Radiation Therapy (BS)

What is A Radiation Therapy (BS) Degree?

Radiation Therapy is the field that uses high doses of radiation from linear accelerator machines that aim at the patient’s cancer cells to kill them and to shrink tumors.  This Radiation Therapy (also called Radiotherapy) may be used along with other treatments like surgery or chemotherapy.  Accuracy in the procedure is of great importance to be sure that the linear accelerator is aimed at the precise spot in the body to target the cancer cells or the tumor.  An Associate’s degree in Radiation Therapy will prepare the graduate for entry-level positions in the field, but the BS degree in Radiation Therapy is becoming the most common requirement for employment in hospitals and clinics.

BS coursework will include general education courses and introductory courses in the sciences related to the field:  radiation physics, human biology, and behavioral psychology.  Communication courses and patient care will also be included, as will a lot of hands-on experiences in all phases of treatment, from planning to simulation, to the guidance and education of the patient as treatment progresses.  Depending on where the BS degree Radiation Therapist will be working, successful completion of a certification exam, although not required in some locales, is advisable to improve the therapists’ employment opportunities.