If you major in radiation therapy at Saint Louis University, you will learn to treat cancer patients with high-energy radiation using highly specialized equipment. You will focus on helping plan and administer prescribed doses of radiation to affected areas as directed by a radiation oncologist. A radiation therapist is a health care professional skilled in the art and science of medical radiation treatment. Therapists are primarily concerned with the design and administration of radiation therapy treatment, in addition to issues of daily well-being for patients with cancer. A therapist is responsible for administering the prescribed treatment dose of radiation using high-energy linear accelerators. These treatments are provided to cure the patient or control the disease, improving patients' quality of life. Therapists also monitor patients’ reactions for radiation side effects and keep highly accurate records of planning, treatment and equipment use.This profession combines the great satisfaction of helping others during difficult times with sophisticated technological equipment and scientific techniques. Radiation therapists work as part of a multidisciplinary health care team with radiation oncologists, medical physicists, dosimetrists, nurses and other medical specialists to provide the best treatment and support available to their patients. The radiation therapy student will be able to articulate ethical behaviors in clinical practice.The radiation therapy student will demonstrate complex radiation therapy treatment procedures. The radiation therapy student will demonstrate professional behaviors in the clinical setting. SLU's Bachelor of Science in Radiation Therapy prepares graduates for entry-level positions as radiation therapists. The program includes all basic sciences and a 12-month intensive XRT curriculum that includes 1,200 hours of clinical practicum. Students are to note that, as part of the radiation therapy professional curriculum, XRT 4340 Treatment Planning and XRT 4440 Clinical Dosimetry are delivered in a synchronous, hybrid blended-learning format.
Career Path
Graduate career path includes Radiation Therapist, Senior Radiation Therapy Technologist, Brachytherapy Technologist, Pediatric Radiation Therapist, Oncology Radiation Therapist, Palliative Radiation Therapist, Stereotactic Radiosurgery Technologist, Radiation Therapy Department Supervisor, Radiation Oncology Clinical Trials Coordinator, Radiation Therapy Quality Assurance Specialist, Radiation Therapy Treatment Planner, Radiation Therapy Safety Officer, Radiation Therapy Clinical Coordinator, Heavy Ion Therapy Technologist, Proton Therapy Technologist, Radiation Therapy Outreach & Community Health Specialist, Image-Guided Radiation Therapy Specialist, AI-Driven Radiation Therapy Analyst, Personalized Medicine Radiation Therapy Specialist, Radiation Therapy Regulatory Affairs Specialist, Radiation Therapy Training & Education Specialist, Radiation Therapy Consultant, Radiotherapy Informatics Specialist, Radiotherapy Dosimetry Assistant.
