Programs handbooks

Medical Imaging: Academic overview

Learning outcomes

Radiography AAS Degree Outcomes

The program models its curriculum after the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) professional curriculum for radiography. The curriculum prepares students to be entry-level radiographers, meeting the educational standards of the national organization. Upon completion of the program students will:

  • Provide care that ensures the safety, comfort, and ongoing assessment/response to the patient’s condition
  • Effectively communicate orally and in writing in educational and clinical settings
  • Apply an understanding of cultural and ethnic differences to reduce barriers and misunderstandings that may impact the provision of competent patient care
  • Apply problem-solving skills in the clinical setting
  • Adhere to professional ethics and standards
  • Adhere to radiation protection standards and maintain safe practices in the clinical setting

Curriculum

The Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degree is designed for those students who successfully complete an approved program in an Applied Science Field (e.g. Radiography) plus a minimum of 16-quarter hours of general education. Check the college catalog Associate Degree Requirements – Associate of Applied Science Degree (AAS) page for additional information.

The Radiography degree list of required courses and course sequence can be found on the PCC Catalog Radiography AAS Degree page. All coursework must be taken in the sequence specified in the catalog. A total of 102.5 credit hours of Radiography program coursework is required.

Course descriptions can be found in the catalog and the Course Content and Outcome Guides (CCOGs) provide details of the particular course outcomes and content for each course. Each course has a syllabus which describes the assessment components of the course.

Program schedule

The Radiography program is a 24-month continuous program utilizing the summer terms. Students can refer to the PCC academic calendar for the important dates each term.

First year students will be assigned to a hospital and then rotate to a different clinical setting in their second year. They will also gain experience in specialty clinics during the program. Students will be assigned to their hospitals by the program faculty with goals of equity and well rounded educational experiences.

Beginning with the first summer term, students are required to successfully complete RAD 100 Introduction to Radiography. Students must also complete all program requirements such as vaccinations, a background check, and drug tests on the third-party verification system, CastleBranch, in order to begin clinic courses in Fall term. For more information see the Health profession student clinical training administrative requirements section.

Prior to the fall term of both the first and second years, students are required to attend the three-day Clinical Orientation at the designated (assigned) affiliated hospital, which is held the Monday – Wednesday of the week prior to the first week of Fall term.

The program schedule is as follows:

Term Classes Clinic Hours/week
Term 1 Academic classes as scheduled
Term 2 Academic classes Mon/Tues/Wed Clinic R/F (16 clinic hours/week)
Term 3 Academic classes Mon/Tues/Wed Clinic R/F (16 clinic hours/week)
Term 4 Academic classes Mon/Tues/Wed Clinic R/F (16 clinic hours/week)
Term 5 Academic classes – none Clinic MTWRF (36 clinic hours/week)
Term 6 Academic classes Thurs/Fri Clinic MTW (24 clinic hours/week)
Term 7 Academic classes Fri Clinic MTWR (32 clinic hours/week)
Term 8 Academic classes Thurs Clinic MTW (24 clinic hours/week)

While in the clinical setting, students may be scheduled for days, evenings, and/or weekend shifts, to include early morning and graveyard shifts. The affiliated hospital will provide specific rotation details and assignments.

Technical standards

For successful completion of the PCC Radiography program, students must meet the technical standards listed on the program’s Professional standards webpage.

Grading

See the College policies: conduct, professional standards, and ethics section for the Portland Community College academic standards.

In the Radiography program, students may earn the following letter grades for all courses, including clinical courses:

  • 91.5 – 100% =  A
  • 83.5 – 91% =  B
  • 74.5 – 83% = C (Students must earn a ‘C’ or higher in order to progress in the program.)
  • < 74.5% = D or F
  • Incomplete = I (Due to the sequential nature of the program, the “I” must be made up according to individual agreement with the instructor before continuing in the program. See the PCC Grading Guidelines for additional information.)

Students who, during the first year, do not receive a minimum final grade of “C” in any required course, may undergo a dismissal review process. An exception can be made on an individual basis for senior (2nd year) students who fail to achieve a “C” in a 2nd year course. There is no option for a ‘pass/no pass’ grade with required Radiography courses except for the Registry Review course during the final term of the program.

Refer to Due process for violations section for information about program dismissal and appeals.

Evaluation – positioning labs and clinical

Instructors and CIICs will use the following criteria when evaluating radiographic quality and student performance:

  • Accurate positioning of the patient
  • Proper selection of imaging receptor
  • Proper immobilization
  • Proper collimation and radiation protection
  • Proper patient care, identification, and communication
  • Correct selection of technical exposure factors
  • Correct identification and placement of radiographic markers
  • Properly assess acquired images, e.g. exposure, resolution, position, anatomy,  and markers

A licensed radiographer must check/approve all radiographic images prior to dismissal of the patient.

Exams

In order to be eligible for the The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) Certification Examination, a student/candidate must complete the following didactic and clinical requirements, in addition to the AAS degree. Candidates must successfully complete coursework addressing the topics listed in the ARRT Content Specifications.

The purpose of the clinical competency requirements is to verify that individuals certified by the ARRT have demonstrated competence performing the clinical activities fundamental to a particular discipline. Candidates must demonstrate competence in the clinical procedures identified below:

  •  10 mandatory general patient care procedures
  •  36 mandatory imaging procedures
  • 15 elective imaging procedures selected from a list of 34 procedures
  • 1 of the 15 elective imaging procedures must be selected from the head section
  • 2 of the 15 elective imaging procedures must be selected from the fluoroscopy studies section.

See ARRT Radiography Didactic and Clinical Competency Requirements for more information.

Transfer credits and prior learning

Dual credit courses may satisfy prerequisite requirements. For consideration for additional credit for prior learning, contact the program advisor with the request. If appropriate, the student will be directed to the get credit for prior learning page on the PCC website to formally submit the request. Students who are transferring coursework to Portland Community College must follow the instructions listed on the transfer credits to PCC page.

Competencies for graduation

The program offers education and experience beyond the minimum requirements specified in The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) content specifications and clinical competency documents described in the exam/test info and requirements section. Thus, PCC requires more clinical competencies beyond those of ARRT, a total of 65 competencies while ARRT requires only 51. A log will be provided to guide the student in completion and documentation of these competencies.

Advising and counseling

Program faculty are highly dedicated to student success and provide extensive support throughout the program. This includes office hours, study groups and individual tutoring, supervised open labs, and one-on-one mentoring and counseling appointments.

Students will be assigned an academic advisor who has expertise on Healthcare and Emergency Professions programs. Refer to the PCC Advising webpage for more information.

Learning support

Following midterm exams in the fall term of the first year (term 2), students attend mandatory one-on-one advising conferences with program faculty. In preparation for these sessions, students complete a self-reflection document in advance, including researching their current grade in each course for the term. The goal is to identify any barriers to success early and provide referrals, advice and support as needed. Students may be recommended to utilize PCC’s tutoring services, join a study group, restructure their study methods, or a variety of other personal strategies to help create the best opportunity for academic and clinical success.

Students also meet one-on-one with the clinical coordinator to discuss their adjustment to and navigation of the clinical setting. The hospital environment and returning to student status can be a huge acclimation process for many, and the program provides extensive support and advising to students in an ongoing manner.

Issues identified from these sessions are shared and problem-solved among the faculty team to maximize ideas and remain alert to student needs.

Withdrawal and re-entry

If a student elects to withdraw from the Radiography program it is required that the student submit written notification to the program director and CIIC of such a decision. Reasons for the withdrawal should be included in the letter or email. An exit interview with the program director is required within 14 days of submitting the letter of withdrawal. It is the student’s responsibility to schedule this exit interview.

Leave of absence

Students must discuss leave of absence requests with the program director or faculty department chair and their CIIC. Leaves may be up to one year in length and are authorized on a case-by-case basis. The original clinical site may or may not agree to the student resuming clinical at their site, or may not have a clinical position available. If that occurs, the program director and clinical coordinator will confer with CIICs at other affiliates to secure clinical placement for the student. For medical leaves, students must submit a written document from the attending physician to the program director in order to be considered for re-entry. Special individualized plans will be made to catch the student up on missed coursework and clinical time, and all degree requirements must be met, none are waived due to medical leaves of absence.

Re-entry and readmission procedures

Students in the program who do not progress due to academic performance, voluntary withdrawal, or life circumstances may have the opportunity to be readmitted into the program. Readmission is not guaranteed and students will need to reapply to the program to be considered according to the admission criteria in place at that time. Students are advised to discuss options and implications with the program director or faculty department chair prior to withdrawing.

Academic resources

The following are commonly used links that are helpful for the academic journey.

Continue to next section

Standards and procedures