LESLEY JOHN

SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Starting in the fall semester of this year, the School of Education and Health will now be offering a bachelor’s degree in radiological technology. The primary purpose of this major is to help students co-work with doctors and nurses, in identifying various diseases using x-ray imaging.

“Manhattan College now has the triple crown in radiological sciences, meaning that we offer a bachelor of science in nuclear medicine, a bachelor’s in radiation therapy, and a bachelor’s in radiological technology [x-ray],” Lawrence Hough, director of radiological and health professions, said.

In addition to taking a core curriculum, students will also receive practical experiences in an internship. This sixteen credit internship will allow prospective technologists to gain valuable medical insight by working hands-on with reputable medical institutions.

Currently, the program plans to affiliate with competitive New York City Hospitals such as Mount Sinai Medical Center, Columbia Medical Center, Cornell Medical Center and the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

The primary purpose of this bachelor’s program is to prepare radiological technologists who can effectively prepare patients for scans and x-rays and then analyze various computer processes to correctly diagnose the patient.

The School of Education and Health will only accept incoming freshmen into this program as courses are still being fully formatted. This means that students who enroll in the program will be coming straight from high school. Unfortunately, transfer students will not be accepted into the program.

Students will only begin to take courses in x-ray technology during their spring semester in sophomore year.

Hough described the competitiveness of this program.

“X-ray is a 24 hour department unlike other departments, and it’s also important because people need X-rays,” Hough said. “So, we do expect a good enrollment in the years to come.

William Kobetitsch, a senior enrolled in the School of Education and Health Sciences, said, “It’s honestly great that Manhattan College is expanding their health science programs. The demand for these jobs is growing every day.”

Marylise Uwabideli, a junior, described the potential program as “an improvement to the already diversified curriculum.

“It’s great that Manhattan College is expanding its horizons by introducing this major now,” she said. “I believe that it will diversify and improve our academics and bring the college to new levels. This especially gives undecided majors something else to look at.”

The Federal Bureau of Statistics indicated in their most recent report that there will be more employment for radiological technologists in the future.

More information can be found on the program’s website or by emailing the director at lawrence.hough@manhattan.edu.