Radiography A.A.S.

Radiography
Program Code: A45700

Radiography A.A.S.

The Radiography curriculum prepares the graduate to be a radiographer, a skilled healthcare professional who uses radiation to produce images of the human body.

Coursework includes clinical rotations to area healthcare facilities, radiographic exposure, image processing, radiographic procedures, physics, pathology, patient care and management, radiation protection, quality assurance, anatomy and physiology, and radiobiology.

Graduates of accredited programs are eligible to apply to take the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists national examination for certification and registration as medical radiographers. Graduates may be employed in hospitals, clinics, physicians’ offices, medical laboratories, government agencies, and industry.

Specific Requirements

  1. General college admission requirements.
  2. This program has a selective selection process. See Selective Allied Health Program Criteria on the Selective and Limited Programs page of the A-B Tech website.
  3. High school biology, high school algebra, and keyboarding skills are highly recommended.
  4. Final admission to the Radiography program shall be contingent upon documentation of physical and emotional health that would provide evidence indicative of the applicant’s ability to provide safe care to the public.
  5. Completed medical and immunization records must be submitted to the department chair before classes begin.
  6. Either the first dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine or the completion of the series.
  7. Current American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification is a prerequisite to full admission and must be maintained throughout the program. This certification must include hands-on skills components, AED use, and other lifesaving skills. Course certifications from any other providers will not be accepted.
  8. Satisfactory completion of required immunizations prior to admission to clinical sites. Affiliated clinical sites for Radiography will require an onboarding process, which will include a criminal background check and drug testing at a cost to the student prior to the term in which the first clinical experience will occur. If any clinical facility refuses to allow the student to participate in clinical experiences, for any reason, the student will not be able to progress in the program.
  9. Students applying to the Radiography program must have successfully completed BIO-163 (or BIO-168 and BIO-169) with a "C" or better prior to full acceptance into the Radiography program.
  10. Students applying to the Radiography program are encouraged to have successfully completed: MAT-143, ENG-111, COM-120, HUM-115, and SOC-225 prior to program admission due to the rigorous nature of the Radiography curriculum.

This program is accredited by:
Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)

20 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 2850
Chicago, IL 60606-3182

Notice: Candidates for certification from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) must comply with the “Rules of Ethics” contained in the ARRT Standards of Ethics. Any conviction of a crime, including a felony, a gross misdemeanor, or a misdemeanor with the sole exception of speeding and parking violations must be investigated by the ARRT in order to determine eligibility for the certification examination. Additional information may be obtained from the department chairperson or on the ARRT website.

Radiography students will be required to complete clinical rotations, which may require them to travel as much as 1 1/2 hours from campus. Clinical affiliates are currently located in Asheville, Hendersonville, Fletcher, Brevard, Marion, and Spruce Pine.

Courses requiring a grade of "C" or better: BIO and RAD

Courses in this program

Course Code Course Credit Hours Link to course details

This course provides a basic study of the structure and function of the human body. Topics include a basic study of the body systems as well as an introduction to homeostasis, cells, tissues, nutrition, acid-base balance, and electrolytes. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate a basic understanding of the fundamental principles of anatomy and physiology and their interrelationships. This course has been approved for transfer under the CAA as a pre-major and/or elective course requirement.

Course Code Course Credit Hours Link to course details

This course is designed to develop the ability to produce clear writing in a variety of genres and formats using a recursive process. Emphasis includes inquiry, analysis, effective use of rhetorical strategies, thesis development, audience awareness, and revision. Upon completion, students should be able to produce unified, coherent, well-developed essays using standard written English. This is a Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) course that satisfies English Composition.

This course provides an overview of the radiography profession and student responsibilities. Emphasis is placed on basic principles of patient care, radiation protection, technical factors, and medical terminology. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate basic skills in these areas.

This course provides the knowledge and skills necessary to perform standard radiographic procedures. Emphasis is placed on radiography of the chest, abdomen, extremities, bony thorax and pelvis. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate competence in these areas.

This course provides additional laboratory opportunities in radiologic technology. Emphasis is placed on radiographic procedures and manipulation of equipment. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate competence in radiographic procedures through laboratory evaluations.

This course introduces patient management and basic radiographic procedures in the clinical setting. Emphasis is placed on mastering positioning of the chest and extremities, manipulating equipment, and applying principles of ALARA. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate successful completion of clinical objectives.

Course Code Course Credit Hours Link to course details

This course introduces the practices and principles of interpersonal communication in both dyadic and group settings. Emphasis is placed on the communication process, perception, listening, self-disclosure, speech apprehension, ethics, nonverbal communication, conflict, power, and dysfunctional communication relationships. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate interpersonal communication skills, apply basic principles of group discussion, and manage conflict in interpersonal communication situations.

This course is designed to engage students in complex and realistic situations involving the mathematical phenomena of quantity, change and relationship, and uncertainty through a project and activity-based assessment. Emphasis is placed on authentic contexts which will introduce the concepts of numeracy, proportional reasoning, dimensional analysis, rates of growth, personal finance, consumer statistics, practical probabilities, and mathematics for citizenship.

This course provides the knowledge and skills necessary to perform standard radiographic procedures. Emphasis is placed on radiography of the skull, spine, and gastrointestinal, biliary, and urinary systems. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate competence in these areas.

This course provides the basic principles of radiographic image production. Emphasis is placed on image production, x-ray equipment, receptor exposure, and basic imaging quality factors. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of basic principles of radiographic image production.

This course provides additional experience in patient management and in more complex radiographic procedures. Emphasis is placed on mastering positioning of the spine, pelvis, head and neck, and thorax and adapting procedures to meet patient variations. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate successful completion of clinical objectives.

Course Code Course Credit Hours Link to course details

This course is designed to continue to develop the concepts and principles in the field of radiologic technology. Emphasis is placed on advanced digital principles and production. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of advanced principles of digital imaging production.

This course covers the principles of radiation protection and radiobiology. Topics include the effects of ionizing radiation on body tissues, protective measures for limiting exposure to the patient and personnel, and radiation monitoring devices. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the effects and uses of radiation in diagnostic radiology.

This course provides experience in patient management specific to advanced radiographic procedures. Emphasis is placed on applying appropriate technical factors to all studies and transitioning to mastering positioning of advanced studies. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate successful completion of clinical objectives.

This course provides advanced knowledge of clinical applications. Emphasis is placed on enhancing clinical skills. Upon completion, students should be able to successfully complete the clinical course objectives.

Course Code Course Credit Hours Link to course details

This course provides the knowledge and skills necessary to perform standard and specialty radiographic procedures. Emphasis is placed on radiographic specialty procedures, advanced imaging, radiographic pathology and image analysis. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of these areas.

This course is designed to continue to develop the concepts and principles in the field of radiologic technology. Emphasis is placed on complex imaging production and principles, quality control and quality assurance in the imaging sciences. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of advanced radiographic equipment and quality control programs.

This course provides the opportunity to continue mastering all basic radiographic procedures and to attain experience in advanced areas. Emphasis is placed on equipment operation, pathological recognition, pediatric and geriatric variations, and further awareness of radiation protection requirements. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate successful completion of clinical objectives.

This course provides a comparison of diverse roles, interests, opportunities, contributions, and experiences in social life. Topics include race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, class, and religion. Upon completion, students should be able to analyze how cultural and ethnic differences evolve and how they affect personality development, values, and tolerance. This course has been approved for transfer under the CAA as a general education course in Social/Behavioral Sciences.

Course Code Course Credit Hours Link to course details

This course introduces the use of critical thinking skills in the context of human conflict. Emphasis is placed on evaluating information, problem-solving, approaching cross-cultural perspectives, and resolving controversies and dilemmas. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate orally and in writing the use of critical thinking skills in the analysis of appropriate texts. This course has been approved for transfer under the CAA as a general education course in Humanities/Fine Arts.

This course is designed to enhance expertise in all radiographic procedures, patient management, radiation protection, and image production and evaluation. Emphasis is placed on developing an autonomous approach to the diversity of clinical situations and successfully adapting to those procedures. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate the successful completion of clinical objectives.

This course is designed to enhance expertise in all radiographic procedures, patient management, radiation protection, and image production and evaluation. Emphasis is placed on developing an autonomous approach to the diversity of clinical situations and successfully adapting to those procedures. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate successful completion of clinical objectives.

Total Credit Hours Required:
72

See advisor for General Education substitutions.

The curriculum is based on the 2024-2025 catalog.

Good To Know

Why General Education?

You may be asking yourself, “Why do I have to take (course name) when it is not directly related to my major?”

General Education courses will help you develop skills necessary to be successful in your major and in life. General Education can teach you how to talk to your employer, write a paper in a major course, understand interest rates on your car, and much more. General Education can also give you the skills to be a better member of society and a more informed citizen. Critical thinking, global understanding, and appreciation for the human experience are hallmarks of a well-rounded education.

How many hours of General Education do I have to take?

If you are enrolled in an Associate of Applied Science Degree program, a minimum of 15 general education hours are required in the following categories:

  • Six hours from Communication
  • Three hours from Humanities & Fine Arts
  • Three hours from Social & Behavioral Science
  • Three hours from Natural Science & Mathematics

General Education courses have been pre-selected for you by your faculty from the following list:

CommunicationHumanities & Fine ArtsSocial & Behavioral ScienceNatural Science & Mathematics
COM-110ART-111ECO-251BIO-161
COM-120ART-114ECO-252BIO-163
COM-231ART-115HIS-111BIO-168
ENG-110HUM-110HIS-112MAT-110
ENG-111HUM-115HIS-131MAT-121
ENG-112MUS-110HIS-132MAT-143
ENG-114MUS-112POL-120MAT-152
 PHI-215PSY-150MAT-171
 PHI-240SOC-210PHY-110/110A
  SOC-225PHY-121

 

Degrees designed to transfer to universities require more general education hours. If you are enrolled in the Associate in Arts or Associate in Science, you are required to take 45 hours of General Education from the following categories:

  • Six hours in English Composition
  • Six to nine hours in Communication/Humanities & Fine Arts
  • Six to nine hours in Social & Behavioral Sciences
  • Three to eight hours in Mathematics
  • Four to eight hours in Natural Sciences
  • 11 to 14 additional General Education hours

If you are enrolled in the Associate in Engineering, you are required to take 42 general education hours from the following:

  • Six hours in English Composition
  • Six hours in Communication/Humanities & Fine Arts
  • Six work hours in Social & Behavioral Sciences
  • 12 hours in Mathematics
  • 12 hours in Natural Sciences

If you are enrolled in the Associate in Fine Arts in Visual Arts, you are required to take 25 general education hours from the following:

  • Six hours in English Composition
  • Six hours in Communication/Humanities & Fine Arts
  • Six hours in Social & Behavioral Sciences
  • Three to four hours in Mathematics
  • Four hours in Natural Sciences

Additional information about General Education for transfer degrees, including courses that satisfy each category, may be found in the current College Catalog.

What will I learn in General Education?

At A-B Tech, our faculty have designed a general education core so that A-B Tech graduates will learn the following:

Students will critically evaluate information:

  • Students will demonstrate information literacy.
  • Students will critique works of human expression.
  • Students will analyze scientific literature.

Students will solve problems:

  • Students will identify processes.
  • Students will analyze problems.
  • Students will interpret the results.
  • Students will recommend appropriate strategies or solutions.

Students will effectively communicate.

  • Students will communicate appropriately about the subject.
  • Students will communicate appropriately with the audience.
  • Students will communicate appropriately for the medium.

Ever wonder how A-B Tech awards credit for a certain course?

A-B Tech complies with the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges Code, so your courses are assigned the course level and receive the same amount of credit as courses at all 58 North Carolina Community Colleges.

If you want to read more about this, see the A-B Tech Policy and Procedure for the Assignment of Course Level Credit.

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