One program at Missouri Southern gives students real-world experience before they even leave school.

Founded in 1973, the Radiologic Technology program is a competitive one. Each fall, 10 students are selected into the 24 month program and are trained to become x-ray technologists.

In addition to classroom instruction, students enrolled in the program spend from 15 to 25 hours each week at St. John’s Regional Medical Center receiving clinical training. For Janyce Burton, junior health science major, this is the best aspect of the program.

“I like the smaller class sizes and the hands-on experience that I get,” she said. “I don’t feel like I’m going to get lost whenever I go out into the real world.”

Heather Clark, junior health science major, agrees.

“I like the people at the hospital,” she said. “They’re nice and helpful.”

Students are trained in digital radiography which, according to Director of Radiologic Technology Alan Schiska, is the future for the field.

“It’s really an exciting time for change,” he said. “If you like technology, if you like science, this is a good field for you.”

Schiska advises that those interested in the program should have a reasonable aptitude for science and a good work ethic.

“It is a difficult program, you have to be able to devote a lot of your time and your life,” Burton said. “You have to make sure this is something you want to do because you’ll have to sacrifice a lot if you want to succeed.”

The hard work seems to have paid off. For the last three years, Southern’s students have scored above national and state averages on the AART (American Registry of Radiologic Technology) Board exam.

“I would give credit to the students because they work very, very hard,” Schiska said. “Also, the idea of continuous quality improvement. We’ve been able to take our curriculum and continually figure out ways to make it better.”

According to Schiska, the radiology field is a growing one that pays well. In the Joplin area, graduates can expect to earn around $30,000 right out of college. However, those who specialize in areas such as sonography will receive higher salaries.

“The future for people [in the radiology field] is just incredible,” Schiska said, “because they’ll have the potential to make lots of money.”

Though Southern currently does not offer specialty programs, Schiska says specialties such as MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and CT (computed tomography) may be offered in the future. But, until then, he hopes prospective students will appreciate what the program has to offer.

“The one thing I would tell students is you get a very good education,” he said. “You get what you pay for.”