The program seeks to foster in its students, professional development, problem solving and leadership skills needed for current and future health care environments. In the first two years, students take courses that will meet general education requirements and prepare them for the professional courses to come. Examples of required coursework in the freshman and sophomore years include chemistry, physics, biology, anatomy and physiology, psychology, computer science and college algebra and trigonometry. The number of clinical internships available determines the number of students accepted. Forty hours of observation in a radiation therapy department are required as part of the application process.
Students provide references and interview with a selection committee.
The committee carefully considers each applicant, looking at academic performance, personal characteristics and experiences that predict success in the field. Students accepted into the program must submit to a criminal background check according to the laws of Wisconsin and Minnesota to assure that they will be able to work with patients at their internship sites. Acceptance is for the junior year in which students take professional core courses on campus. Courses include genetics, radiation physics, pathology, medical terminology, biology of cancer, radiobiology, patient care, medical imaging, health economics and health communications. Current sites are St. Luke's Medical Center in Milwaukee, University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison, and Abbott Northwestern in Minneapolis.