Radiologic technologists (or radiographers) are health care professionals who create medical images of the body to help health care providers diagnose and treat illness and injury. As a student in the Radiologic Science program, you will learn about X-ray production and the safe use of radiation to provide images for examination of the tissues, organs, bones, and vessels of the body in our state-of-the-art simulation center.
The Radiologic Science program at NKU provides students the opportunity to enter into a rapidly advancing field, full of cutting edge scientific progress, utilizing state of the art equipment, in a growing profession that offers a fulfilling and promising future.
Graduates find employment in hospitals, clinics, physicians’ offices and various other healthcare settings. Career advancement opportunities include computed tomography (CT), mammography, cardiovascular/interventional and management, to name a few.
Jason Applegate, RT(R)(CT), CNMT
Director of the Radiologic Science Program
School of Allied Health
Health Innovation Center | HE 417
859-572-6578
radtech@nku.edu
or
applegatej5@nku.edu
The radiography program is accredited by the
Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology
20 North Wacker Drive, Suite 2850
Chicago, IL 60606-3182
312-704-5300
Email: mail@jrcert.org
The program’s current accreditation award is 8 years. General program accreditation information and the current accreditation award letter can be found here.
While at the hospital, students perform radiographic examinations on patients under the supervision of registered technologists employed by the hospitals. The Radiologic Science program is affiliated with 10 hospitals in the Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati area. The program also maintains affiliations with area orthopedic offices and outpatient imaging centers to provide students with experience in these types of setting.
The mission of the Radiologic Science Program at Northern Kentucky University is to prepare students for entry into the profession of diagnostic radiography. The program provides students with the opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills necessary to achieve clinical competence, which includes the safe use of ionizing radiation and quality patient care. The program is committed to the concept of life-long learning and promotes standards of professionalism that will serve radiographers throughout their professional careers.
Students in the Radiologic Science Program are given the opportunity to acquire extensive hands-on experience in the field, not only through clinical assignments outside of the university, but through simulation experiences inside of NKU's very own radiographic laboratory facilities.
The program's laboratory facilities include the latest computed radiography technology along with three energized, radiographic rooms, as well as film processing capabilities. These laboratories allow students to:
With the knowledge from their classroom instruction, in conjunction with simulation and laboratory practice, students are able to increase their confidence, competency, and independence prior to starting their clinical assignment, enabling them to get the most out of their clinical experience and a head start on the competition in the job market.
Direct patient contact within the Radiologic Science Program makes it necessary for all students entering the program to provide verification of specific immunizations. In addition, certain technical standards must be met due to the physically demanding nature of radiologic care.
All candidates who receive acceptance must provide proof of immunity to and/or immunizations for the following communicable diseases*:
*Note: this list could change based on circumstances out of our control (i.e.: COVID pandemic); students will be notified of any such changes should they arise.
The Radiologic Science program includes clinical practicum courses in each semester in which students perform radiographic examinations on patients under the supervision of registered technologists employed by the hospitals.
The Radiologic Science Program is affiliated with the following hospitals in the Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati area:
In addition to these hospitals, the program maintains affiliations with area orthopedic offices and outpatient imaging centers to provide students with experience in these types of setting.
The program’s clinical coordinator assigns students to clinical education centers based on available placements. During the first professional year of the program, students attend their clinical assignments on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Normal shift hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. During the second and third professional years, students will rotate through hospitals, orthopedic offices, outpatient imaging centers, pediatric and specialty/advanced imaging rotations. Shift hours will vary, to include second shift opportunities. Clinical days during the second professional year will be Monday-Wednesday-Friday, while the clinical days may vary during the third professional year. Depending on availability, students may have the opportunity to choose a concentrated clinical rotation, such as CT, MRI, or vascular imaging to name a few.
