Suffolk University

What you'll study

The competency-based clinical curriculum emphasizes contemporary planning modalities and research. Core clinical planning techniques taught include 3D conformal planning, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT), brachytherapy, and stereotactic planning. All students complete a year-long research course culminating in a paper or poster; there is also a required 3-week rotation specifically in proton treatment planning. MDO-610 (Introduction to Medical Dosimetry) is a required course for every student and cannot be waived. Students without a radiation-therapy background may take up to 16 credits of leveling coursework.

Entry requirements

Minimum admissions criteria include a bachelor’s degree and a 3.0 cumulative GPA. Applicants must complete these prerequisite courses with a grade of C or higher at a regionally accredited institution: Calculus I; Physics I and II; Biology; Anatomy & Physiology I and II (note: separate semester-long Anatomy and Physiology courses meet these two requirements). Seniors may apply if at least four prerequisites are complete and the remaining up to two are in-progress and finished by the end of the spring semester. A clinical shadowing experience observing a certified medical dosimetrist (recommended in-person) is required prior to the application deadline and typically requires at least four hours. Students with prior radiation-therapy coursework may request course waivers for eligible fall-leveling courses if those courses were completed within five years with a grade of B or higher; MDO-610 is not eligible for waiver. The programme does not accept transfer credit for graduate-level courses. Applicants should note that registering for fewer than six credits may make them ineligible for federal financial aid.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for entry-level positions as medical dosimetrists and are eligible to sit for the certification examination offered by the Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board. Suffolk cites alumni employment at major cancer centers and hospitals nationwide, including Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, MD Anderson, Boston Medical Center, and others in academic and community settings.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

Specific scholarships or tuition details are not provided on the programme page. Applicants should consider that additional leveling credits can affect total cost and that enrolling in fewer than six credits affects federal aid eligibility. Prospective students should contact Suffolk's graduate admission and financial aid offices to explore institutional scholarships, assistantships, and federal aid options applicable to full-time enrollment.