Radiation Therapy Major

Get practical, hands-on experience in a hospital setting while you earn your degree in Radiation Therapy at Suffolk University. Students enjoy clinical training at Boston's world-famous healthcare facilities in conjunction with their classroom studies. 100% of our 2021 graduates passed the ARRT board exam on their first try. 100% of our Class of 2022 graduates were employed three months before graduation.

Radiation therapy is the careful administration of highly focused forms of radiation to treat cancer and other diseases. Through observation and hands-on experience, you'll become part of a team of radiation therapists as you complete 1,200 hours of clinical rotations.

Real-World Experience

You'll learn from leaders in the field while gaining clinical experience at some of the finest oncology facilities in the country. Our JRCERT-accredited program is a collaboration between the Suffolk University Biology Department and our world-class clinical sites:

  • Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston)
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital (Boston)
  • Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (Boston)
  • Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Boston)
  • Emerson Hospital (Concord, Massachusetts)
  • Newton-Wellesley Hospital (Newton, Massachusetts)
  • North Shore Cancer Center (Danvers, Massachusetts)

At these hospitals, you'll participate in the daily responsibilities of radiation therapists, as well as patient care and the operation of treatment machines.

Note: You must be at least a sophomore to apply to this program. The Radiation Therapy Committee will review your application and decide whether you can enroll. If accepted into this program, you'll be eligible to apply to take the ARRT certification exam and can begin working upon graduation.

Additional Information

Accreditation

Our program is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT), the national governing body for radiation education programs. The program has an 8-year accreditation status, which is the maximum length of accreditation award.

20 North Wacker Drive, Suite 2850
Chicago, IL 60606-3182
Phone: 312-704-5300
Email: [email protected]

Data provided through Class of 2022. Data updated one year after graduation for prior graduating class, once data is available.

This data can also be found on the JRCERT website.

JRCERT
20 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 2850
Chicago, IL 60606-3182
Phone: (312) 704-5300
Fax: (312) 704-5304

Institution Name: Suffolk University
Program Type: Radiation Therapy
Degree Type: Bachelor's Degree and Post-Baccalaureate Certificate

Program Effectiveness Data

The following is the most current program effectiveness data. Our programmatic accreditation agency, the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT), defines and publishes this information. The information can be found directly on the JRCERT webpage.

Credentialing Examination

The number of students who pass, on the first attempt, the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certification exam, or an unrestricted state licensing examination, compared with the number of graduates who take the examination within six months of graduation. The five-year average benchmark established by the JRCERT is 75%.

Credentialing Examination Rate number passed on 1st attempt divided by number attempted within 6 months of graduation
Year Results
Year 1 - 2018 5 of 5 - 100%
Year 2 - 2019 3 of 3 - 100%
Year 3 - 2020 4 of 8 - 50%
Year 4 - 2021 6 of 6 - 100%
Year 5 - 2022 4 of 5 - 80%
Program 5-Year Average 22 of 27 - 81%
Job Placement

The number of graduates employed in the radiologic sciences compared to the number of graduates actively seeking employment in the radiologic sciences within twelve months of graduating.  The five-year average benchmark established by the JRCERT is 75%.

Job Placement Rate number employed divided by number actively seeking employment within 12 months of graduation
Year Results
Year 1 - 2018 5 of 5 - 100%
Year 2 - 2019 3 of 3 - 100%
Year 3 - 2020 4 of 4 - 100%
Year 4 - 2021 6 of 6 - 100%
Year 5 - 2022 5 of 5 - 100%
Program 5-Year Average 23 of 23 - 100%
Program Completion

The number of students who complete the program within the stated program length. The annual benchmark established by the program is 80%.

Program Completion Rate number graduated divided by number started the program
Year Results
Year 1 - 2022 5 of 7
Annual Completion Rate 71%

Learning goals and objectives reflect the educational outcomes achieved by students through the completion of this program. These transferable skills prepare Suffolk students for success in the workplace, in graduate school, and in their local and global communities.

Learning Goals Learning Objectives
Students will...
Students will be able to...
Know critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
  • Ask relevant questions
  • Apply theories to clinical situations
Know principles that demonstrate clinical competence.
  • Use/maneuver equipment in a safe manner
  • Apply proper techniques and procedures
  • Utilize proper body mechanics and universal precautions
Understand how to communicate in a clinical setting.
  • Explain procedures to patients accurately
  • Utilize information acquired to problem solve
  • Demonstrate effective written and verbal communication skills
Understand the importance of professionalism, growth, and development.
  • Demonstrate professional behavior
  • Become a member of a professional organization such as American Society of Radiologic Technologists
  • Exhibit personal growth by continuously demonstrating interest to learn

The mission of the Radiation Therapy program is to provide a rigorous, comprehensive, and inclusive education to students interested in pursuing careers in radiation therapy. Students will receive instruction and hands-on training from faculty with expertise in diverse clinical and didactic settings while using the most advanced technologies to develop exceptional clinical skills that will prepare them for entry level positions. Graduates of our program will think critically, communicate effectively, and appreciate the importance of continued education in maintaining their competence.

Clinical Information

Clinical Schedule

Clinical rotations begin in the fall semester of the first year of the program. Students are advised that there are a total of four required evening sessions held during the first two weeks of fall semester in year one.

The clinical schedule is as follows: 

Year 1
Fall Tuesday and Thursday — 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Spring Tuesday and Thursday — 7 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Year 2
Fall Monday, Wednesday, and Friday — 7 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Spring Tuesday and Thursday — 7 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Background Checks and Immunizations

All students are required to comply with various requirements of our clinical affiliates in order to be cleared to start clinical rotations. This includes submitting information required for background checks such as the Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI), Sexual Offender Record Information (SORI), and providing proof of required immunizations.

In addition to immunizations mandated by Suffolk, students are also required to obtain a flu shot and a TB/PPD test at their own expense based on the schedule determined by their clinical site.

Transportation

Students are required to provide their own transportation.

When assigned to clinical sites that are not easily accessible via public transportation, including MGH North Shore Cancer Center (Danvers, MA), MGH Emerson Hospital (Concord, MA), and MGH Newton-Wellesley Hospital (Newton, MA), students will need to arrange alternative personal transportation.

Clinical Expense Obligations

Students in the radiation therapy program will have additional expenses including the cost of transportation to their clinical rotations, as well as the cost of scrubs to wear while in the clinic.

Professional Liability

A Malpractice Blanket Liability Insurance policy will be provided through Suffolk University. Students must be supervised by a registered radiation therapist at all times when with patients and operating radiation therapy computers and equipment inside as well as outside of the treatment room.

State Licensure

Suffolk University’s undergraduate Radiation Therapy program meets the educational requirements qualifying graduates to apply for state licensure in the following states, subject to satisfactorily meeting all other requirements for licensure in each state: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

The following states and district do not have state licensure requirements for practicing in radiation therapy, but do have minimum educational requirements, which the undergraduate Radiation Therapy program meets, subject to satisfactorily meeting all other requirements for practice in each state or district: Alaska, Colorado, District of Columbia, Georgia, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania.

As of January 2022, the following states do not have state licensure or minimum educational requirements for practicing in radiation therapy: Alabama, Idaho, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. Each employer is entitled to make individual decisions regarding minimal standards for employment in radiation therapy.

Courses & Requirements

Learn more about the classes, requirements, and different options available to complete the program.  A full curriculum plan is available by request.

As a radiation therapist you interact with patients all day long and having a background in psychology can help you work effectively with a diverse range of people. Being able to take classes in Suffolk’s Business School also provided me with a unique perspective on the inner workings of businesses and the people who run them.
Monica Caggiano, '16, Radiation Therapy Major Radiation Therapist, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center