Post-Professional Radiation Sciences, BS (Online)

The Bachelor's in Radiation Sciences is comprised of the following elements:

1. Professional Core (a student's entry-level imaging degree, such as medical radiography) taken prior to program entry. This usually takes 2 years full-time.
2. BSRS Program Core (required for all students to take): 1 year part-time.
3. BSRS Area of Emphasis (customized focus of the degree): 1 year part-time.
4. Loma Linda University general education requirements (General Education) for baccalaureate degrees. Contact the program director for guidance.

BSRS Program Portfolio: Part of the core curriculum, students will be required to complete an ePortfolio comprised of academic and professional work, a signature project, and service learning hours.

1. Provide an ethically-based leadership program that enables graduates to serve communities in the imaging professions.
2. Graduate administrators, educators, imaging informatics professionals, and clinical imaging professionals who advance the imaging professions through advocacy and professional practice.

•  Step 1: Contact the program director for advisement (work-up). Email is best. Send a copy of your transcripts if you have them, the emphasis in which you may be interested, and the state in which you live.
•  Step 2: Once your unofficial work-up is completed, the program director will reach out with that information and degree planning options.
•  Step 3: Apply to the program. 
•  Step 4: Arrange to have your official transcripts sent directly to the Office of Admissions for the School of Allied Health Professions. Official transcripts must be sent directly to LLU from the school where credits were earned.

• The prospective student must be a graduate of an approved program (or the equivalent) in Radiologic Technology, Computed Tomography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Radiation Therapy, Nuclear Medicine, or Diagnostic Medical Sonography (Ultrasound) or Cardiovascular Credentialing International (RCIS or RCES). 
• Prospective students should not expect admission into the program if their cumulative grade point average is below 2.5 (science and non-science subjects are computed separately).
• Prospective students are advised to apply six months prior to the quarter of entry (see program start dates below).
• Prospective students are advised to contact the program director prior to applying to discuss requirements and establish an academic learning plan.
• Prospective students from entry-level programs (medical radiography, sonography, etc.) who are eligible to take their professional board examination(s) for certification, but who have not had the opportunity to do so, are given provisional status for one quarter.
• Prospective students must reside (for the entirety of their degree) in a state that has authorized LLU to teach distance education. 
  Please refer to the LLU State Authorization page for additional information. 

Students may apply to begin the PPBSRS program in the summer and fall terms. The application windows are as follows: SUMMER TERM (October 1 – April 1) and FALL TERM (February 1 – June 1).

Depending on the transfer of units, emphasis selection, and degree requirements, students will be required to complete between 36 and 100 units. On average (between 2015-2021), students take 61 quarter units to complete their degree. Between 2015 and 2021, the average student took 2.25 years to complete their degree, averaging 7 units per term (half-time status). For students who do not require an area of emphasis (it is transferred in), the average is closer to 1 year.

All students in the PPBSRS program take these core classes to complete their degree requirements.

¹Core courses are online.

²Area of Emphasis selected from options listed below.

³Remaining units required for the B.S. program can be obtained from remaining emphases and other available courses offered at Loma Linda University.

⁴Fulfills service-learning agreement

Students can custom tailor their degree by choosing an area of emphasis in which to focus their studies:

• Administration & Education: 1 year, 25 units – fully online emphasis 

• Science (PA, Pre-Med, and other advanced degrees): 15-20 quarter units selected from the natural sciences in the areas of biology, microbiology, chemistry, math, statistics, or physics. Courses must be taken from two different content areas with the approval of the program director. These courses are taken at your local college/university. A minimum grade of C+ (2.3) is required for all courses. 
• Clinical Practice: The didactic coursework (not including clinical units) coursework from a clinically-based imaging specialty (diagnostic sonography, cardiac sonography, nuclear medicine, radiation therapy, dosimetry,or Cardiovascular Credentialing International (RCIS or RCES) can be applied to complete the PPBSRS program 
• Special Imaging - CT/MRI: This program offers certificates, as well as an emphasis in the BSRS program. This is a clinically based emphasis, expect to spend weekly hours in clinic. 
• Cardiovascular Imaging: This program offers certificates, as well as an emphasis in the BSRS program. This is a clinically based emphasis, expect to spend weekly hours in clinic. 

A maximum of 70 semester or 105 quarter units from an accredited community college will be accepted, not including units for clinical training. Students who have completed a hospital training program are allowed up to 50 community college-level units of academic credit on the basis of their registry certificate.

The BSRS program is accredited by WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) which provides the option to transfer credits or to pursue other health care related options at LLU.  

The program is highly flexible, creating a multitude of opportunities for graduates to advance career or academic goals.

• 60% of students complete the administration & education emphasis. This emphasis allows for entry-level supervision positions, employment with imaging vendors, basic instruction in the medical imaging professions, PACS administration, and many other employment opportunities requiring a BS degree.
• 20% of our graduates complete an emphasis in science, allowing them to advance in to programs such as PA (our most common), MS Radiologist Assistant, Medicine, OT and PT.
• 20% of students complete an emphasis in advanced modalities such as CT, MRI, Cardiac Imaging, Vascular Imaging, Sonography, Radiation Therapy, and Nuclear Medicine. These emphases also allow for entry into advanced degrees or employment opportunities requiring a BS degree.

For information on wage differences between degrees and certifications, visit the ASRT wage and salary survey report.