Applied Medical Imaging

• The UCSF program is tied directly to the health system’s operational goals: building a sustained workforce, improving employee advancement opportunities, and reducing reliance on external hiring.
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• The CCSF program aligns with higher education missions: awarding degrees, supporting transfer opportunities, and serving the educational and economic needs of the broader San Francisco community.

Program Overview

The Radiologic Technology/Diagnostic Medical Imaging Associate of Science program is designed to prepare students with the clinical knowledge, technical proficiency, and professional behaviors required to perform diagnostic imaging procedures safely, accurately, and effectively within a healthcare environment. The program emphasizes ethical practice, compassionate and culturally responsive patient care, effective communication, and collaboration with members of the interprofessional healthcare team.

In addition, the curriculum promotes the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills, enabling students to apply sound clinical judgment in a variety of routine and complex imaging situations. The program also prepares graduates for successful completion of the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certification examination and supports entry-level employment and continued professional growth in the field of medical imaging.

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Perform a range of radiographic procedures safely and accurately while providing compassionate, culturally responsive care to diverse patient populations across varied clinical settings.
• Apply radiobiology, radiation physics, and image science principles to optimize image diagnostic quality while minimizing radiation exposure for patients, self, and others.
• Exhibit professional behaviors, ethical decision-making, effective interprofessional communication, and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Catalog Description

The Applied Medical Imaging major provides didactic and clinical education in the operation of radiographic and computerized imaging equipment; performance of radiologic procedures; creation and processing of radiographic images; comprehensive coursework in radiation protection; and exposure to advanced imaging modalities. A minimum of 210 laboratory hours and 1,230 clinical hours over four semesters is required for program completion.

Upon successful completion of the program and award of the Associate of Science degree in Applied Medical Imaging graduates are eligible to sit for certification examinations administered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) and the California Department of Public Health–Radiologic Health Branch (CDPH-RHB).

Radiologic technologists provide patient imaging services using diagnostic imaging equipment and assist radiologists and other qualified physicians in performing radiologic procedures. Primary responsibilities include delivering high-quality patient care while applying principles of anatomy, positioning, radiation protection, and radiographic technique. Effective communication with patients, healthcare professionals, and the public is essential. Additional responsibilities may include image management, operation of radiologic software and hardware systems, quality assurance activities, and patient education related to imaging procedures.

Employment prospects for radiologic technologists are strong. Job growth is driven by expansion of healthcare services and increasing utilization of diagnostic imaging and therapeutic technologies. In California, employment opportunities for radiologic technologists are projected to increase by approximately 18% over the next ten years.

Admission and Program Length

All prospective students must apply to and be accepted into the program prior to enrollment. Detailed prerequisite and admission requirements are available at Applied Medical Imaging.

The minimum program length is four semesters, including one summer session. Actual completion time may vary based on student preparation and course load.

Certification Notice

The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists may deny certification to individuals with certain felony or misdemeanor convictions. Students are responsible for completing the ARRT pre-application review process, when applicable, prior to applying to the Applied Medical Imaging program. This process is independent of program admission. Additional information is available at www.arrt.org.

Degree Requirements and Advising

The program description below outlines only the requirements for completion of the major. The Associate of Science degree at City College of San Francisco includes additional components, such as general education requirements. Students are encouraged to meet with a counselor and review the Associate Degree Requirements section of the CCSF Catalog for complete information.

Distinction Between CCSF Radiography Program and UCSF Radiography Program

Although the UCSF Radiography Technologist Program will deliver its didactic coursework on the CCSF campus, the UCSF program is administratively independent, professionally distinct, and serves a different student population and workforce purpose than the existing CCSF Diagnostic Medical Imaging (DMI) Associate of Science degree program.

• Program Ownership, Governance, and Instructional Staffing
• The UCSF Radiography Technologist Program is wholly created, owned, and operated by UCSF. All curriculum oversight, program design, student selection, accreditation processes, and instructional staffing will be managed exclusively by UCSF Health. Courses will be taught entirely by UCSF-employed faculty and clinical educators.
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• In contrast, the CCSF DMI Program is a City College of San Francisco academic program overseen by CCSF’s Department of Radiologic Sciences, taught by CCSF faculty, and subject to community college governance, academic standards, and degree requirements.
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• Student Population and Program Purpose
• The UCSF program is designed primarily for current UCSF employees, especially those seeking structured internal advancement into radiologic technology roles. Its function is to support UCSF’s workforce development pipelines, reduce staffing shortages, and create predictable, internal pathways into hard-to-fill imaging positions.
• By contrast, the CCSF program is open to the general public and provides a community-based academic pathway leading to an Associate of Science degree and professional certification eligibility.
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• Degree vs. Certificate/Employment Pathway
• The CCSF DMI program awards an Associate of Science degree with required general education components, aligned with community college standards and transfer pathways.
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• The UCSF program does not award an associate degree. Instead, it offers UCSF-developed certificate meant to meet licensing/certification requirements.
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• Admissions Processes
• Admission to the UCSF program is expected to be limited to UCSF employees or candidates selected through UCSF’s internal human resources and workforce development systems. Selection criteria will be determined by UCSF, not CCSF.
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• Admission to CCSF’s DMI program follows a competitive, public-facing college application process with published prerequisites and community college enrollment standards.
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• Clinical Education Model
• While both programs utilize UCSF Health as a primary clinical affiliate, their clinical education structures differ:

• UCSF Program: Clinical assignments will be integrated into UCSF workforce pipelines and staffing models, emphasizing training within specific UCSF departments aligned with employee roles or hiring needs.
• CCSF Program: Clinical rotations follow a broader educational model structured around ARRT competency requirements and CCSF academic timelines, with placements coordinated independently of UCSF employment status.

• Program Outcomes and Institutional Goals
• The UCSF program is tied directly to the health system’s operational goals: building a sustained workforce, improving employee advancement opportunities, and reducing reliance on external hiring.
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• The CCSF program aligns with higher education missions: awarding degrees, supporting transfer opportunities, and serving the educational and economic needs of the broader San Francisco community.

The calculations by semester used to reach the degree total must then be displayed below the program requirements table.

FALL START

Semester 1 – Fall = 19.5 units

Semester 2 – Spring = 19 units

Semester 3 – Summer = 12 units

Semester 4 – Fall = 9 units

Total Units = 59.5 units

SPRING START

Semester 1 – Fall = 19.5 units

Semester 2 – Spring = 19 units

Semester 3 – Summer = 12 units

Semester 4 – Fall = 9 units

Total Units = 59.5 units

Master Planning – The program mission and vision directly support institutional goals by (1) awarding an Associate of Science degree with a major in Applied Medical Imaging; (2) preparing graduates to earn advanced certifications or pursue further academic study; and (3) ensuring graduates acquire the technical, professional, and interpersonal skills required for workplace success.

Place of Program in Curriculum/Similar Programs – There are no other departments offering similar curriculum at CCSF.

Similar Programs at Other Colleges in Service Area - There are no other departments at City College of San Francisco offering similar curriculum. The CCSF Diagnostic Medical Imaging Program is the only radiologic technology program in San Francisco offering an Associate of Science degree. While Merritt College and Foothill College offer radiologic technology programs, CCSF’s clinical placements are exclusive to UCSF Health facilities and do not impact those institutions.