Frequently Asked Questions

Sections:

Is Radiography for me?
The field is for you if you:

Enjoy contact with people.
Have an interest in health care and technology.

What skills are necessary for this field?
You will need to have:

Excellent oral, written and interpersonal communication skills.
Good listening skills and hand dexterity.
Physical agility, the strength to assist and move non-ambulatory patients and the ability to stand for long periods of time.
Emotional stability and good health.
The ability to work independently and under stress.
Fluency in conversational English.

What is the work environment like?
Radiographers assist and perform a variety of diagnostic procedures using ionizing radiation to image the human body. Radiographers are not limited to radiology departments; they also work in emergency rooms, operating rooms, intensive care units, nurseries and patient rooms. Radiographers use a variety of technically advanced equipment, including computers.

What else should I know about this program?
This program is a full-time day program that is extremely time intensive. Students are either on campus or in a clinical environment five days a week, for just over two years.

Do you have be a resident of District 502 to apply?
No. However, the college has implemented a residency preference policy. Please refer to the top of page six of the admission and information packet for specifics.

Is the program accredited?
Yes, the program is fully accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT), www.jrcert.org

Are there any specific courses that I must already have taken in order to apply to the Radiography program?
Anatomy & Physiology is required and must be completed by the end of spring semester for the year in which you are applying.

If I have previous college coursework, are those credits transferable?
Generally, all previous college credit earned at an accredited institution acceptable to COD is transferable. The Office of Student Records evaluates transcripts to determine transferable credit.

What if my previous education was obtained outside the United States?
Students educated outside the United States must request a course-by-course evaluation by Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE), P.O. Box 17499, Milwaukee, WI, USA 53217. Credit transfer applications are available at the COD Office of Student Records.

What is the application process?
This program has its own process for admission. Please refer to the program information packet on this web site for specific details.

When is the application deadline?
The admission deadline is March 1 of each year.

How is acceptance into this program determined?
Acceptance into the program is based on a merit evaluation consisting of grades in specific coursework, a clinical interview and the PSB Health Aptitude exam score.

When does the Radiography program begin?
The program begins each year in June.

How many people apply each year and how many applicants do you accept?
Although the number of applicants varies, the program usually receives an average of 200 applications per year with an average of 50 applicants accepted.

What type of degree is earned upon the successful completion of this program?
Graduate receive an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree.

After completing this program, what career opportunities, other than X-ray, are available?
Opportunities exist for experienced radiographers in advanced imaging modalities such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), sonography (ultrasound), radiation therapy, nuclear medicine, mammography and interventional radiology. Sales and education are additional career options.

College of DuPage is now partnering with AfterCollege Job Resource Center, a service which provides a list of available jobs for Radiography students.