What will I learn?
As a radiation science major, you’ll focus on laboratory and research training over clinical training. By integrating biology, radiation, physics, and mathematics, our well-rounded program prepares you to forge your own unique career path in healthcare and the sciences.
You’ll also have the option to bolster your resume with hands-on experience through an optional internship at one of Boston’s many regional healthcare facilities, medical centers, and research institutions. The radiation science major also serves as the foundation for the radiation therapy major. Students interested in radiation therapy begin as radiation science majors and can apply for a spot in our competitive radiation therapy program during the fall of their sophomore year.
Students in our radiation science program will:
Master the principles of radiation physics, radioactivity, and its effects on the body, such as radiation exposure and absorbed dose of radiation, Be equipped to educate patients on cancer treatments, symptoms, and life choices that decrease the risk of developing cancer, Gain essential laboratory skills, including pipetting, preparing solutions and buffers, isolating and analyzing DNA and proteins, and using a spectrophotometer, Identify human anatomical structures and organ system functions during anatomy & physiology lab, Understand the psychosocial aspects related to cancer and learn how to compassionately support and communicate with patients.
Radiation science majors, including those interested in applying for our radiation therapy program, will complete foundational coursework during their freshman and sophomore year in cancer care, biology, pre-calculus, calculus, anatomy & physiology, and physics. Many of these core courses will also include corresponding labs. During junior and senior year, radiation physics, radiation biology, biostatistics, and three additional electives will round out your education in this complex field. Graduates of our program often go on to earn advanced degrees or work as clinical research coordinators/assistants, radiation safety office staff, radiation health physics assistants, and patient navigators.
