Course Catalog

Quarter 1 Fall

RTT 100: Introduction to Radiation Therapy

Content is designed to provide the student with an overview of the foundations in radiation therapy and the practitioner’s role in the health care delivery system. This course will provide students with a historical overview of radiation therapy and its role in medicine. An introduction to radiation therapy treatment techniques, equipment, terminology, and professional responsibilities will be included.

RAD 101: Radiation Physics

This course is designed to introduce the first-year student to: Radiation Concepts, Definitions, Prime Factors, X-ray Emission, Intensifying Screens, Radiographic Film, Film Processing, Beam Restriction, Grids, X-ray Interaction with Matter, Patient Dose, Patient as the Beam Emitter and Pathology.

RAD 501: Sectional Anatomy

This course is designed to familiarize the student with the various anatomic structures and their locations as demonstrated by sectional imaging techniques. This course will utilize sonography, CT and MRI images to cover the following areas: thorax, abdomen, pelvis and brain. Images obtained from clinical practices at Kaiser Medical Centers will be used to enhance the student’s learning process.

RTT 102: Clinical Education I

The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to procedures performed in Radiation Therapy, and to provide the student with the opportunity to gain practical experience. During this first quarter of clinical education, the student is expected to develop the competency to perform simple clinical procedures with progressively less assistance. Emphasis is placed on the development of professional responsibility and the practice of total patient care.

Quarter 2 Winter

RTT 200: Radiation Therapy Physics

Content is designed to establish a basic knowledge of physics pertinent to developing an understanding of radiations used in the clinical setting. Fundamental physical units, measurements, principles, atomic structure and types of radiation are emphasized. Also presented are the fundamentals of x-ray generating equipment, x-ray production and its interaction with matter.

RTT 201: Techniques and Applications

This course will provide the student with the concepts of treatment, dosimetry and planning. Various external beam techniques and applications, depth dose data, and summation of isodose curves are discussed. Modalities of treatment, patient setup, dose measurement, dose calculation and verification are also included.

RTT 202: Clinical Education II

The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to procedures performed in Radiation Therapy, and to provide the student with the opportunity to gain practical experience. During this second quarter of clinical education, the student is expected to develop the competency to perform simple-intermediate clinical procedures with progressively less assistance. Emphasis continues to be given to the development of professional responsibility and the practice of total patient care.

RAD 202: Patient Care Procedures

This course builds on materials introduced in the introductory course, especially information dealing with patient care, aseptic technique and disease transmission. With respect to disease transmission, epidemiological field approach for evaluation is used. Information about risk factors are introduced, and finally contrast media, medications, vital signs and emergency care of patients are discussed.

Quarter 3 Spring

RTT 300: Oncologic Patient Care

This course will provide the student with basic concepts of patient care specific to radiation therapy including consideration of physical and psychological conditions. Handling of patients, patient examinations, asepsis, local and systemic reactions, nutrition and medications are discussed. Factors influencing patient health during and following a course of radiation will be identified.

RTT 301: Clinical Education III

The purpose of this course is to further introduce the student to procedures performed in Radiation Therapy and to provide the student with greater opportunities to gain practical experience. During this third quarter of clinical education, the student is expected to develop the competency to perform intermediate clinical procedures with progressively less assistance. Emphasis continues to be given to the development of professional responsibility and the practice of total patient care and radiation safety practices.

Quarter 4 Summer

RTT 400: Pathology and Treatment Principles I

This course will provide the student with the fundamentals of each disease process. Malignant conditions, etiology and epidemiology, patient workup and methods of treatment are discussed. Attention is given to patient prognosis, treatment results and the effects of combined therapies.

RTT 401: Clinical Education IV

The purpose of this course is to further introduce the student to procedures performed in Radiation Therapy, and to provide the student with greater opportunities to gain practical experience. During this fourth quarter of clinical education, the student is expected to develop the competency to perform simple clinical procedures independently, under the direct supervision of a qualified professional or radiation therapist. Perform intermediate - complex clinical procedures with progressively less assistance. Emphasis continues to be given to the development of professional responsibility and the practice of total patient care and radiation safety practices.

Quarter 5 Fall

RTT 500: Radiation Therapy Treatment Planning

Content is designed to establish factors that influence and govern clinical planning of patient treatment. Encompassed are isodose descriptions, patient contouring, radiobiologic considerations, dosimetric calculations, compensation and clinical application of treatment beams. Optimal treatment planning is emphasized along with particle beams. Stereo tactic and emerging technologies are presented.

RTT 501: Pathology and Treatment Principles II

This course is a continuation of Pathology and Treatment Principles I. Content will provide the student with the fundamentals of each disease process. Malignant conditions, etiology and epidemiology, patient workup and methods of treatment are discussed. Attention is given to patient prognosis, treatment results and the effects of combined therapies.

RTT 502: Radiation Biology

This course is an introductory course that introduces the student to the fundamentals of radiobiology and the effects of radiation on living tissue. This course evaluates the effects of radiation from the cellular level, to the epidemiological effects on communities and potential offspring. Specific topics in radiobiology include; basic radiation interactions, cellular biology review, short and long-term effects of radiation, case studies, risk factors, containment and handling of live sources, reduction of patient dose, radiation monitoring and applicable state and federal regulations.

RTT 503: Research Methodology in Radiation Oncology

The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to the logic, method, variation and precision of thought required in the practice and/or consumption of research.

RTT 504: Clinical Education V

This course allows the student to become proficient in all radiation therapy clinical procedures. During this fifth quarter of clinical education, the students are introduced to dosimetry procedures and are expected to develop the competency to perform complex clinical procedures independently, under the direct supervision of a qualified professional or radiation therapist. Emphasis continues to be given to the development of professional responsibility and the practice of total patient care and radiation safety practices.

Quarter 6 Winter

RTT 600: Radiation Therapy Capstone Course

The purpose of this course is to integrate the various professional courses into a single perspective as it relates to radiation oncology. Professional concerns will be addressed and attention will be given to issues related to the workplace, continued professional development, and the need for lifelong learning. Extensive review of programmatic material will be the focus of this course.

RTT 601: Quality Management and Radiation Protection in Radiation Oncology

Content is designed to focus on the evolution of quality management (QM) programs and continuing quality improvements in radiation oncology. Topics will include the need for quality assurance (QA) checks; QA of the clinical aspects and chart checks; film checks; the various types of evaluations and tests performed on simulators, megavoltage therapy equipment and therapy planning units; the role of radiation therapists in quality management programs; legal and regulatory implications for maintaining appropriate QM guidelines as well as the role computers and information systems serve within the radiation oncology department.

RTT 602: Clinical Education VI

This course allows the student to become proficient in all radiation therapy clinical procedures. During this sixth quarter of clinical education, the students are further introduced to dosimetry procedures and are expected to have attained competency to perform all clinical procedures independently, under the direct supervision of a qualified professional or radiation therapist. Emphasis continues to be given to the development of professional responsibility and the practice of total patient care and radiation safety practices.