Academic Programs and Services

Diagnostic Medical Imaging

This curriculum provides students with the entry-level skills needed to use ionizing radiation in both diagnostic radiographic and fluoroscopic procedures. The program is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT), and graduates are eligible to take the national certifying examination administered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).

The Diagnostic Medical Imaging curriculum begins once a year in Summer Session II (July). The curriculum consists of eight consecutive semesters (24 months, including summer sessions) combining classroom/laboratory components at the College with Clinical Education courses at an area affiliate hospital. In the Clinical Education components, the student-radiographer is supervised by College faculty and clinical staff while interacting with the patient in the general radiographic/fluoroscopic setting, the emergency room, the operating room, the CT suite, doing mobile (portable) x-rays, and in the angiographic/interventional radiology suite.

Clinical experience in the program includes contact with children. In order to participate in this experience, students must obtain a criminal records check and child abuse history clearance prior to entrance into the program. The College, in its admissions process, will consider information regarding criminal convictions and/or crimes of moral turpitude.

Admission is conditional pending receipt and evaluation of a criminal background check to determine whether there is any conviction which may bar the student from taking the certifying examination of the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). Any official change or the initiation of any governmental proceeding affecting the information revealed by the required criminal or child abuse background check must be reported immediately to the curriculum coordinator of DMI.

Involvement in any incident which resulted in disciplinary action against a student at the Community College of Philadelphia or any post-secondary institution is considered in the admissions process. The Diagnostic Medical Imaging program reserves the right to deny admission to any applicant who has a documented history of violating College rules and regulations or who has been previously suspended or expelled from the College or any other post-secondary educational institution.

Students subjected to sanction as a result of violating an academic honor code or suspended or dismissed by an educational program may not qualify for the ARRT certification examination.

Student Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this program graduates will be able to:

• Demonstrate they possess the knowledge and skills to competently and safely perform radiographic/fluoroscopic procedures as American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certified radiographers.
• Demonstrate effective communication skills, critical thinking and problem solving skills.
• Demonstrate the importance of lifelong learning and professionalism through advanced education and professional continuing education.

Program Entry Requirements:
Admission is selective and requires that potential students fulfill all admission requirements of the College. Applications received from October 1 until February 1 will receive priority in the testing and review process. The requirements for admission to the Diagnostic Medical Imaging program are:
1. High school diploma or general education diploma (GED).
2. A minimum of one year of high school biology or Biology 106 or equivalent with “C” or better grades in the past 10 years.
3. Applicants must demonstrate readiness for ENGL 101 and MATH 118 as determined by the College’s placement tests or by successfully completing identified developmental course work.
4. Applicants with previous college experience must have a minimum of a 2.50 grade point average. The most recent previous college experience with at least 12 credits will be used for evaluation.
5. Participation in the pre-entrance Allied Health testing program.
6. Arrange and complete a six to eight hour observation in a local hospital radiology department and observe routine radiography procedures.

Conditions for Acceptance:
1. Results of complete physical examination, including laboratory test results of a complete blood count, serology, urinalysis, tuberculin PPD test. Immunizations, including Hepatitis B, must be on file in the Program office before the start of any DMI course (July of starting year).
2. Verification of medical insurance is mandatory.
3. Applicants must attend a scheduled program orientation prior to entry.
4. DMI student-radiographer uniform purchase.
5. Attendance at Summer Session II Study Skills Workshops.

6. The student must obtain a criminal record check and a child abuse clearance prior to the entrance into the program. This DMI requirement is mandated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 23 Pennsylvania C.S.A. 6355 of the Pennsylvania Child Protective Services Law.
The following guidelines are used for making decisions about an applicant’s criminal and child abuse background:

Child Abuse Clearance
• Any record results in denial of admission into the DMI program.

Criminal Background Check

• All felony convictions are subject to review by the ARRT Ethics Board. These include plea of guilty, plea of nolo contendere (no contest), withheld or deferred adjudication, suspended or stay of sentence, military court-martial. This review should be completed prior to applying to the DMI program.
• Misdemeanor speeding convictions involving alcohol or drug use are required to be reviewed by the ARRT prior to admission to the DMI program.
• Conviction of serious and/or violent crimes results in denial of admission to the DMI program.

Reconsideration:
An applicant who believes that an error of fact has been made in terms of the information provided to the decision making committee can request reconsideration by the committee. This request must be made in writing within 10 days from the date of the letter notifying the applicant of the decision. The reconsideration should address what the applicant considers to be errors of fact.

Following reconsideration by the decision making committee, the applicant can appeal the committee’s decision to the vice president for Academic Affairs whose decision is final.

Any official change or the initiation of any governmental proceeding affecting the information revealed by the required criminal or child abuse background check must be reported immediately to the program director of DMI.

Readmission:
1. One-time readmission into the DMI program is permitted.
2. Students requesting a readmission must meet program entry requirements and conditions for acceptance and are selected on a competitive basis as space permits.
3. Students may be required to retake DMI or general education courses as determined by the curriculum coordinator.
4. Students requesting readmission must petition to the program no later than May 1 for the fall semester or October 1 for the spring semester, and their records are subject to review by the program faculty and the Advisory Committee.
5. The program must be completed within five years after initial enrollment.
6. Students who were dropped for unprofessional conduct or safety issues may not be considered for a readmission.

Program of Study Requirements:
1. Students in the DMI curriculum may be dropped at any time if, in the opinion of the faculty and curriculum coordinator, such students are not suited to be radiographers.
2. Students whose attitude and behavior are considered unprofessional may
be dropped from the curriculum, pending a review by the program faculty and Advisory Committee.
3. Students may not continue in the
DMI curriculum with a grade of "D" or below in any DMI or general education courses.
4. DMI students must follow the curriculum sequence according to courses listed in each semester, unless approval is granted by the curriculum coordinator.
5. DMI students must submit proof of two-year CPR certification prior to entering the first year’s spring semester (January).

Graduation Requirements:
To qualify for the Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Diagnostic Medical Imaging, students must complete 76 credit hours as prescribed and attain a grade point average of 2.0 in all program core courses and no grade below a "C" in any course.

NOTE: Students who become pregnant while in the Diagnostic Medical Imaging program must submit appropriate documentation from their obstetrician to the curriculum coordinator. Since radiation could be dangerous to a fetus the program strongly recommends that the student voluntarily notify the curriculum coordinator in writing in the event of pregnancy. Neither the College nor the clinical affiliate can assume responsibility for any harm that might occur to a fetus as a result of exposure to ionizing radiation. A pregnant student may choose to continue in the educational process without modification. A student who withdraws from the Diagnostic Medical Imaging program because of pregnancy can gain readmission to the program by following the established procedure.

For Reference:
The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) reserves the right to deny or reject an application for certification as stated in the STANDARDS OF ETHICS of the ARRT from an applicant convicted of a crime, including a felony; a gross misdemeanor; or a misdemeanor with the sole exception of speeding and parking violations. All alcohol and/or drug related violations must be reported. Conviction as used in this provision includes a criminal proceeding where a finding or verdict of guilt is made or returned but the adjudication or guilt is either withheld or not entered, or a criminal proceeding where the individual enters a plea of guilty or nolo contendere.

Any breach of the STANDARD OF ETHICS of the ARRT will result in immediate dismissal of the student.

Download a printable degree description (PDF File) that includes a recommended course sequence grid.