The College of Southern Maryland is preparing to train two new kinds of health care workers: the specialists who deliver radiation treatment to cancer patients, and the administrative staff who keep medical offices running.
CSM’s Board of Trustees has approved new associate degree programs in radiation therapy and healthcare administration. Both still need approval from the Maryland Higher Education Commission. If approved, they are expected to enroll their first students in fall 2027.
The programs aim at the biggest part of Maryland’s job market. Health care and social assistance employ about 427,000 Marylanders, roughly 16% of all jobs in the state. According to an April 2026 report by the Comptroller of Maryland, the sector has added more jobs than any other industry in seven of the past 10 years, including 14,400 in the most recent year.
“Our goal at CSM is to make sure our students have a path to reach their goals while developing the talent our region needs,” CSM President Dr. Yolanda Wilson said. “The radiation therapy and healthcare administration programs will help to expand access to healthcare education while creating pathways to mobility for students and strengthen the local workforce.”
Radiation therapy: cancer care closer to home
Radiation therapists work on cancer care teams, operating the machines that deliver targeted radiation doses to tumors and guiding patients through what are often weeks of daily treatments. CSM’s program will cover anatomy and physiology, oncology principles, radiation safety, and patient treatment and communication.
The career pays well for a two-year degree. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that radiation therapists earned a median of $105,310 in 2025. An associate degree is the typical entry-level credential, though therapists must also be licensed or certified, usually by passing a national exam. BLS projects about 700 openings a year nationally.
Health Program Chair Candi Hume said the program could help strengthen cancer care in the region.
“Many people in the region have to travel a long way to receive cancer care, which can add stress to an already difficult time,” Hume said. “This program will help bring high-quality radiation therapy closer to home while creating opportunities for students’ economic mobility through high-paying positions.”
Southern Maryland’s radiation treatment is concentrated in a few places. The region’s three hospitals, CalvertHealth, UM Charles Regional Medical Center and MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital, jointly operate the Chesapeake Potomac Regional Cancer Center, which has radiation treatment sites in Charlotte Hall and Waldorf. A local training program could help those providers hire therapists who already live in the region.
The program already has a home. In January, the Wills Group gave CSM $100,000 to create the Anne and Blackie Wills Radiation Lab in the Health Sciences Building at the college’s Regional Hughesville Campus. At the time, the college cited a radiation therapist vacancy rate above 13% in 2024, according to the American Society of Radiologic Technologists.
Healthcare administration: the jobs behind the scenes
The healthcare administration degree offers a nonclinical route into the field. It prepares students for front-office and records roles that keep practices and hospitals running. Coursework covers medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, health records, medical law and ethics. Graduates will be eligible to sit for the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant exam.
Health Professor Dr. Christopher Gransberry said the program is designed as a pipeline. Students in CSM’s Certified Medical Administrative Assistant continuing education course can move into the degree program. After finishing, they can go straight to work or continue to a bachelor’s degree.
“Students can complete this program career, credential, and transfer ready,” Gransberry said. “As administrative positions continue to grow alongside clinical roles, this program gives students the skills to step into those opportunities and build toward the next stage of their careers.”
