2023 Best Online Radiology Degrees

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Common Courses in Online Radiology Programs

Course offerings can differ across radiology programs, but most of them have a few courses in common. This is because faculty want to train diagnostic imaging specialists who are not just proficient at one set of tests, but also adept at cross-training on new technology according to the needs of their employers. Below, we've listed a few classes that most radiology students will encounter.

• Fundamentals of Computed Tomography: Students learn the uses and limitations of CT scans in diagnosing illness and injuries. Professors teach the scan process, including safety protocols and administration of contrast agents. Although a doctor is responsible for diagnoses, professors may cover basic interpretation of results.
• Introduction to Diagnostic Medical Sonography: Lessons in this course cover the use of sound waves to retrieve images. Students learn the practical applications of sonography, including echocardiograms for cardiovascular imaging and ultrasound for obstetrics and gynecology. Faculty generally cover patient care, professional behavior, and ethics.
• Introduction to MRI: This course introduces the principles of MRI, including the operation of machinery and interpretation of results. Students learn about the physical processes behind using magnets and contrast agents to reveal organs and tissues. Faculty emphasize safety around magnets and common patient reactions to immersion in an MRI tube.
• Physics in Diagnostic Imaging: Faculty teach the scientific principles that allow machines to render diagnostic images. Coursework may cover image formation and processing, magnetism, and basic electronics. Students are introduced to concepts explored in more depth in later courses, such as contrast (including the use of nuclear medicine) and the effects of the body's structures on imaging.
• Sectional Anatomy: Radiology students learn the human body's systems and how they interconnect. Professors often discuss which imagining machinery best reveals each system. The focus is on the physical plane viewable in different types of images, along with the limits of each.

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Applying to a Program

Once you've selected a list of preferred colleges, it's time to apply. Online radiology bachelor's degrees are almost all completion programs, so their application processes are usually similar to one another and to comparable on-campus programs.

1. Complete an online application form. Prospective students enter their personal details so the college has a record of who they are and what they've already achieved. Some schools may ask applicants to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at this time so they can begin consideration for financial aid.

2. Submit official transcripts. Students need to request that their associate degree institution send official transcripts to the new college. Most schools require a minimum GPA for admission, often between 2.5 and 3.0.

4. Provide additional documentation. Some colleges require 1-3 letters of recommendation from professors or managers, some ask for a written reflection or answers to a series of essay questions, and most will ask for a resume if the applicant has a professional work history.

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The Importance of an Accredited Online Radiology Degree

Accreditation is an important qualification for all future college students to consider. Every college featured on OnlineU is either nationally or regionally accredited, which helps ensure that your education is legitimate and credits will transfer to any future master's degree program.

However, prospective students should ensure that an online bachelor's degree is also accredited at the program level before committing. Most specializations in the radiologic sciences require students to graduate from an accredited program before testing for a license. Below, we've listed the organizations that accredit programs in radiology, along with the specialties they cover.

• American Registry of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists: MRI
• Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs: Diagnostic medical sonography
• Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology: Radiography, MRI, and medical dosimetry
• Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology: Nuclear medicine technology

To ensure that your program is accredited by the correct body, review the licensure requirements in the state where you want to practice.

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Scholarships for Online Radiology Students

Online radiology students can qualify for a variety of financial aid if they're enrolled at an accredited school. Most college students or their families take out some federal or private loans to help finance a degree, but these must be repaid with interest. More desirable forms of aid include grants, scholarships, and work-study programs, which don't require repayment after graduation.

Some private organizations and donors sponsor scholarships specifically for bachelor's students in radiology, and we've listed some examples below. Check with a school's financial aid office to make sure they participate in a particular program.

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Careers in the Radiology Field

The broad field of radiologic technology contains many job titles depending on employees' specialties and certifications. Most careers in radiology have a healthy outlook, with above-average job growth over the next several years.

All radiologic technologists train in human anatomy in order to take precise and accurate images. Their responsibilities usually also include maintaining complex radiology equipment, managing patient records, and occasionally helping doctors interpret image results. Depending on their state regulations, an aspiring technologist generally needs to obtain certification after earning a degree.

We've listed a few radiology specializations here, along with their median salaries and job outlook figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

• Diagnostic medical sonographer: These professionals use sound wave technology to perform gynecological, abdominal, and cardiac assessments of patients, including prenatal health screenings for pregnant women. Ideally, sonographers should possess strong social skills so they can put patients at ease by walking them through each procedure. These professionals earn median salaries of $70,380 per year, and the field is expected to grow very fast at 17% through 2029.
• MRI technologist: MRI technologists specialize in using MRI machines to create images and may also work with a physician to interpret the results. MRIs are used to diagnose everything from joint pain to tumors. Like sonographers, MRI techs benefit from high emotional intelligence so they can calm patients who dislike the noisy, immersive MRI procedure. These jobs pay a median salary of $63,710 per year, with the field expected to grow 7% by the end of the decade.
• Nuclear medicine technologist: Nuclear medicine can help radiology professionals take more accurate images, and nuclear medicine technologists are experts in administering and explaining this medicine to patients. They follow radiation protection procedures for radiopharmaceuticals, including their disposal. Nuclear medicine techs earn relatively high median annual salaries for radiologic technologists, at $79,590. However, their 5% job growth outlook is lower than other radiology professionals.
• Radiation therapist: These professionals use radiation to treat disease rather than diagnose medical issues. They follow rigorous safety protocols to prepare patients for focused doses of radiation that can shrink tumors. Radiation therapists command the highest median salaries at $86,850 of any radiology discipline that doesn't require an M.D. The job outlook is also good, with 7% growth expected through the end of the decade.
• X-ray or CT technologist: These technologists take X-ray images for physicians to analyze and interpret. CT scans involve the use of several X-rays to harvest a three-dimensional image of an internal section of the patient's body, and their images are often made clearer with the use of an ingested or injected contrast agent. Like MRI techs, these professionals earn median wages of $63,710 per year, and available jobs are projected to increase by 7% through 2029.