2023-2024 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog
Medical Dosimetry
For additional information about opportunities your college offers, please refer to the College of Health Professions section of this catalog.
Website: ccst-med.com/grad/dosimetry
Degree Offered
Master of Science in medical dosimetry
A medical dosimetrist is a key member of the radiation oncology team who works closely with physicians, physicists, and other members of the radiation oncology team to implement each treatment plan. The medical dosimetrist uses computer software to design and accurately calculate a radiation treatment plan based on the radiation oncologist's prescription, being cognizant of normal tissues and critical structures in the treatment vicinity. The medical dosimetrist maintains a delicate balance between delivering the prescription the physician has written, while ensuring the patient will not lose important healthy organ function. The medical dosimetrist also provides assistance and support to solve diverse physical and technical problems that arise in the clinical environment. Through knowledge of radiation oncology treatment machines and application of principles of physics, anatomy and radiobiology, the dosimetrist generates radiation therapy treatment plans.
Grand Valley State University Medical Dosimetry
GVSU's masters in medical dosimetry program is a Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) accredited 12-month hybrid/online lock-step cohort program (September-August) that is comprised of didactic and clinical education for a total of 38 credits. Clinicals are taken in-person at the assigned institution, and didactic courses are hybrid and online. Students complete the year-long program in a clinical placement located within the U.S. and are required to attend one on-site meeting at GVSU. The remainder of the courses meetings are online. Part-time students are required to enroll in all the didactic courses with the cohort they are admitted with (completed in one year), and) and are allowed to spread their clinical experience over a longer period of time (up to two years).
Clinical sites are provided for admitted students. A list of GVSU's clinical sites can be found on the JRCERT website. Please note: Not all clinical sites are available each year. Students may request clinical sites based on their geographical location, but the ultimate decision for clinical placement will be nondiscriminatory and at the discretion of the Program Director and Educational Coordinator. A prospective student can propose a new clinical site by contacting the program director.
As part of the master's degree curriculum, students must complete a research project or thesis. Students are encouraged to submit their research to a national forum upon completion.
Accreditation
The Grand Valley State University Medical Dosimetry program is accredited by the JRCERT. The program adheres to JRCERT standards. Students have the right to notify the JRCERT if they believe the university is not adhering to these standards. The JRCERT is at 20 N. Wacker Dr., Suite 2850, Chicago, IL 60606-3182, phone (312) 704-5300 (jrcert.org). This accreditation meets eligibility requirements for program graduates to sit for the national Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board (MDCB) examination which, upon successful completion, confers the title certified medical dosimetrist (CMD).
Undergraduates Interested in Medical Dosimetry
A bachelor's degree is required prior to beginning the medical dosimetry program. The recommended undergraduate major for students is radiation therapy.
Application Procedures
Admission to the medical dosimetry program is competitive and requires completion of a bachelor's degree prior to admission. Application can be made through the GVSU graduate admission website at ccst-med.com/grad/dosimetry. Initial review of applications for fall begins February 1. The program continues to accept applications that meet the admissions requirements until the start of the program in August. Submitting a completed application will secure you a spot on the waitlist but does not guarantee a review of your application. Late applications will be reviewed in the order that they are completed if seats do open before the program begins. The minimum bar the late applicant needs to meet is achieving an overall application score that is equivalent to or higher than the score that the lowest ranked accepted student from the first round of applications received. If the applicant does not meet this score, the next application will be reviewed until the cohort is filled. At the time of application, students must submit a plan that demonstrates how the prerequisites and undergraduate degree requirements will be completed prior to the start of the program if they are not completed at the time of admission application. Applicants who are selected for the program and can demonstrate completion of these requirements prior to the start of the program will be issued letters of conditional admission, which will convert to full admission upon successful completion of the entire plan. A plan for completion should be submitted as an additional page to the application. There is not a form for this document.
Admission Requirements
- Academic achievement: A minimum grade of C must be attained in all prerequisite coursework. Applicants must demonstrate a minimum overall 3.0 grade point average (GPA). All prerequisite coursework and a bachelor's degree are required prior to the start of the program.
- Prerequisite course completion: The Prerequisite Verification and GPA Calculation Worksheet should be completed and attached to the application.
- Health care experience: Documentation of a minimum of 40 hours of volunteer/paid health care experience or eight hours of medical dosimetry job shadowing experience documented on a resume.
- Resume: Resume detailing health care/job shadow experiences, work experiences, leadership, and accomplishments.
- References: Three recommendations from health professionals must be submitted on university recommended forms located within the graduate application. Separate letters from references are NOT required. Only three references will be accepted.
- Personal Statement: Personal statement of career goals and background experiences, including an explanation of how this program will help achieve educational and professional objectives.
- Internationally Trained Applicants:
- Students whose undergraduate education is from outside the U.S. must submit a transcript that has been translated by a professional translator or credential evaluation service, such as WES or ECE.
- Students must demonstrate proficiency in English. Any one of the following test scores are required:
- TOEFL: 80 (we do not accept "My Best" score)
- IELTS: 6.5
- PTE: 53
- International Students:
- Applicants requiring an F1 Visa, J1 Visa or M1 Visa are not eligible for the Medical Dosimetry program, due to federal U.S. immigration regulations of online education.
Selection Factors
Grand Valley State University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity institution. It encourages diversity and provides equal opportunity in education, employment, all of its programs, and the use of its facilities. Applicants are considered without regard to age, color, disability, familial status, height, marital status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex/gender, sexual orientation, veteran status, or weight. Motivational factors, life experiences, patient care experience, maturity, and personal characteristics as assessed in the personal statement, interview, recommendations, and resume are important factors in the selection process. An applicant's academic record is important as an indicator of ability to succeed in an intensive and rigorous medical curriculum.
Specific selection criteria:
- Overall GPA
- Academic GPA from prerequisite courses
- Personal statement
- Interview
- Health care experience
- Recommendations
- Additional leadership, employment, professional, scholarly, extracurricular, and volunteer activities are valued and taken into consideration
Degree Requirements
Demonstration of completion of the 38 credits in the professional curriculum is required for the student to be granted the M.S. in medical dosimetry degree. General graduate academic policies and regulations can be found elsewhere in this catalog or on the GVSU Graduate School Policies and Procedures webpage.
In addition, for each RMD course or discrete unit of instruction in the professional curriculum, a minimum proficiency level of 80 percent on all evaluations as described in each course syllabus is required. A minimum grade of B- or higher is required for passing all RMD courses. In addition, the GPA must never drop below 3.0 in any semester or the student may be placed on academic probation or dismissed from the program.
Professional Conduct
The program also subscribes to a belief in continual advancement during the course of professional study in a compilation of abilities. Interpersonal skills, communication skills, responsibility, and professionalism, among others, are identified as being crucial for success in the profession. Advancement in skill and behavior applicable to such abilities is expected during the professional curriculum. Clinical evaluation includes measurement of affective skills which must continually be met through the clinical advising program for students to continue in clinical education courses. Failure to achieve adequate progress in the clinical advising program will result in a failing grade being issued for that course. All students in the program are expected to comply with the ethical principles that embody the practice of medicine and the medical dosimetry profession. Community service is also expected as are professional scholarship achievements while enrolled in the program.
A criminal background check and a drug screening is required prior to admission into the program. After enrollment, individual clinical education centers may require additional criminal background checks and drug screenings. These requirements for attendance at clinical education centers are carried out by the GVSU Compliance Office. Positive findings for any compliance office request may negatively impact the educational process at GVSU or future credentialing as a medical dosimetrist. The costs of these evaluations or any other required clinical placement evaluations are the responsibility of the applicant or student.
The Grand Valley State University medical dosimetry program is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT). The program adheres to JRCERT standards. Students have the right to notify the JRCERT if they believe the university is not adhering to these standards. The JRCERT is at 20 N. Wacker Dr., Suite 2850, Chicago, IL 60606-3182, phone (312) 704-5300 (jrcert.org). This accreditation meets eligibility requirements for program graduates to sit for the national Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board (MDCB) examination which, upon successful completion, confers the title certified medical dosimetrist (CMD).
Program Requirements
The following program is available: