Do you have a desire to help people and an aptitude for technology? With the associate degree in radiography offered on our St. Paul, Minnesota campus, you’ll gain the skills and experience to thrive in an exciting healthcare career, thanks to a challenging blend of liberal arts studies, professional courses, simulation, and clinical experiences.
Program Details
Classes meet: Full time on weekdays on our St. Paul, Minnesota campus for major courses; evenings, weekends, and online for other courses
Time to completion: 2 years
Credits for major: 41
Cost per credit (2022–2023): $750
Cohort size: 16-18 students
JRCERT Accreditation Status: Received full 8-year accreditation in 2018
Professional Coursework and Hands-On Clinical Experience
St. Kate's radiography associate degree program emphasizes consideration for the physical and psychological needs of patients and families as well as the technology. You'll gain insights into anatomy, physiology, and human disease, along with radiographic sciences. Rigorous classroom instruction and hands-on clinical experiences will give you a thorough understanding of radiographic procedures and patient care.
We integrate interactive learning strategies including simulation activities to prepare students for clinical experiences.
Students are scheduled for clinical 2-3 days per week, 8 hours per shift, within the Twin Cities metro area. Students are not scheduled for evening/weekend/holiday rotations. Should a student desire to experience an evening rotation, the timing and scheduling is mutually agreed upon by the clinical affiliate, the program, and the student. This opportunity is available to each student; however, the opportunity may not be available at every clinical site. Specialty/modality experiences are also available to students. Specialty experiences become available upon meeting the Program/ARRT minimum criteria for being board eligible, typically during a student's final semester in the program.
In classes such as Radiation Physics, you’ll learn the principles of radiographic physics and x-ray equipment as well as factors that affect quality imaging. Topics classes delve into specialty areas, such as pediatric imaging, trauma procedures, and fluoroscopy.
If you are applying to the associate radiography program, you'll first enroll as a pre-radiography student and take liberal arts and sciences courses required for your degree. Enrollment as a "pre-" student does not guarantee progression into radiography courses.
A St. Kate’s associate radiography degree prepares you for a career in a variety of settings, including:
- hospitals
- doctors' offices
- clinics
- medical laboratories
- outpatient centers
This degree also prepares you to continue your studies in the fields of ultrasound, radiation therapy, or nuclear medicine.
Program Accreditation
St. Kate's radiography program is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiology Technology, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 2850, Chicago, IL 60606, (312) 704-5300. www.JRCERT.org.
Certification
Upon completion of the program, students are eligible to take the national certification exam, offered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.
Program Mission
The mission of the radiography program is to educate diverse learners to become highly skilled, compassionate, health care professionals. Students acquire skills and knowledge through a careful blend of liberal arts courses, professional courses, and clinical education in a learning environment that is structured to promote student development and success.
Goal #1: Students will demonstrate critical thinking skills
- Outcome #1: Students will correctly set technical factors to compensate for non-routine patients.
- Outcome #2: Students will use alternative positioning methods when the standard procedure is not possible.
Goal #2: Students will demonstrate effective communication skills
- Outcome #1: Students will demonstrate written communication skills.
- Outcome #2: Students will demonstrate verbal communication skills.
Goal #3: Students will graduate from the program with the skills needed to be a competent radiographer.
- Outcome #1: Students will select appropriate technical factors.
- Outcome #2: Students will correctly position patients.
Goal #4: Students will demonstrate professional behavior
- Outcome #1: Students will exude positive attitudes.
- Outcome #2: Students will exhibit dependability.
- Outcome #3: Students will demonstrate understanding of the professional organizations.
Goal #5: The program will provide the community with radiographers.
- Outcome #1: Students will complete the radiography program
- Outcome #2: Graduates will pass the ARRT exam
- Outcome #3: Graduates will find employment in the field of Radiology
- Outcome #4: Graduates will be very satisfied with the program
- Outcome #5: Employers will be very satisfied with our graduates
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. Click here to go directly to the JRCERT webpage.
Credentialing Examination
The number of students who pass, on the first attempt, the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certification examination, 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 |
|---|---|
| YEAR | RESULTS |
| Year 1 - 2017 | 22 of 24 - 92% |
| Year 2 - 2018 | 21 of 26 - 81% |
| Year 3 - 2019 | 20 of 21 - 95% |
| Year 4 - 2020 | 21 of 22 - 95% |
| Year 5 - 2021 | 26 of 32 - 81% |
| Program 5-Year Average | 110 of 125 - 88.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| YEAR | RESULTS |
| Year 1 - 2016 | 32 of 32 - 100% |
| Year 2 - 2017 | 29 of 29 - 100% |
| Year 3 - 2018 | 24 of 24 - 100% |
| Year 4 - 2019 | 20 of 20 - 100% |
| Year 5 - 2020 | 32 of 32 - 100% |
| Program 5-Year Average | 137 of 137 - 100.0% |
Program Completion
The number of students who complete the program within the stated program length. The annual benchmark established by the program is 75 .
|
Program Completion Rate |
Number graduated divided by number |
|---|---|
| YEAR | RESULTS |
| Year 1 - 2021 | 33 of 33 |
| Annual Completion Rate | 100.0% |
Visual Acuity
- Observe a patient's condition from across a room
- Read various sizes of print located on equipment and computers
- Evaluate different shades of gray on radiographic images
Hearing
- Engage in a normal volume conversation from a distance of 20 feet
- Recognize and respond to alarms from patient care equipment, x-ray equipment, or computers
- Communicate with patients or coworkers when background noise is high
Sufficient gross and fine motor coordination
- Lift up to 50 pounds on an occasional basis
- Prolonged standing (80% of the day)
- Prolonged walking (80% of the day)
- Pushing/pulling of equipment (up to 35 pounds)
- Bending and reaching
- Grasp small objects and adjust small dials and switches
- Assist with transferring patients
Reasonable Accommodation
Accommodations: Students with disabilities who believe they may need an accommodation are encouraged to contact the Supportive Services Coordinator to discuss potential accommodations. The Supportive Services Coordinator is located on the third floor of the Education Building, Office 369, and can be reached by telephone at 651-690-8160.