The Division of Biological and Physical Sciences offers all the prerequisite courses needed for admission to radiologic sciences programs. Listed below are some of the questions students often ask about preparation for radiologic sciences. The answers to these questions are based primarily on admission requirements for the radiologic sciences program at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) in Jackson, but most of these questions apply equally well to other bachelor's level radiologic sciences programs. For more detailed information on the proram at UMMC, visit the School of Health Realated Professions.
This FAQ is currently quite brief, but new questions are added regularly. If your question is not answered here, please contact Dr. Tiftickjian, the pre-radiologic sciences advisor, by email or in person. New questions will be answered and added to this FAQ.
For more informaiton, see the suggested curriculum for pre-radiologic sciences.
Admission requirements
• What is a radiologic sciences?
• Radiologic technologists perform medical imaging procedures used to diagnose disease and injury. Procedures performed by radiologic technologists include conventional radiography, fluoroscopy, and surgical studies. While many graduates seek employment as diagnostic radiographers, some specialize in advanced imaging methods such as magnetic resonance, computed tomography, sonography, nuclear medicine, mammography, and vascular imaging.
• How long does it take to be trained as a radiologic technologist?
• Radiologic sciences at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) is a 2+2 program. This means that you need 2 years of basic college prerequisite courses to meet the admission requirements. Once admitted to the radiologic sciences program at UMMC, it takes 2 additional years to complete the program.
• When does the radiologic sciences program begin at UMMC?
• The program begins each August.
• What is the application due date for UMMC?
• Applications become available during July of the previous year, but the application deadline can vary from year to year. As of 2012, the deadline is February 15th. Check the website for the current deadline.
• I am not a Mississippi resident, but I am planning to apply to UMMC. What are my chances of being admitted?
• Preference is given to applicants who are legal residents of Mississippi. Out of state applicants will be considered only if there are positions available after all qualified Mississippi applicants are accepted. (Basically, this means that only Mississippi residents will be admitted.)
• How competitive is admission to radiologic sciences programs?
• All health profession programs are very competitive. More qualified students apply each year than can be accepted into the program. To give yourself a good chance of getting accepted, you need to work hard to maintain a high GPA starting from your first semester of college work.
• What factors are used to decide who is accepted?
• Most important are GPA in prerequisite courses, related work or volunteer experience, ACT scores, and interview scores.
• What is the minimum GPA needed?
• UMMC states a minimum GPA of 2.5. However, keep in mind that the average GPA of those that are accepted is significantly higher. So to be competitive, you must have a GPA of at least 3.0, and usually, significantly higher.
• What are the prerequisite courses needed for admission to radiologic sciences at UMMC?
• English composition, 2 courses
Speech, 1 course
College algebra, 1 course
Humanities and fine arts, 3 courses
Social or behavioral sciences, 2 courses
General biology, 1 course
General chemistry, 1 course
Anatomy and physiology, 2 courses
Computer applications
Electives to bring total credit to at least 57 hours
Study the other questions in this FAQ, and talk to your advisor for more details on each of these prerequisites. Be sure to download the detailed curriculum list for this program from the DSU sciences website.
• Does admission to radiologic science require observation time?
• No. However, shadowing experience is desirable, and any experience in the health fields will strengthen your application. Try to arrange with one or more radiographic facilities to do some informal observation time.
• Is an admission exam required?
• There is not a specific radiologic sciences admission exam, but applicants must submit an ACT score with there application.
• Is an interview required?
• Yes. Applicants with strong enough credentials will be selected for interviews. Of those that interview, the most qualified will be accepted for admission.
• If I get an interview, does that mean I am accepted?
• No. However, it does mean that you are being considered among the top applicants. Be sure to prepare well for the interview because it can be the deciding factor the determines who will be accepted for admission.
Prerequisite courses
• Are minimum grades required in prerequisite courses?
• Yes. All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C or better.
• Can non-majors science courses count toward the prerequisites?
• No. Courses such as BIO 110, CHE 110, PHY 110, and PHY 205 will not count toward the prerequisites. These courses are designed for non-science majors and are not acceptable.
• Can I take courses at a community or junior college?
• Yes, all prerequisite courses are at the 100-200 level, which are offered at 2-year colleges. Keep in mind, however, that once you start your science coursework at DSU, you should take all required sciences at DSU. This is because courses are structured as part of an overall curriculum. Taking a "mix and match" approach can present problems, and professional schools may question why you did not take all prerequisites at the same institution. Once you are enrolled at Delta State, it is a mistake to take some courses at a community college just because you think they may be "easier."
• Is a bachelor's degree required for admission?
• No. Applicants with a degree, however, are certainly encouraged to apply.
• Must I complete all the prerequisite courses before the application deadline?
• No. However, you must plan to have all courses completed by the start date of the program.
• Which courses count as humanities and fine arts?
• You may choose from art, history, literature, languages, music, philosophy, religion, or theater.
• Which courses count as social and behavioral sciences?
• You may choose from anthropology, economics, sociology, political science, or psychology.
• The UMMC website lists only anatomy and physiology as required biology courses. Why are general biology and general chemistry included in the list above?
• Principles of Biology I (BIO 100) and General Chemistry I (CHE 101/103) are the minimum prerequisites for Anatomy and Physiology (BIO 230/231). In order to take any DSU course, you must have completed the prerequisites for that course even if the professional program does not require them. Basic knowledge of biology and chemistry is vital for understanding the concepts presented in A and P. Because radiologic sciences is basically a "science" field, additional biology and chemistry courses are beneficial to prepare you for the professional program.
• Does it matter whether my science courses have a laboratory?
• Yes, all required science courses must have a lab component.
• Can science courses be taken online?
• No. All science courses must be regular on-campus courses including a traditional classroom laboratory section.
• Which courses should I take as electives?
• Recommended electives include additional general chemistry and general biology, microbiology, medical terminology, physics, advanced mathematics, and advanced computer sciences. Remember to check the prerequisites for any courses you plan to take as electives.
• I had to retake a prerequisite course because I made a D the first time. Will this hurt my chances?
• It will be a disadvantage, although it won't eliminate you from consideration if the majority of your science grades, especially the most recent ones, are excellent. All grades are used to compute your GPA. Repeated course grades are averaged, not dropped, so retaking a course does not improve your overall GPA as much as you might think. Of course, if you have a grade below a C in a required prerequisite course, that course must be repeated.
The radiologic sciences program
• What is involved in the radiologic sciences program at UMMC?
• The curriculum includes didactic and clinical education in subjects such as: fundamentals of radiologic science and health care, ethics and law in the radiologic sciences, medical terminology, human structure and function, radiographic procedures, imaging equipment, image analysis, radiation protection, digital image acquisition, basic principles of computed tomography.
• Can I attend part-time?
• No. radiologic sciences programs are generally full-time only.
• Will I be able to work while attending radiologic sciences school?
• The best answer is: No. Like other health professional programs, radiologic sciences is a very demanding. Most students find it difficult to work while pursuing this program. Experience points to a high correlation between working and difficulty in progressing through the program.
• Are there any 2-year radiologic technologist (associate degree) programs nearby?
• There are several 2-year radiologic technologist programs provided by Mississippi community colleges. These programs lead to associate degrees. Examples of community colleges that offer these programs are: Mississippi Delta Community College, Itawamba Community College, Jones Junior College, Meridian Community College, and Northeast Mississippi Community College.
• How does a radiologic technologist with an associate degree differ from one with a bachelor's degree?
• Radiologic sciences education at both degree levels result in a candidate prepared practice. Radiologic technologists with associate degrees are employed technicians in hospitals, imaging centers, and doctor's offices; a technologist with a bachelor's degree has a wider variety of employment opportunities. The bachelor of science in radiologic sciences provides graduates opportunities for career advancement in areas such as administration, medical sales, education, quality management, and public health facilities.
• Where can I find more information?
• The best place to start is the School of Health Related Professions (SHRP) website at: http://shrp.umc.edu/RS. SHRP also offers programs in physical therapy, occupational therapy, clinical laboratory sciences, dental hygiene, and others. You might want to investigate those programs as well.
Delta State University > DSU Sciences > Faculty > Dr. Tiftickjian > Radiologic Sciences FAQ