Radiation Therapy Program

RTT 3120. Clinical Simulation Lab I.

This course provides instruction and simulates practice in a controlled laboratory setting. Students are provided with instruction, demonstration and participation in immobilization, positioning and simulation with the aid of an anthropomorphic phantom. Students learn foundational clinical set-up skills from which to build on during the directed clinical learning practicum course.

RTT 3121. Clinical Simulation Lab II.

This course provides instruction and simulates practice in a controlled laboratory setting. Students are provided with instruction, demonstration and participation in immobilization, positioning and simulation with the aid of an anthropomorphic phantom. Students learn foundational clinical set-up skills, including simulation, basic treatment delivery, and image matching from which to build on during the directed clinical learning practicum course.

RTT 3220. Directed Clinical Learning I.

This course provides students with opportunities to observe the basic operations of the radiation oncology clinic while interacting with the multidisciplinary team involved in providing treatment and care. Students are introduced to oncology terminology, equipment, and treatment techniques.

RTT 3221. Directed Clinical Learning II.

This course provides students with opportunities to gain additional skills in clinical procedures and interaction with patients and professional personnel. Students apply knowledge from previous clinical learning experiences under the supervision of a registered radiation therapist.

RTT 3300. Patient Care in Radiation Oncology.

This course will focus on basic nursing concepts for providing care to the cancer patient. Topics to be included in the class will be cancer as a chronic health problem, social roles and the cancer diagnosis, a multidisciplinary approach to patient care, psychosocial dimension of cancer, in-treatment examinations, follow-up examinations, emergency management, chemotherapy, legal and nutritional aspects of treating patients with cancer.

RTT 3301. Introduction to Radiation Oncology.

This course introduces radiation oncology and the role of the radiation therapist in cancer care settings. Students examine medical ethics, radiation science, and the physical and biological principles associated with radiation equipment and treatment procedures. Topics include tumor pathology, patient interaction, cancer detection, screening, prevention, and treatment approaches for common cancer types. The course also examines clinical workflows, radiation safety practices, treatment planning concepts, and foundational procedures relevant to radiation therapy practice and supervised clinical education experiences.

RTT 3302. Radiologic Science and Medical Imaging.

This course introduces students to the fundamental principles of radiologic science and medical imaging, with emphasis on physics and technology underlying radiation production and imaging processes. Students explore how radiation interacts with matter, methods for protecting patients and personnel from unnecessary exposure, and the operational principles of x ray equipment and related imaging systems. Upon completion, students will understand the scientific concepts that support safe, accurate, and effective practice in radiation therapy and medical imaging.

RTT 3310. Physics of Radiation Therapy I.

This course introduces students to the fundamental principles of radiation physics as they apply to the treatment and care of patients in radiation therapy. Students explore the foundational concepts, terminology, and physical laws that govern the behavior and production of radiation. Content includes measurements, general physics principles, atomic and molecular structure, electrostatics, magnetism, electrodynamics, electromagnetism, rectification, and the production and properties of radiation. The course also provides an overview of radiographic techniques relevant to clinical practice in radiation oncology.

RTT 3314. Radiation Therapy Sectional Anatomy.

This course provides instruction in identifying cross-sectional anatomy to develop the ability to make anatomic correlations between multiple planes of view. Major organs, lymphatics, vessels are emphasized as related to the clinical significance in the field of radiation therapy.

RTT 3350. Radiobiology.

This course will cover the principles of cell response to radiation, including tissue sensitivity, survival, repair and the latent effects of irradiated tissue. Topics to be covered include the development of radiation science, cellular targets for radiation action, target theory, physical/ chemical factors affecting radiation response, biological factors, repair and recovery, fractionated doses and dose rate, early/acute effects of whole body exposure, late/chronic effects of whole body exposure, and radiation protection dose guidelines.

RTT 4120. Clinical Simulation Lab III.

This course provides instruction and simulates practice in a controlled laboratory setting. Students are provided with instruction, demonstration and participation in immobilization, positioning and simulation with the aid of an anthropomorphic phantom. Students learn foundational clinical set-up skills, including simulation, basic treatment delivery, and image matching from which to build on during the directed clinical learning practicum course.

RTT 4121. Clinical Simulation Lab IV.

This course provides instruction and simulates practice in a controlled laboratory setting. Students are provided with instruction, demonstration and participation in immobilization, positioning and simulation with the aid of an anthropomorphic phantom. Students learn basic, intermediate, and some advanced clinical set-up skills, including simulation, basic treatment delivery, and image matching from which to build on during the directed clinical learning practicum course.

RTT 4122. Clinical Simulation Lab V.

This course provides instruction and simulates practice in a controlled laboratory setting. Students are provided with instruction, demonstration and participation in immobilization, positioning and simulation with the aid of an anthropomorphic phantom. Students will learn aspects of simulation for basic, intermediate, and advanced treatment delivery applications.

RTT 4189. Radiation Therapy Literary Scholarship and Manuscript Writing.

This course provides intensive instruction in research strategies, scholarly writing, and the critical review and analysis of peer‑reviewed publications. Students are introduced to scholarly resources and guided through the process of developing a professional manuscript using peer‑reviewed journal guidelines relevant to the field of radiation therapy. The skills gained in this writing‑intensive course prepare students for success in RTT 4191 Radiation Therapy Seminar. (WI).

RTT 4190. Professional Issues in Radiation Therapy.

This course reviews major concepts, procedures, and clinical practices in radiation therapy through integration of didactic instruction and supervised clinical learning. Students examine treatment management techniques, radiation safety practices, patient care procedures, treatment planning concepts, and clinical protocols aligned with current American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) content specifications. The course includes case-based learning activities, simulated clinical scenarios, applied problem-solving exercises, and a review of quality assurance procedures, ethical considerations, and professional standards relevant to radiation therapy. Students complete structured review activities, written assessments, and comprehensive examinations related to licensure and certification content areas. Additional topics include interprofessional communication, documentation practices, technological developments, and current issues associated with radiation therapy procedures and clinical operations.

RTT 4191. Radiation Therapy Seminar.

This course is a continuation of RTT 4189 and guides students through the completion of the final draft of their technical manuscript. Building on the research, writing, and analysis developed in the previous course, students refine their scholarly work and translate it into a professional formal presentation. Emphasis is placed on effective scientific communication, organization, and presentation skills essential for success in the Radiation Therapy Seminar and future professional practice.

RTT 4220. Directed Clinical Learning III.

This course provides students with the opportunity to further develop and refine clinical skills through progressive participation in patient care and radiation therapy procedures. Students continue to practice treatment delivery and simulation under supervision while expanding their abilities in problem‑solving and managing patient side effects. Throughout the course, students demonstrate competence in basic and intermediate clinical procedures as they advance toward higher‑level clinical proficiency.

RTT 4221. Directed Clinical Learning IV.

This course provides students with the opportunity to continue to develop confidence and advance skills in simulation and treatment delivery. Through supervised clinical instruction, students demonstrate competence in basic, intermediate, and selected advanced procedures as they progress through a competency-based educational sequence.

RTT 4222. Directed Clinical Learning V.

This course provides students with the opportunity to complete their final phase of clinical training by practicing and refining all skills learned in the classroom, lab, and clinical practicum. Students continue to demonstrate proficiency in treatment delivery, simulation, dosimetry applications, and patient care while completing the Skills Competency Checklist and required ARRT and Texas State clinical competencies.

RTT 4291. Radiation Therapy Registry Review.

This course provides a comprehensive review of the program curriculum to prepare students for certification. The review course is designed to integrate the students' knowledge gained in the clinical environment, classroom studies, and current professional trends.

RTT 4310. Physics of Radiation Therapy II.

This course continues the study of cellular responses to radiation and expands students’ understanding of the physical principles underlying radiation therapy. Topics include the properties of x‑ray and gamma radiation, radiation units, x‑ray production, photon interactions, beam characteristics, radioactivity, treatment units, and particle irradiation. Emphasis is placed on connecting radiation physics concepts to their clinical applications in modern radiation oncology.

RTT 4330. Quality Assurance.

This course continues the study of cellular responses to radiation and expands understanding of the physical principles underlying radiation therapy. Topics include properties of x-ray and gamma radiation, radiation units, x-ray production, photon interactions, beam characteristics, radioactivity, treatment units, and particle irradiation. Emphasis is placed on applying radiation physics concepts to clinical contexts, including treatment planning, dose delivery, and quality assurance procedures used in contemporary radiation oncology practice.

RTT 4331. Operational Issues in Radiation Therapy.

This course focuses on operational issues in radiation therapy practice, including assessment techniques and workplace procedures. Topics include human resource considerations, regulatory requirements, resumes and interviews, team dynamics, communication, infection control, ethical and legal issues, and departmental policies and procedures. The course incorporates structured writing assignments that support analysis and communication of professional and operational concepts relevant to radiation oncology settings. (WI).

RTT 4333. RTT Global Scholar.

This course provides instructions in research strategies, critical review, and analysis of peer-reviewed publications. An introduction to scholarly resources and professional manuscript development using peer reviewed journal guidelines for the profession of radiation therapy will be discussed. Students will produce their own scholarly research as part of the course which will be focused on research with a global impact. Prerequisite: Department Chair Approval.

RTT 4360. Dosimetry I.

This course introduces the fundamental concepts of treatment planning and clinical dosimetry used in radiation therapy. Students learn to identify key treatment preparation processes, including the selection and application of beam‑modifying devices. The course also provides instruction in interpreting isodose charts for various treatment arrangements and performing essential external beam dose calculations to support accurate and effective treatment delivery.

RTT 4361. Dosimetry II.

This course builds on the foundational principles introduced in Dosimetry I and advances students’ knowledge of treatment planning and clinical dosimetry. Students will explore additional concepts related to dose calculation, beam modification, and treatment optimization. Emphasis is placed on the use of computerized treatment planning systems to deepen understanding of medical dosimetry and to apply theoretical principles to practical clinical scenarios. Through guided practice and analysis, students strengthen their ability to interpret treatment plans and support accurate, safe radiation therapy delivery.

RTT 4370. Clinical Radiation Oncology I.

This course is the first of a two-part sequence that advances student knowledge of neoplastic disease management. Instruction focuses on regional anatomy and physiology, epidemiology and etiology, detection and diagnosis, diagnostic procedures, histopathology, patterns of spread, principles of treatment, staging, and prognosis. Emphasis is placed on anatomy, lymphatics, and patterns of spread across various cancer types to support understanding of disease progression and clinical decision-making in radiation oncology practice.

RTT 4371. Clinical Radiation Oncology II.

This course is the second of a two-part sequence that continues the study of neoplastic disease management. Instruction focuses on regional anatomy and physiology, epidemiology and etiology, detection and diagnosis, diagnostic procedures, histopathology, patterns of spread, principles of treatment, staging, and prognosis. Emphasis is placed on anatomy, lymphatics, and patterns of spread across cancer types to support analysis of disease progression and application to radiation oncology practice. Prerequisite: RTT 4370 with a grade of "D" or better.