Medical Imaging, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Associate of Applied Science

See Inside the Human Body: Become an MRI Technologist

San Jacinto College’s Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) AAS program trains you to become a highly skilled MRI technologist who plays a vital role in patient diagnosis and care. You’ll learn to use strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce diagnostic images, apply MRI safety standards, and adjust procedures for challenging cases. Our curriculum blends theory, lab work, and real-world rotations at local hospitals and clinics to help you master image critique, patient care, and professional judgment.

Career Opportunities and Income

Visit sanjac.edu for information regarding career opportunities and potential earnings in the Greater Houston region.

Job Entry Requirements. In accordance with Texas House Bill 1508 amendments to Texas Occupations Code Sec 53.152, the College informs all students in this program who may have a criminal background that a criminal history could keep graduates from being licensed by the state of Texas. Students with any questions about their background and licensure may speak with the program’s department chair. 

Learning Outcomes and Career Skills

A student completing the last award in the pathway will be able to:

• Apply magnetic safety measures
• Produce magnetic resonance images of acceptable diagnostic quality
• Adapt magnetic resonance procedures for nonroutine situations.
• Critique images for diagnostic quality.
• Communicate effectively as a part of the healthcare team.
• Demonstrate the ability to communicate through written correspondence pertaining to healthcare.
• Analyze various healthcare scenarios to appropriately recognize and apply ethically sound decisions.
• Exhibit professionalism by delivering unrestricted patient care regardless of various patient differences including age, gender, race, creed, social, cultural or economic status, abilities, personal attributes, or the nature of the health problem.

Licensure or Certification

Upon successful completion of the Magnetic Resonance Imaging AAS degree program, the student is granted an AAS degree and is eligible to apply for the certification exam given by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.

External Learning Experiences

This program includes external learning experiences outside of the classroom, e.g., an internship, externship, clinical, practicum, or cooperative learning experience. Those experiences are typically on-site at a business or organization.

All students participating in external learning experiences are required to comply with the immunization requirements and policies of the external learning sites. Some learning sites outside the college have their own vaccination requirements. These rules come from those facilities and are not mandated by the college. Failure to meet those immunization requirements may limit a student’s ability to complete the program and/or may delay the student’s graduation date. San Jacinto College does not process exemptions, and students should address potential vaccination exemptions directly with the external learning site.

Locations

• Central

College Admission

San Jacinto College is an open admission institution. All students are welcome to apply and will be admitted to the College. You may begin the process on the College’s “How to Apply” webpage.

Program Admission

In addition to being admitted to the College, students must also be admitted to the Magnetic Resonance Imaging program which has additional requirements and/or steps. The Magnetic Resonance Imaging Program uses selective admission. Meeting minimum admission requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the program.

Information about the admission requirements can be found on the program page of the college website.

Plan of Study

3MED-MRI

¹

Higher level math such as Calculus I may be evaluated for possible substitution if a student was placed out of college algebra. Substitutions must be approved by the Department Chair and Dean of Nursing and Medical Imaging.

²

For credit earned in a required biology course to be applicable to the Magnetic Resonance Imaging program, credit must have been earned within the past five (5) years and the grade earned must have been a C or higher. Credit earned in a required biology course exceeds the five (5) year stipulation if the credit was earned five (5) or more years prior to the first term in which the student enrolls into the program. 

³

For credit earned in the required SCIT 1420 Physics for Allied Health or PHYS 1301 College Physics I (lecture) and PHYS 1101 College Physics I (lab) course to be applicable to the Magnetic Resonance Imaging AAS Degree Program, credit must have been earned within the past five (5) years and the grade earned must have been a C or above. Credit earned in the required SCIT 1420 or PHYS 1301/PHYS 1101 course exceeds the five (5) year stipulation if the credit was earned five (5) or more years prior to the first term in which the student enrolls into the program.

⁴

For credit earned in a required RADR 1201 course to be applicable to the magnetic resonance imaging program, credit must have been earned within the past three (3) years and the grade earned must have been a C or above.

Capstone Experience: Eligibility to take ARRT MRI certification examination. 

The College will award students either the Medical Imaging, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Associate of Applied Science degree or the Medical Imaging, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Advanced Technical Certificate, but not both. 

Students must earn a C or better in all Magnetic Resonance Imaging courses and all plan of study courses; the student will not be permitted to continue or to graduate from the program until that course has been repeated and a grade of C or above has been earned.