Master of Science in Imaging Sciences

The Master of Science in Imaging Sciences at UT Health San Antonio is a new master degree programs offered within the School of Health Professions (SHP). This program will provide a comprehensive plan of study to prepare graduates for multiple marketable certifications in advanced medical imaging while earning a master’s degree and acquiring leadership skills. The purpose of the M.S. in Imaging Sciences program is to develop clinically competent, imaging technologists with leadership skills and multi-modality, registry-eligible certifications in Radiography, Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) to address the technologist shortages that are currently stressing the health care system. After successful completion of the program, the graduates will be eligible for state licensure by the Department of State Health Services to the Texas Medical Board. In addition, the students will be prepared for the Magnetic Resonance Safety Officer (MRSO) credentialing examination by the American Board of Magnetic Resonance Safety (ABMRS). The ABMRS offers (MRSO) Certified™ (MRSC™) credentials to MRI technologists who demonstrate competency in advanced MRI safety (https://abmrs.org/).

The M.S. in Imaging Sciences program was approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board on June 29,2022 with an implementation date of August 2023. Under the auspice of the SHP, the M.S. in Imaging Sciences is “pending approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.”

The program builds upon the foundation of knowledge from a bachelor’s degree and specific science-related prerequisites for admission to better prepare students to acquire the advanced skills provided in the curriculum. Application materials must be submitted through ahcas.liaisoncas.com. The following minimum requirements will be applied:

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university in the United States or proof of an equivalent degree from a foreign institution is required. 
• Overall GPA of 3.0.
• Overall Science and Math GPA of 3.0.
• Official transcripts from each college/university currently and previously attended reflecting completed and in progress coursework.
• Transcripts from institutions outside the United States must be submitted in the original language along with an evaluation from a National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) approved organization.
• International applicants whose native language is not English must present evidence of proficiency in English by satisfactorily completing the Test of English as a Foreign Language examination (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 84;  English language test for study (IELTS) score of 7.0; or and Duolingo score of 115. A waiver of this requirement may be requested if the individual has graduated from a United States high school or a higher education degree program (associate’s or higher), or one of its English-speaking protectorates.
• 2 letters of recommendation, attesting to student’s academic experience and personal attributes.
• MRI Safety screening. *
• Required immunizations, criminal background checks, drug screening, health and physical capability and other requirements by the School of Health Professions or UT Health San Antonio.
• Ability to meet the general technical requirements for the field. **
• Perform the essential functions of the job. ***
• Personal interview with program faculty.

Science and Math Prerequisites

In addition to a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university in the United States or proof of an equivalent degree from a foreign institution, 26 semester credit hours (SCH) of specific prerequisite work is also required. The prerequisites are listed in Table 16. The aggregate grade point average for the prerequisite courses must be at least a 3.0.

Table 16. Required Science and Math Prerequisites

Mathematics (6 SCH): College Algebra OR Higher-level Mathematics OR Statistics

Natural Sciences (20 SCH):

• Biology lecture with Lab
• General chemistry lecture with Lab
• Physics with Lab
• Human Anatomy & Physiology with Lab (covering all body systems

*MRI Safety Screening. Establishment of thorough and effective screening procedures for patients and other individuals is one of the most critical components of a program that guards the safety of all those entering the MRI environment or undergoing MRI procedures. An important aspect of protecting patients and individuals from MRI related accidents and injuries involves an understanding of the risks associated with the various implants, devices, accessories, and other objects that may cause problems in this setting. This requires constant attention and diligence to obtain information and documentation about these objects to provide the safest MRI setting possible. The faculty of the program want to provide the students and patients with a safe clinical environment; therefore, the program requires students to complete the MRI safety screening form prior to acceptance into the program. This form must be completed by a qualified practitioner. Any questions or concerns may be addressed by contacting the program director.

The student must keep these records current for the duration of the program. If he/she has a foreign object (i.e., ferrous material, implants, surgical clip, insulin pump, etc.) located in or on their body after admission, it is the student’s responsibility to notify the program director. After notification to the program director, a second MRI Safety Screening must be completed by a qualified health care practitioner to assure student and personnel safety. Information about the MRI Safety Screening can be found in the application packet and on the program website.

**General Technical Requirements. To graduate from the program, students must be able to meet certain technical requirements. Graduates of this program must be able to meet certain physical and mental requirements to ensure the safe performance of imaging procedures.

Due to the nature of typical employment assignments, a graduate of this program must be able to:

1. Work in a clinical setting for eight (8) to ten (10) hours performing physical tasks requiring physical energy without jeopardizing patient safety. Examples of these tasks include but are not limited to: Pushing wheelchairs, stretchers, carts and mobile radiographic equipment; lifting and carrying imaging coils weighing up to twenty (20) pounds, wearing a five ten (5-10) pound, lead apron when needed; reaching, manipulating, and operating patient positioning tables, radiographic tables, stands, tubes, and other radiographic and imaging equipment to obtain the requested radiographic or diagnostic image; cleaning and preparing patient positioning tables, radiographic tables, stands, and other accessory equipment; moving and assisting patients on and off radiographic tables, carts and stretchers, or in/out of wheelchairs.

2. Interact with patients and other medical personnel in providing appropriate patient care and in performing imaging procedures. Examples of these interactions include but are not limited to:  effectively communicating with patients and medical staff; providing patients with a clear and complete explanation of procedures; providing oral and written information, reading written information, and receiving oral and written information from patients and medical staff relevant to patient care; responding appropriately to unusual patient situations; making appropriate judgments in critical and non-critical patient care situations.

***Essential Job Functions. The following essential functions are required of all students enrolled in the program.  Medical imaging science specialists are responsible for the care of patients, some of whom are critically ill.  They are often required to manage complex pieces of equipment, as well as interact with patients to make assessments. Medical imaging science specialists must also be able to communicate with other health care professionals. Therefore, to be successful in the program, all applicants should be able to perform, or learn to perform, the following functions:

• Spending much of the day traveling in between imaging departments.
• Moving and positioning bedridden patients.
• Performing physically demanding tasks; lifting and positioning imaging equipment.
• Communicating effectively with patients and staff.
• Responding to alarms.
• Accurately measuring contrast media, reading patient records, evaluating information displayed on patient monitors, and making observations of patients as required.
• Manipulating equipment and perform tasks; venipuncture and IV-line management.
• Applying sufficient intellectual and emotional skills to plan and exercise independent judgment, and to respond quickly to medical emergencies.

The program reserves the right to require applicants or students to demonstrate any of these essential functions with or without accommodation. Accreditation standards, program resources, and availability of clinical practicum sites will influence enrollment capacity.

The program curriculum will begin with Radiography principles and practice, followed by academic and clinical instruction in CT and culminating in the acquisition of the knowledge and skills needed to perform MRI. The didactic content will be provided in-person with a traditional classroom mode of delivery while capitalizing on the ample availability of supervised clinical experiences.

Clinical Practicum

The clinical practicums will occur clinically affiliated medical centers, hospitals, and outpatient imaging centers. Prior to the first clinical practicum, students will be given the training necessary to obtain current certification in Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers by the American Heart Association. The clinical hours are required for program completion and the students must arrange their schedules accordingly to ensure attendance as outlined by each course syllabus. The clinical hours are based on the clinical site’s designated hours of operation; Monday-Sunday, days, evenings, and weekends, as necessitated by the facility. The length of specific clinical rotations is determined by the clinical site (hours may vary by site), and the clinical coordinator to ensure that the students meet the competency requirements for the program. Students will receive appropriate academic advising and mentoring to complete didactic and clinical course materials in a timely manner.

The clinical requirements are as follows:

• Radiography Clinical Practicums I and II: Each practicum requires 540 hours.
• CT Clinical Practicum III requires 540 hours and Practicum IV (Weeks 1-7 of semester) requires 300 hours.
• MRI Clinical Practicum IV (Weeks 8-15 of semester) requires 300 hours and Practicum V requires 540 hours. 

The program will provide students the opportunity to acquire marketable skills while progressing sequentially and earning multimodality credentials along with a master’s degree.¹  The curriculum will include didactic content in anatomy and pathophysiology, patient assessment, pathophysiology, positioning & protocols, principles & instrumentation, radiographic technique, MRI safety, radiation biology, pharmacology, contrast media agents, venipuncture, patient safety, health care policies, emergency procedures, quality assurance, professional standards and supervised clinical training in radiography, CT and MRI.

In order to foster the development of clinically competent, imaging technologists with multi-modality, registry-eligible ARRT certifications in Radiography, CT and MRI, the program will be structured in phases; Phase 1 (Table 17): radiography proficiency (student earns ARRT radiography exam eligibility after phase 1 completion), Phase 2 (Table 18): CT proficiency (student earns ARRT CT exam eligibility after phase 2 completion), and Phase 3 (Table 19): MRI proficiency (student earns ARRT MRI exam eligibility after phase 3 completion). Learning outcomes will exceed the minimum ARRT structured educational requirements in the advanced imaging modalities. After successful completion of the program, the graduates will be eligible for state licensure by the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to the Texas Medical Board (TMB) (https://www.tmb.state.tx.us/page/licensing-full-medical-radiologic-technologist). In addition, the students will be prepared for the Magnetic Resonance Safety Officer (MRSO) credentialing examination by the American Board of Magnetic Resonance Safety (ABMRS). The ABMRS offers (MRSO) Certified™ (MRSC™) credentials to MRI technologists who demonstrate competency in advanced MRI safety (https://abmrs.org/).

Phase 1: Radiography (48 Semester Credit Hours)

Radiographers use electromagnetic radiation to produce radiographs (X-rays). X-rays have higher energy and can pass through most objects, including the body's internal structures. X-rays are the most frequently used form of imaging for routine follow-up exams, such as chest X-rays due to much lower radiation doses compared to CT. X-rays are used to diagnose fractured bones, injury, or infection and to locate foreign objects in soft tissue. Some X-ray exams may require the use of iodine-based contrast material or barium to help improve the visibility of specific organs, blood vessels, tissues, or bone.

The underlying scientific theory, sectional anatomy, pathophysiology, and clinical protocols will be discussed. Emphasis is placed on patient care and radiation protection, principles of electromagnetic radiation and physical interactions with living matter. Phase 1 plan of study in radiography (Table 17) will consist of 14 courses totaling 48 semester credit hours. The didactic courses (30 semester credit hours) will be offered at the UT Health San Antonio campus. The clinical courses (18 semester credit hours) will be provided at affiliated clinical sites during the day, night and/or weekends and students must be able to commit to participating in a minimum of 36 hrs./wk. (minimum 6 and maximum 10-hour shifts) of clinical training during each semester. Students will receive a certificate of completion in radiography after successful completion of phase 1. This certification will allow students to sit for the primary-pathway radiography registry exam by the ARRT. Students must successfully pass the ARRT radiography registry examination in order to proceed into phase 2 CT.

Table 17. Phase 1: Radiography (48 Semester Credit Hours)

Phase 2: Computed Tomography (25 Semester Credit Hours)

Computed Tomography (CT) is an advanced radiographic imaging modality that utilizes highly collimated fan-shaped x-ray beam and array of radiation detectors to produce cross-sectional images of human body structures and organs for diagnostic purposes. CT images can be reconstructed in various anatomical orientations for better visualization of pathology, diagnostic analysis, and interpretations. Phase 2 plan of study in CT is shown in Table 18 and will consist of 6 courses totaling 25 semester credit hours. The didactic courses (11 semester credit hours) will take place at the SHP during the day while the clinical practicums (14 semester credit hours) will be provided at affiliated clinical sites during the day, night and/or weekends. The CT clinical practicum enable students to solidify the didactic education while mastering patient care skills, CT principals & instrumentation, CT protocols & procedures, disease identification, and advanced imaging techniques which offer graduates an employment edge and increased career mobility. Students must commit to a minimum of 36-40 hrs./wk. (minimum 6 and maximum 10-hour shifts) of clinical training during each semester. Students will receive a certificate of completion in CT after successful completion of phase 2 which allows them to take the post-primary pathway ARRT CT registry exam. Students must successfully pass the ARRT CT registry exam in order to proceed into phase 3.

Table 18. Phase 2: CT (25 Semester Credit Hours)

Phase 3: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (25 Semester Credit Hours)

Magnetic resonance technologists use the resonant frequency properties of atoms within a magnetic field to image anatomic and/or physiologic conditions of the body to assist physicians in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. MRI is an imaging modality that produces exceptionally detailed images of the tissues and organs of the body in a variety of imaging planes. This course of study focuses on the underlying scientific theory, sectional anatomy, pathophysiology and clinical protocols. Emphasis is placed on patient care and safety, and principles of magnetism.

Phase 3 plan of study in MRI is shown in Table 19 and consist of 6 courses totaling 25 semester credit hours. The didactic courses (11 semester credit hours) will be offered at the SHP during the day while the clinical education courses (14 semester credit hours) will be provided at affiliated clinical sites during the day, night and/or weekends. The curriculum is designed to enable students to acquire knowledge in MRI physics, equipment operation/methodology, cross-sectional anatomy, pathophysiology, patient care, and MRI imaging skills. Students must be able to commit to participating in a minimum of 40 hrs./wk. (minimum 6 and maximum 10 hour-shifts) of clinical training during each semester. Students will receive a certificate of completion in the advanced modality of MRI after successful completion of phase 3. The certification will allow students to sit for the post-primary pathway MRI registry exam by the ARRT.

Table 19. Phase 3: MRI  (25 Semester Credit Hours)

Table 20. Required Core Courses

To graduate, students must successfully complete all courses (98 SCH) with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better and successful completion of the 5,1000 clock hours required of the program (Table 20). In addition, each student must successfully complete a research capstone project as a part of their last clinical practicum course completion requirement.

Table 21. Semester Credit Hour Requirements by Category

The coursework and sequencing for M.S. in Imaging Sciences Program is shown on Table 22.

Table 22. M.S. in Imaging Sciences Program SCH Coursework and Sequencing

M.S. in Imaging Sciences Program Policies

Established policies and procedures will be in place to assure consistency in student evaluations. This will include use of student written evaluations of courses and instructors, student conferences to solicit feedback from students and instructors as well as the quality of clinical rotations, and graduate exit surveys. In addition, students have a well-defined appeals process should they believe that they have received an unfair grade or evaluation.

The program director and faculty have established program policies and procedures in order to oversee curriculum development.  To uphold the program’s high standard and relevancy in student education, faculty members teaching courses are actively engage in continuous curricular development and revision using student learning outcome data. The Student Progress Committee of the M.S. in Imaging Sciences degree program will ensure that the degree plan is followed by M.S. in Imaging Sciences students in order to make appropriate progress towards their degree. The Student Progress Committee will grant exceptions from this schedule only under extenuating circumstances.

Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes

The School of Health Professions evaluates student learning outcomes primarily through grades in academic coursework, performance in clinical rotations, and scores on standardized licensure examinations. 

Provided below in Table 1 is the plan for how the student learning outcomes (SLOs) will be assessed and evaluation, as well as when the SLOs will be reassessed and evaluated over the duration the two-year program. Also described is the assessment method used to establish learning related to SLOs and the desired target level of performance.

Assessment methods may include faculty-designed comprehensive or capstone exams; performance on faculty developed or external exams; professionally judged performance as in clinical or lab performance; portfolios compiled over time; written assignments, etc. SLOs are defined in terms of the knowledge, skills, and abilities that a student has attained at the end (or as a result) of his or her engagement in a particular set of higher education experiences. In our program we might refer to these as terminal objectives or competencies. SLOs should not be confused with program outcomes, objectives or goals which might include graduation, employment, satisfaction, certification/licensure rates, scores on standardized tests, etc., (see Table 2). Although such indicators might be used as a proxy for instructional effectiveness, they are not actual measures of learning.  

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

Established policies and procedures will be in place to assure consistency in student evaluations. This will include use of student written evaluations of courses and instructors, student conferences to solicit feedback from students and instructors as well as the quality of clinical rotations, and graduate exit surveys. In addition, students have a well-defined appeals process should they believe that they have received an unfair grade or evaluation.

Program Outcomes

Results of the program outcomes will be continuously disseminated beyond the program director. Program outcome results will be disseminated at the yearly advisory meeting consisting of community members. The outcomes will also be shared openly with potential applicants during the information sessions. Program outcomes of the program will be available on the program website, as well as brochures and marketing advertisement. The program outcomes/results will be used to implement changes in the curriculum based on the results of the assessment. In addition to providing a strong science and technical background, the program will strive to address the growing need of highly trained graduates for leadership roles in medical imaging. The program will adhere to the guidelines that the accrediting body (ARRT) has set.