Planning document · CWCTC × TeslaMR · Apr 20, 2026

TeslaMR curriculum — modules and possible course overlap.

All 25 TeslaMR modules across the three phases of the program, with a short description of each and a note on where the content might overlap with existing CWCTC Health Occupations Technology or home-district coursework. Intended as a shared reference; flag anything that’s wrong and we’ll revise.

Program structure

The program has three phases (rows) and three activity types (columns). Phase 1 is modules only. Phase 2 adds the ScanLab simulator. Phase 3 adds on-site clinical hours.

	Modules	Simulator	Clinicals
Phase 1 Academics	13 modules · video lectures + quizzes
Phase 2 Simulator	9 modules · video lectures + quizzes	ScanLab virtual scanner · earns 250 clinical hours
Phase 3 Clinicals	3 advanced modules		750 clinical hours on-site at a partner imaging center

Phase 1

Academics

Modules 13 modules · video lectures + quizzes

#	Module	Description	Possible overlap with existing coursework
01	Introduction to MRI	Foundation of MRI technology and its applications in medical imaging. What an MRI technologist does day-to-day.	HOT career-pathways unit (general medical imaging awareness).
02	Medical Terminology	Master the language of medicine: prefixes, suffixes, root words, abbreviations. Imaging-specific positioning and plane terminology.	HOT medical terminology unit. HS English (Greek and Latin roots).
03	General Anatomy & Physiology	Essential anatomy and physiology concepts for MRI technologists. Organ systems with depth for imaging.	HOT anatomy unit. HS Biology. HS Anatomy & Physiology elective if offered.
04	Subatomic Principles of MRI	Fundamental physics of MRI: magnetism, resonance, atomic behavior in magnetic fields. Nuclear spin, precession, T1/T2 relaxation.	HS Chemistry (atomic structure). HS Physics (EM waves, resonance, frequency).
05	Instrumentation I: Magnets	MRI magnet types, magnetic field principles, superconductive technology, cryogen systems, field strength tradeoffs.	HS Physics (magnetism, electromagnetism, field lines).
06	MRI Safety I: Magnetic Fields	ACR Zone I–IV designation, magnetic forces, projectile risk, ferromagnetic screening, cryogen quench hazards, magnet-specific contraindications.	HOT safety and emergency-preparedness unit. HS science lab-safety culture.
07	MRI Safety II: RF & Gradient Fields	RF burn prevention, SAR limits, implant safety, acoustic noise, peripheral nerve stimulation, MR Safety Officer roles.	HOT infection-control and patient-safety. HS Physics (RF, EM spectrum).
08	MRI Procedures & Set Up I: Neuro	Neurological MRI protocols, patient positioning, anatomical landmarks, head and spine imaging.	HOT patient-positioning and vital-signs units. HS Biology (nervous system).
09	MRI Procedures & Set Up II: Body	Chest, abdomen, pelvis MRI protocols. Body coil selection, breath-hold technique, motion mitigation.	HOT patient-handling. HS A&P (body systems).
10	MRI Procedures & Set Up III: MSK	Musculoskeletal MRI protocols: knee, shoulder, hip, elbow, wrist, ankle. Plane angulation, extremity coil selection.	HOT patient-positioning. HS A&P elective (MSK) if offered.
11	Patient Care and Management	HIPAA compliance, patient rights, vital signs, body mechanics, infection control, communication. MRI-specific screening and contrast response.	HOT is the primary anchor. Students with NHA PCT or Pharmacy Tech credentials are ahead here.
12	Cross-Sectional Anatomy I — Neuro	Neuroanatomy on axial, sagittal, coronal MRI slices: brain structures, vessels, pathology recognition.	HS Biology provides brain-region vocabulary only. Image interpretation from slices is new.
13	Image Contrast Mechanisms	T1, T2, proton-density weighting. Relationship between TR, TE, and image appearance. Tissue contrast prediction.	None direct. Core physics module with no HS analogue.

Phase 2

Simulator

Modules 9 modules · video lectures + quizzes Simulator ScanLab virtual scanner · earns 250 clinical hours

#	Module	Description	Possible overlap with existing coursework
14	Instrumentation II: Gradients	Gradient coil aspects: amplitude, rise time, slew rate, and their impact on image quality.	HS Physics (field gradients) if taken — otherwise new.
15	Instrumentation III: Surface Coils	RF coil technology: transmit/receive coils, phased arrays, SNR optimization, coil safety.	HS Physics (RF concepts) if taken — otherwise new.
16	Pulse Sequences I	Spin Echo sequences: TR, TE, k-space filling, contrast weighting mechanisms, scan-time calculation.	None. Graduate-level imaging physics introduced from scratch.
17	Cross-Sectional Anatomy II: Body	Chest, abdomen, pelvis anatomy across axial, coronal, sagittal planes. Structure identification on MRI.	HOT / HS A&P provides vocabulary. Slice-interpretation skill is new.
18	Pulse Sequences II	Inversion Recovery (STIR, FLAIR), Gradient Echo, Fast/Turbo Spin Echo sequences.	None. Builds directly on Module 16.
19	Image Quality Parameter Selection	How TR, TE, FOV, matrix, bandwidth affect SNR, resolution, contrast, and scan time. Parameter tradeoffs.	HS Algebra 2 (numeric reasoning). MRI content is new.
20	Image Artifacts	Identifying and troubleshooting motion, aliasing, chemical shift, susceptibility, and other artifacts.	None. Pattern recognition against images students haven’t seen a category of before.
21	MRI Safety III: Contrast Agents	Gadolinium-based contrast: chemistry, mechanism, administration, adverse reactions, NSF.	HOT medication-safety and patient-assessment principles transfer loosely.
22	Cross-Sectional Anatomy III: MSK	Shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, ankle anatomy. Common pathology recognition on MRI.	HOT / HS A&P provides vocabulary. Slice-interpretation skill is new.

Phase 3

Clinicals (begins after high-school graduation)

Modules 3 advanced modules Clinicals 750 clinical hours on-site at a partner imaging center

#	Module	Description	Possible overlap with existing coursework
23	MR Angiography	Vascular imaging: Time-of-Flight, Phase Contrast, Contrast-Enhanced MRA.	None. Advanced application, begins after high-school graduation.
24	Advanced Applications: EPI	Echo Planar Imaging for diffusion, perfusion, and functional MRI (DWI, DTI, PWI, BOLD).	None. Advanced application, begins after high-school graduation.
25	Advanced Applications: Spectroscopy	MR Spectroscopy fundamentals: metabolite identification, voxel placement, clinical applications.	None. Advanced application, begins after high-school graduation.