while pursuing your degree?

Our Radiation Biology major is designed for those students whose interests are more inclined towards biology and the health sciences and radiation therapy. At the end of the sophomore year, students majoring in radiation biology have the option of applying to the Clinical Radiation Therapy Track. Students who apply and are accepted into the "Clinical Radiation Therapy Track" will receive clinical training at three of the country’s finest hospitals, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Brigham & Women’s hospital and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute! Please note that admission to the clinical radiation therapy track requires a separate admission process and admission decision will be made by the Medical Science’s Committee.

Because our curriculum is so well rounded, those students who do not get accepted to the clinical radiation therapy track or who choose not to apply may also have a variety of career choices upon graduation. Career choices may include medical research and or medical physics. Graduates of the program may also choose to apply to Physician Assistant School, or graduate schools such as, medical, Dental, Veterinary, Osteopathy, or Chiropractic. The options for students with this degree are seemingly endless. 

Clinical experience

You may apply for the Radiation Therapy clinical track and through observation and hands-on experience, you will become part of a team of radiation therapists.

In the Clinics, you will observe the daily responsibilities of radiation therapists, as well as patient care and the operation of treatment machines. To become enrolled in the clinical track you must be selected by the Medical Science Committee (consisting of MGH medical personnel and Suffolk University faculty). In this track, you will be required to take additional courses and complete clinical training in the radiation oncology departments. Students selected for this program must have and maintain a minimum 2.8 grade point average.

The clinical track is required for those who wish to become radiation therapists. Upon completion of the program, you will be eligible to take the ARRT certification exam for radiation therapy.

Clinical training is not a requirement for the non-clinical version of the radiation biology degree.