College of Allied Health Professions Initiates New Programs

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Posted on July 11, 2022

Lance Crawford

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The Pat Capps Covey College of Allied Health Professions has initiated two new programs that will expand both academic and professional opportunities. Radiologic sciences has begun an online-only program for radiologic technologists who hold an associate degree to earn a bachelor's degree, and a new master’s degree program has been added in the Department of Biomedical Sciences.

To qualify for the online radiological sciences program, a student must be a registered technologist and have completed the general education requirements prescribed by the University. Offering the program online allows the person flexibility to continue working while earning their bachelor’s degree. 

“It is an opportunity for a technologist with an associate degree to complete the structured education requirement to sit for their post-primary certification in computed technology,” said Dale Smith, chair of the Department of Radiologic Sciences. “It will provide for advancement in their career and an increased salary.”

The program is also built in such a way that a student may take as many or as few courses as they feel comfortable with per semester. The courses are not sequenced and can be complete whenever they are offered.

“The courses will prepare students for the Certified Radiology Administrator examination that is given by the Association for Medical Imaging Management,” Smith said. “That opens the door for opportunities in management and computed tomography.”

The Department of Biomedical Sciences is starting a new master’s degree program for students who are particularly interested in research.  The biomedical sciences bachelor’s program has been the most popular in the Covey College College of Allied Health Professions for more than a decade, but there was not a graduate level program for students interested in pursuing a master’s degree.

“This program was developed and initiated to meet the needs of students aiming for a career in science or those working to develop their scientific knowledge and skill to then enter a graduate-level clinical degree program,” said Dr. Susan Gordon-Hickey, interim dean of the Pat Capps Covey College of Allied Health Professions.

According to the American Medical Association, approximately 44 percent of students who enroll in medical school take one to two gap years before applying.  

“Many of these students look for ways after graduation to strengthen their credentials before applying to medical school or other health programs,” said Dr. Brad Swiger, assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences and the graduate program coordinator. “We developed a one-year, non-thesis master’s degree program to meet this need.”

The master’s program is set up so that the required 30 hours of graduate coursework can be completed in three consecutive semesters, or less than a calendar year.

“With a M.S. in biomedical sciences, our students will be able to immediately enter the job market in the healthcare and biotechnology industries as entry-level research technicians,” Swiger said. “It can also guide research-focused students to the Ph.D. program in USA's College of Medicine.”

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