The Radiologic Sciences B.S. degree program prepares practitioners (radiologic technologists) to work with patients and physicians, performing a wide variety of diagnostic imaging procedures within the radiology (X-ray) department. The radiologic technologists must know the principles of anatomy, physiology, pathology, radiographic imaging, radiation safety, the operation of many types of X-ray and computerized equipment, the professional care and handling of patients, and the management of a radiology department or division. The baccalaureate program provides a multi-competent advanced imaging practitioner for the diagnostic team. Program competencies include experiences with standard X-ray equipment, angiographic suites, computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MR), interventional radiography (IR) and mammography.

The Radiologic Sciences program consists of two phases: The Pre-Professional and Professional phases. During the Pre-Professional portion, students complete the University General Education requirements and the Radiologic Sciences prerequisites. Upon completion of the Pre-Professional Phase, students become eligible to apply to the professional Radiologic Sciences program, which includes 2,600 hours of clinical internship at affiliated medical centers. A limited number of clinical placements at these medical centers are available each year for students accepted into the Professional Phase. A separate application to the Radiologic Sciences Program Selection Committee for clinical internship placement is due the second Friday of January in the CSUN Health Sciences department.

Radiologic Sciences student advisement, a tour of a clinical facility and a minimum of 40 hours of volunteer hours in an acute-care hospital facility must occur and be documented prior to the Professional Program interview. See the department for applications and information regarding selection criteria for the Professional Phase of the program or visit the Department of Health Sciences website. Note that meeting prerequisite criteria does not guarantee placement into the Professional Program. If selected to the Professional Program, prior to clinical placements, all CSUN Radiologic Science students are required to obtain their own criminal background check at their sole cost and to supply that information to designated approving agencies or persons. In order to meet accreditation standards, many clinical agencies are requiring background checks and drug testing on all students placed at their facilities and have the right to refuse a student’s clinical placement based on this information. Students will be unable to complete degree requirements if clinical placements are refused at any time during the professional portion of the B.S. Radiologic Sciences program. Further information on background checks and where to obtain them is available from Radiologic Science advisors.

Professional Radiologic Science students are responsible for obtaining at their sole cost any necessary health exams, immunizations, evidence of a TB test, titers or other requirements necessary to meet OSHA requirements and maintain compliance with requirements by the University and affiliating clinical agencies. Documentation of the requirements is to be submitted to the contracted record-keeping site upon request. Before the first Clinical course, each student is required to complete a pre-clinical checklist and provide proof that requirements are currently met. Access to reliable transportation is required for clinical courses off campus.

Mission Statement

The mission of the CSUN baccalaureate Radiologic Sciences program is to provide the community with competent, professional radiologic technologists who possess additional advanced medical imaging skills in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) and interventional radiography (IR) that meet the needs of the medical imaging community through a highly integrated and advanced-level clinical and academic curriculum.

1. Lower Division Required Courses (31 units)

BIOL 101 General Biology (3)
BIOL 101L General Biology Lab (1)
BIOL 211 Human Anatomy (2)
BIOL 212 Lab Studies in Human Anatomy (1)
BIOL 281 Human Physiology (3)
CHEM 100 Principles of Chemistry (3)
MATH 105 Pre-Calculus (5)
PHYS 100A General Physics I (3)
PHYS 100B General Physics II (3)
PHYS 100BL General Physics II Lab (1)
PSY 150 Introduction to Psychology (3)
SOC 150 Introductory Sociology (3)

2. Clinical Required Courses (19 units)

HSCI 280 Radiologic Sciences: Clinical Education I (2)
HSCI 281 Radiologic Sciences: Clinical Education II (2)
HSCI 282 Radiologic Sciences: Clinical Education III (3)
HSCI 283 Radiologic Sciences: Clinical Education IV (3)
HSCI 284 Radiologic Sciences: Clinical Education V (3)
HSCI 386 Radiologic Sciences: Clinical Education VI (3)
HSCI 387 Radiologic Sciences: Clinical Education VII (3)

3. Professional Required Courses (39 units)

HSCI 181 Medical Imaging Sciences I (3)
HSCI 182 Medical Imaging Sciences II (3)
HSCI 285 Radiographic Anatomy and Positioning I (4)
HSCI 286 Radiographic Anatomy and Positioning II (4)
HSCI 302 Basic Pathophysiology (3)
HSCI 380 Cross-Sectional Anatomy for Radiographers (2)
HSCI 385 Quality Assurance and Evaluation of Radiology Imaging Equipment (2)
HSCI 480 Computed Tomography (2)
HSCI 482 Angiography and Interventional Procedures (3)
HSCI 483A Medical Imaging Pathology (2)
HSCI 485 Principles of MRI (3)
HSCI 486A Seminar: Advances in Radiologic Imaging I (1)
HSCI 486B Seminar: Advances in Radiologic Imaging II (1)
HSCI 487 Professional Development for Radiographers (3)
PHYS 376 Radiologic Physics (3)

4. Upper Division Required Health Sciences Core (9 units)

HSCI 384 Computers in Diagnostic Imaging (2)
HSCI 390/L Biostatistics and Lab (3/1)
HSCI 488 Epidemiology: Study of Disease (3)

5. General Education (48 units)

Undergraduate students must complete 48 units of General Education as described in this Catalog.
21 units are satisfied by the following courses in the major: CHEM 100 satisfies B1 Physical Science; BIOL 101 satisfies B2 Life Science; BIOL 101L satisfies B3 Science Laboratory Activity; MATH 105 satisfies Basic Skills B4 Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning; PHYS 376 satisfies B5 Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning; PSY 150 and SOC 150 satisfy D1 Social Sciences; and HSCI 384 and HSCI 486B satisfy E Lifelong Learning.

Total Units in the Major: 98

General Education Units: 27

Total Units Required for the B.S. Degree: 125

Upon successful completion (minimum of “C” in each course), the student will earn a B.S. in degree Radiologic Sciences, as well as a Certificate of Clinical Completion from the clinical institutions. Completion of both academic and clinical work enables the student to sit for the National Registry administered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists and the licensing exam given by the State of California Department of Public Health—Radiologic Health Branch (CRT).

For more information about this program, please contact hsci@csun.edu.