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RIS Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions | Degree-Specific Questions | Certificate-Specific Questions

GENERAL QUESTIONS (DEGREE & CERTIFICATE)

What are the Radiologic and Imaging Sciences?

Radiologic and Imaging Sciences (RIS) is an umbrella term used to describe multiple disciplines involved in medical imaging and radiation therapy. Specifically, the disciplines includes Radiography (RTR), Radiation Therapy (RTT), Nuclear Medicine (RTN or CNMT), Sonography (RDMS, RSCS, or RVT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (ARMRIT), Cardiovascular Interventional Technology (RCES, RCIS), Dosimetrist (CMD), and PACS administrators (ABII or PARCA).

If I have an undergraduate degree in something other than Radiologic and Imaging Sciences, am I still eligible to be admitted?

Yes, you are still eligible for admission. Although it is advantageous to have an undergraduate degree in one of the radiologic and imaging sciences, it is not a requirement for admission as long as you hold a bachelor鈥檚 degree.

What are the admission criteria for the Master鈥檚 degree or certificate?

Hold a Bachelor鈥檚 degree from an accredited university and be certified/registered in one of the radiologic and imaging sciences. Specifically, Radiography (RTR), Radiation Therapy (RTT), Nuclear Medicine (RTN or CNMT), Sonography (RDMS, RSCS, or RVT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (ARMRIT), Cardiovascular Interventional Technology (RCES, RCIS), Medical Dosimetry (CMD), or PACS administrator (ABII, PARCA).

I鈥檓 not licensed in the State of California. Am I still eligible for the master鈥檚 degree or certificate?

Yes, you are still eligible as long as you are nationally certified or hold a state license.

I have a certification/license from an agency not in the United States. Am I eligible for admission to the Master鈥檚 degree or certificate?

If you are licensed or certified by a recognized governmental agency outside of the United States, your eligibility will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Typically, foreign certification and or licenses are acceptable.

I no longer have an active certification/license. Am I eligible for the master鈥檚 degree or certificate?

Depending on the circumstances, you may be eligible. You should contact the department to determine what actions would make you eligible

By when do I need to apply for admission?

It is always better to apply sooner rather than later. Students should apply no later than July 1 for the fall term, and December 1 for the Spring term. Applications after that date will be considered on a space available basis.

Are the programs online? Is there a hybrid option for the degree?

Currently, the degree and certificate are only offered online.

Are courses primarily asynchronous, or do they include live sessions and discussions?

All of the courses in this program are 100% asynchronous. The only time we do require students to show up is once for orientation via Zoom and once to defend their Capstone project via Zoom.

There is a weekly voluntary additional speaker series that we encourage students to attend because it is got really good information and you make connections that will help you professionally, but that is voluntary.

Are there face-to-face classes?

At the current time, there are no face-to-face classes offered. It is the intent to offer face-to-face options at a later date.

How does the program encourage collaboration or networking among students and faculty, especially for those balancing full-time professional work?

Between 75% and 85% of our students are full-time students with full-time jobs and, with a couple of exceptions, they all have families also. We certainly recognize the situation that you're in, and plan accordingly. Consequently, we allow students a lot of leeway in the program to get work done when they are able to get it done within reason.

We encourage students to work together on projects and to help each other. We also encourage students to join the "secret" discussion board that faculty are not part of, so that they can discuss things without faculty reading it or reacting to it. And we also do a number of projects in the program where students work together. Additionally, good instructional design for online courses is that students post things weekly or bi-weekly, and other students respond to it so that there is a discussion about the information.

I see there are courses listed for sonography, CT, and other clinical areas. Are these courses being offered currently?

No, these courses are not currently being offered. It is the intention of the program to offer these tracks over the next several years.

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DEGREE-SPECIFIC QUESTIONS

What does this degree prepare me to do professionally?

At the current time, the only two tracks within the degree being offered are the Management and Education tracks. The Management track gives the practitioner the knowledge and skills necessary to move into a leadership position within the profession. The Education track provides practitioners with the knowledge and skills necessary to become a faculty member within the profession.

Is it possible to be a part-time student in the master鈥檚 degree?

Yes, it is possible to be a part-time student. However, we discourage students from going part-time unless their situations dictate they must. Full-time students tend to graduate at a higher rate and the cohort nature of the program works better with a full-time enrollment.

Is there scholarship money available for the degree?

Yes, there are several scholarships available for individuals completing their Master鈥檚 degree. Check with your professional organizations such as the ASRT, ARDMS, ARRT, etc. to see what is available.

Is there Financial Aid available for the degree?

Yes, there is financial aid available to complete the degree.

Are there any scholarship, assistantship, or tuition support options available for students in the program?

Unfortunately, the program itself and CSUDH do not have any specific scholarships for students in our graduate programs. However, there are a number of scholarships through professional organizations, such as the ASRT, the SDMS, and other professional organizations; please visit the Costs page. Additionally, the majority of students in the program work at facilities that are willing to pay for a graduate degree if you agree to stay and work for them for a designated amount of time after you graduate.听

How many semester hour credits/units are needed for the degree?

The Master of Science in Radiologic & Imaging Sciences requires completion of 36 units/semester hours.

Are there specific research or capstone projects required to help students apply those analytical and writing skills, such as preparing manuscripts for scholarly journals?

Yes, we have a听Four-course sequence that starts out with basic research methodology. Then, how to find and understand literature. Then, how to research. Finally, how to write a capstone project as the very last requirement for the degree. Everything we do in the program is aimed towards that capstone.听

How long does it take to finish the MS in Radiologic & Imaging Sciences degree?

This Master鈥檚 degree is a fully online executive style degree. What that means is that students can complete the degree in one calendar year and does not have to travel to campus. There are non-mandatory program meetings via Zoom. If a student opts for the hybrid version of the program when it is offered, they will be required to participate in a synchronous meeting every other Saturday for the full year.

For individuals who signed up for the certificate, it typically takes 2 to 3 semesters to complete this certificate.

Will I be able to sit for any advanced clinical boards after completing the master鈥檚 degree?

At the current time, you will not be able to sit for advanced clinical boards after completing the degree. As the program adds in the proposed tracks such as ultrasound, CT, nuclear medicine, etc., individuals that earn the degree in any of the clinical tracks will be eligible to sit for advanced boards.

What types of career paths or leadership opportunities have graduates typically pursued after completing the program?

A recent major survey of all of our graduates revealed that over 80% of the students who graduated from this program have either gotten a new job or a major promotion based on the fact that they had the master's degree.听The types of jobs that they are going into are varied but they include: Clinical Manager, Director of Radiology, Assistant Director of Radiology, Faculty Member, and Application Specialist. One student is a researcher, two students have started their own companies and are doing well, and there are multiple other opportunities for students based on the fact that they have the master's degree.

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CERTIFICATE-SPECIFIC QUESTIONS

What does a certificate do for me professionally?

The certificate is designed for individuals who currently hold a Master鈥檚 degree and wish to upgrade their skills, individuals who do not plan on finishing a Master鈥檚 degree but wish to upgrade their skills, and individuals who believe they may want to complete the Master鈥檚 degree but would like to take one or two courses in the program before committing.

How many semester hour credits/units is needed for the certificate?

The graduate certificate requires 12 units/semester hours.

If I do the certificate first, can those credits/units be applied towards the master鈥檚 degree?

Yes, of the 12 units required for the certificate nine can be applied towards the Master of Science degree