Program Overview

Throughout the program, the student spends 40 hours each week in the hospital and radiology department. The curriculum consists of lectures, demonstrations, and supervised experience.

The day-to-day schedule of the student varies depending on the time frame of the program. The schedule includes weekend and evening clinical experience. Approximately 10% of the student’s total clinical clock hours are spent in evening and weekend assignments. All students are full-time students, and the program involves study and class preparation beyond the 40-hour week.

Students will participate in clinical rotations at Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center, Avera Medical Group McGreevy, Avera Heart Hospital, Avera Orthopedics, Avera Specialty Hospital, Avera Medical Group Family Health Center, Avera Medical Group Family Health Center – Dawley Farm and the Sioux Falls Veterans Administration Medical Center.

Students will have extensive training in general diagnostic radiography, trauma, fluoroscopy, and surgery. They will spend a number of rotations in CT, MRI, interventional radiology and mammography. Students will also have limited rotations in radiation therapy, ultrasound, PET CT, and nuclear medicine.

Download the complete program handbook.

School of Radiologic Technology Articulation Agreements

Effective January 1, 2015, graduates of the program must have earned a minimum of an Associate’s Degree to take the national certification exam administered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologist (ARRT). The degree does not need to be in the radiologic sciences.

Articulation agreements allow the student to achieve an associate’s or bachelor’s degree through that college or university. Avera McKennan School of Radiologic Technology has Articulation Agreements with the following schools:

Associate’s Degree Option:

• South Dakota State University (coursework may be completed online or at the SDSU campus in Brookings, SD)

Bachelor’s Degree Option:

• Briar Cliff University – Sioux City, IA
• Minot State University – Minot, ND
• Mount Marty College  -- Yankton, SD
• North Dakota State University – Fargo, ND
• South Dakota State University – Brookings, SD
• St. Cloud State – St. Cloud, MN
• University of Sioux Falls – Sioux Falls, SD
• University of South Dakota - Vermillion, SD

Program Mission

The mission of Avera McKennan’s School of Radiologic Technology is to educate and empower future radiologic technologists through high-quality academic and clinical experiences, guided by Christian values. We are committed to developing compassionate, skilled professionals who provide responsible, patient-centered care and positively impact the health of individuals and communities.

Program Goals

Fulfillment of the program’s mission will be assessed by the following goals:

• Students will demonstrate critical thinking abilities and problem solving skills.
• Students will communicate effectively.
• Students will demonstrate clinical competency.
• Students will demonstrate professional growth and development.

Outcomes

Students in the program will:

• Perform non-routine procedures.
• Evaluate images for radiographic quality.
• Develop self-confidence and use good judgement in decision making.
• Demonstrate oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrate effective patient communication skills.
• Demonstrate proper radiographic positioning skills.
• Demonstrate radiation protection.
• Demonstrate selection of proper technical factors.
• Develop and demonstrate professionalism.
• Demonstrate dependable performance.
• Demonstrate ethical decision making.