Practicum Courses
What are Practicums?
Once officially accepted into the Radiography program, each student will spend approximately 16 - 30 clock hours each week, during all five semesters, training in the affiliated regional hospitals, out-patient clinics and private physician offices. This training is included in each of the following five courses:
- RADR 1266 Practicum I (Fall Semester - First Year)
- RADR 1267 Practicum II (Spring Semester - First Year)
- RADR 2166 Practicum III (Summer Semester-First Year)
- RADR 2366 Practicum IV (Fall Semester - Second Year)
- RADR 2367 Practicum V (Spring Semester - Second Year)
Medical Facilities
The following medical facilities are currently affiliated with the AC Radiography program:
In Amarillo:
- Baptist/St. Anthony’s Hospital
- Northwest Texas Hospital
- Veterans Administration Hospital
- Amarillo Bone and Joint
- BSA Urgent Care
- Open Air Imaging Center
- Advanced Imaging
Outside Amarillo:
- Golden Plains Community Hospital - Borger
- Hereford Regional Medical Center - Hereford
- Memorial Hospital - Dumas
- Pampa Regional Medical Center - Pampa
Throughout the five practicum courses, all students will be required to rotate through most of the “in Amarillo” facilities and no less than one “outside Amarillo” facility.
Each semester is divided into “rotation periods.” Each rotation period is five weeks in length. During each Fall and Spring semester there are three rotation periods; during each Summer semester there are two rotation periods, making a total of sixteen rotation periods in the program.
Throughout the Practicum I and II courses, students will be on duty in the medical affiliates on Tuesdays and Thursdays from approximately 7:00 am until 3:30 pm. Practicum III, students will be on duty Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from approximately 7:00 am until 5:00 pm. Throughout the Practicum IV and V courses, students will be on duty in the medical affiliates on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from approximately 7:00 am until 3:30 pm. At least one evening rotation is required. The evening rotation normally ends by 8:00 pm.
Every effort will be made to assign at least two students to the same “outside Amarillo” affiliate at the same time, so that car-pooling is possible. Amarillo College also has some scholarship funds available to reimburse students for mileage who must travel outside of Amarillo for clinical education purposes.
Important Information:
Persons choosing a radiography curriculum, should carefully consider that all medical (RADR) courses have very strict attendance and tardiness policies that can affect final course grades.
Lecture, laboratory and practicum schedules cannot be manipulated around the personal needs of a student. For example, it is certainly permissible for students to work outside of scheduled school hours, however, school hours cannot be compromised to accommodate an individual's personal work schedule. The same is true for other personal functions (e.g. appointments, vacations, sporting events, concerts, child care, etc.).
Also, it is required that the radiography student has reliable transportation to attend lectures, lab sessions and practicum rotations.
updated: 9/19/2020-mgh