Admission Requirements

Selection of applicants is made on a competitive basis and equal education opportunity is offered to all students who meet the entrance requirements without regard to race, creed, sex, color, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability or veteran status.

Preference is given to applicants who are legal residents of Mississippi.  A student desiring admission to the Radiologic Sciences program must submit an online application for admission to the Office of the Registrar, an official transcript of grades and an official statement documenting scores on the American College Test (ACT). Since the program has limited student capacity, selection into the program is competitive. Not every applicant who applies to the program will be selected.

No applicant is accepted until the admissions process is complete, which includes an interview by the admission committee. Applicants should not present themselves for interviews until notified. Those applicants whom the admission committee deems it advisable to interview are provided with sufficient notice of interview appointment.

In addition to the admission standards of the institution and the general admission requirements of the School of Health Related Professions, candidates seeking admission to the radiologic sciences program must:

• Have completed a minimum of 57 semester hours of academic credit (exclusive of physical education, military science, dogmatic religion and vocational courses) from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning;
• Have a minimum overall cumulative grade point average of 2.5 on 4.0 scale;
• Complete an interview;
• Submit ACT scores;
• Have current CPR certification at the time of registration; and
• Have successfully completed (a grade of C or better) the following minimum prerequisite number of required courses.

Prerequisite Courses

*Social and behavioral sciences include courses such as anthropology, economics, political science, psychology or sociology. 

** Humanities and fine arts include courses such as history, literature, foreign languages, journalism, philosophy, religion, art history, music appreciation or theatre. 

***Recommended electives include medical terminology, natural sciences (general chemistry, physics, biology, microbiology), advanced mathematics and advanced computer sciences. 

Background Check

Mississippi law requires all health care workers, including students, to have completed criminal background checks.  All UMMC students who will participate in patient care activities will be required to successfully complete a criminal history background check, including fingerprinting, prior to beginning clinical activities.  Applicants are advised that a felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for certification, registration, or licensure examinations.

Advanced Standing Transfer Credit

Acceptance into the radiologic sciences program is entry level only. Advanced standing transfer credit is not accepted.

Technical Standards

Technical standards are the physical requirements necessary to successfully complete the program and enter the field of radiography. Applicants are not screened according to this criterion before or during the selection process. If selected, applicants will undergo a physical exam to be evaluated against the criteria. Full acceptance is contingent upon demonstrating that the accepted candidate can meet these requirements or provide reasonable accommodations.

Motor Skills

• Standing is required 95-100% of the time while assigned to the clinical setting. The duties cannot be performed without the ability to stand for extended periods of time.
• Walking is required 90-100% of time assigned to the clinical setting.
• Pushing and pulling at least 200 lbs. is required to maneuver patients to and from tables/stretchers and to maneuver portable radiographic units. Other equipment may require pushing/pulling at times.
• Must be able to frequently lift up to 25 lbs. waist high and occasionally lift up to 75 lbs. at least waist high.
• Must be able to squat and rise without assistance.
• Must be able to extend the hands and arms in any direction.
• Must be able to hold, grasp and turn with the hands.
• Must be able to reach up to 6 feet off the floor.

Visual Acuity

• Correctable near vision to 20/40 in both eyes.
• Correctable far vision to 20/40 in both eyes.

Communication Ability

• Correctable hearing to pass a whisper test at 10 feet.
• Express and exchange information in English through written and verbal communication.

Pregnancy Policy

Students enrolled in the Radiologic Sciences program are informed of Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulations regarding the declared pregnant student. The program's pregnancy policy (radiation safety for the embryo-fetus) is consistent with the NRC regulations. All students are issued personnel dosimeters and the program is committed to the principal of keeping exposure as low as reasonably achievable.

A pregnant student who voluntarily informs program officials of her pregnancy is issued a fetal dosimeter and may request reassignment to clinical areas where she may remain within the shielded controlled area; however, all clinical competencies must be met before a student can graduate.

Graduation Requirements

Radiographers are highly skilled professionals qualified by education to perform imaging examinations and accompanying responsibilities at the direction of a physician qualified to request radiologic procedures. To that end and for the safety and well-being of patients and the community in general, it is the policy of the Radiologic Sciences program at UMMC to assure that all graduates entering the profession of radiography have met the rigorous requirements for graduation, thus enabling their eligibility to sit for the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) board examination.

 To be eligible for graduation, the following requirements/objectives must be met:
 

• Apply knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and positioning to competently and accurately demonstrate anatomical structures on a radiographic image;
• Determine exposure factors to achieve optimum radiographic results with minimum radiation exposure to the patient;
• Evaluate radiographic images for appropriate positioning and overall image quality;
• Apply principles of radiation protection to patients, self, and others;
• Understand the effects of ionizing radiation on living tissue;
• Provide basic patient care and comfort to patients across the age continuum;
• Recognize emergency patient conditions and initiate first-aid and basic life-support procedures;
• Demonstrate knowledge and proper use of medical terminology;
• Evaluate the performance of radiological systems, know the safe limits of equipment operation, and report equipment malfunctions to the proper authority;
• Participate in radiologic quality control programs;
• Demonstrate effective verbal, non-verbal, and written medical communication in providing patient care and maintaining professional relationships with other members of the health care team;
• Exercise independent judgment and discretion in the technical performance of medical imaging procedures;
• Apply problem-solving and critical-thinking skills in the academic and clinical settings;
• Participate in a professional development activity approved by program faculty;
• Support the profession's Code of Ethics and comply with the profession's Scope of Practice;
• Demonstrate ARRT Board examination readiness;
• Complete all attendance and punctuality requirements as defined by the attendance policy;
• Pass all academic and clinical courses; and 
• Complete all required clinical competencies.