B-SCIMRS v.1 Bachelor of Science (Medical Radiation Science)
BSc(Curtin)
Course CRICOS Code: 088215B
Course Overview
Bachelor Degrees prepare students to develop broad and coherent knowledge and skills in a discipline for professional work and further learning corresponding to AQF level 7 qualifications. The honours component prepares students to develop advanced knowledge and skills for professional work, research and further learning corresponding to AQF level 8 qualifications.
The Bachelor of Science (Medical Radiation Science) includes three majors, Medical Imaging (MJRU-MRSMI), Medical Sonography (MJRH-MRSMS) and Radiation Therapy (MJRU-MRSRT). Applicants will indicate their selected major. The Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy majors offer a Pass and Honours stream in fourth year, while the Medical Sonography major students can only take Honours which will be reflected in the admission status. Medical Imaging graduates work with a range of sophisticated diagnostic imaging modalities including Computed and Digital Radiography, Fluoroscopy, Computed Tomography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Mammography and Angiography equipment. They produce images which are used to confirm or exclude a medical diagnosis, to advise on a treatment or illness, monitor patient progress, or provide medical screening. A genuine interest in managing a wide range of patients and their needs is an important function of the professional. Medical Sonography graduates will complete an Honours degree as required for professional accreditation. Medical Sonographers are highly skilled professionals whose role involves a framework of skills encompassing, anatomical imaging, interpreting clinical information and manipulating the clinical examination to aid with diagnosis or treatment plans. Sonography uses real time data obtained from high definition ultrasound equipment. A genuine interest in managing a wide range of patients and their needs is an important function of the professional. Radiation Therapists play an integral role in the treatment, care and management of patients undergoing radiation therapy treatment, primarily in treating a range of cancer types. Graduates must balance a genuine interest in patients and their welfare with the technical requirements necessary to undertake Radiation Therapy procedures. Radiation Therapy increasingly incorporates high end imaging technologies as integral requirements of patient treatment.
Professional Recognition
Graduates from the Bachelor of Science (Medical Imaging Science) are currently accredited by the Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia (MRPBA), which enables the graduate to obtain employment anywhere in Australia. Changes incorporated into the Bachelor of Science (Medical Radiation Science) will require review and approval from the MRPBA, and the University has commenced this process. The Medical Sonography and Radiation Therapy majors are seeking accreditation approval from their respective accrediting authorities, the MRPBA and Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry (ASAR).
Course Accrediatation Status
Changes incorporated into the Bachelor of Science (Medical Radiation Science) will require review and approval from the Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia (MRPBA), and the University has commenced this process. The Medical Sonography and Radiation Therapy majors are seeking accreditation approval from their respective accrediting authorities, the MRPBA and Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry (ASAR).
Career Opportunities
Medical Radiation professionals are usually employed in clinical sites including large teaching hospitals, private and country hospitals, and private clinics (metropolitan and rural). Graduates will normally initially practise in more general areas of practice but can progress to more specialised areas of practice with experience, or when opportunities become available within the workplace. Graduates may also pursue more technical careers in medical physics or biophysics, radiation health, or with equipment manufacturers, for example. Career development can also lead to managerial positions. There is also the opportunity to pursue further education including research degrees. Graduates from Curtin have over the years been highly regarded and employment opportunities are readily available in metropolitan, rural and regional areas. There is a strong industry demand, and you will be qualified (once accreditation is gained) to work anywhere in Australia, and in many locations internationally.
Additional Course Expenses
Students may be expected to purchase a number of textbooks and other essential study materials. Students may be required to pay for additional expenses whilst on fieldwork/clinical placements.
Course Entry and Completion Details
Applicants for a Bachelor Degree or Bachelor Honours Degree are required to meet University academic and English language entry standards; details are provided at http://futurestudents.curtin.edu.au and include flexible entry pathways. Admission to the Honours stream is by invitation and follows high achievement within this Bachelor Degree. Any specific course entry and completion requirements must also be met.
Applicants require Physics 3A/3B and Mathematics 3C/3D or Mathematics: Specialist 3C/3D. STAT is not accepted for entry to this course.
Credit for Recognised Learning
Applications for credit towards a course are assessed on an individual basis. Credit reduces the amount of learning required to complete the course and may be granted for formal education qualifications, non-formal learning from non-award programs of study and informal learning through work experiences. Further information can be found at http://futurestudents.curtin.edu.au.
Specific Course Completion Details
A first aid qualification (Senior First Aid Certificate or equivalent) is required prior to undertaking clinical medical radiation placements. The Western Australian Department of Health has a mandatory requirement that all students undertaking clinical placements in public health facilities must be able to provide upon request a current criminal screening check. Therefore a Police Clearance is also required prior to undertaking clinical medical radiation placements. Students are required to undergo screening for and vaccination against a range of infectious diseases before beginning clinical medical radiation placements. Students will also be required to obtain a Working With Children Check.
Course Organisation
Bachelor Degrees typically contain a series of units which may include compulsory (core), optional or elective units to cater for student preferences. They may contain a range of majors, streams and/or minors for students to choose from to pursue learning in a specialised area of study. The honours component typically comprises an honours stream equivalent to one year of full-time study undertaken during the last year (or two) of study.
The Medical Radiation Science degree shares a partly common inter-professional first year with students in the Faculty of Health Sciences. This gives you a general foundation in the health care environment, along with foundation studies in medical radiation. From second year, your study will focus on your elected major, though there are still units running in common with the other two majors, reinforcing the inter-professional foundation established in Year One. An applied approach to learning is advanced within all areas of study providing context for the learning being advanced. A strong thread that runs through the program is the development of communication skills, written and oral, which aims to enable you to know how to manage your patients in an empathetic and clinically appropriate manner. There are different threads of study through the programs including, for example, Anatomy and Pathology and Instrumentation. These are contextualised in the professional units which provide the clinical relevance throughout the program. There is a significant and important clinical component included in the majors that sometimes requires students to have a period of placement outside of the university semester periods. If you are enrolled into the Medical Imaging or Radiation Therapy major you will join either the Pass or Honours stream in fourth year. Students are invited to join the Honours stream in third year, and will generally be those who have a Course Weighted Average which falls within the High Distinction range. If you are enrolled into the Medical Sonography major you are required to take Honours as a condition of professional accreditation which requires a course level of AQF 8. All graduates regardless of having completed the Pass or Honours stream will be eligible for registration with the MRPBA or ASAR once accreditation has been gained.
Course Learning Outcomes
A graduate of this course can:
1. apply discipline knowledge to undertake medical radiation science procedures in a safe and effective manner; develop clinical practices using evidence-based research
2. think critically and reflectively about factors for safe and effective patient outcome delivery including clinical information, physical parameters, and patient, equipment and environmental conditions
3. apply an inquiring approach to the management of patients and the assessment of medical radiation science procedural requirements and outcomes through identification, access, evaluation and synthesis of information from credible sources
4. communicate effectively and appropriately with different workplace, healthcare and patient groups, taking into account age, health condition and socio-cultural background
5. use equipment/instrumentation knowledge and available clinical information to assess the medical radiation procedure required to appropriately address the clinical challenge/question, recognising the advantages and limitations of available equipment/instrumentation to provide a safe and effective patient outcome
6. assess and critically evaluate information independently to remain informed and advance practice
7. demonstrate cognisance of current international standards and practices within the profession and apply these clinically
8. manage patient care in a manner that promotes respect for individuals, is socio-culturally sensitive and ethically appropriate
9. work effectively, ethically and cognisant of medico-legal boundaries within the interprofessional healthcare team; take responsibility for own actions
Duration and Availability
This course is four years full-time study only. All majors in this course are available to international students studying in Australia on a study visa. It is proposed that the Medical Sonography Honours Major will be available to students in 2017.
Location and delivery Mode
Year | Location | Period | All* | Internal | Partially Online Internal^ | External | Fully Online# |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | Bentley Campus | Semester 1 | Y |
The information displayed above refers to study periods and locations where the course is available for first time entry. Students are normally only offered or admitted to a course once.
* The course itself may not be available either solely internally or externally but individual units may be offered in either or both of those modes. Prospective students should contact the Course Coordinator for further information.
^ Course and associated units are offered in this mode permitting International Onshore student enrolment.
# Course and associated units are offered in this online only mode and DO NOT permit International Onshore student enrolment.
Course Structure | Hrs/Wk | Credit | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year 1 Semester 1 | |||||
MIRA1002 | v.1 | Introduction to Medical Radiation Science | 6.0 | 25.0 | |
CMHL1000 | v.1 | Foundations for Professional Health Practice | 3.0 | 25.0 | |
HUMB1004 | v.1 | Medical Anatomy | 5.0 | 25.0 | |
PHYS1008 | v.3 | Radiation Physics and Instrumentation | 4.0 | 25.0 | |
100.0 | |||||
Year 1 Semester 2 | |||||
HUMB1000 | v.1 | Human Structure and Function | 4.0 | 25.0 | |
INDH1006 | v.1 | Indigenous Cultures and Health Behaviours | 3.0 | 25.0 | |
CMHL1001 | v.1 | Evidence Informed Health Practice | 2.0 | 25.0 | |
MIRA1001 | v.1 * | Medical Imaging Practice 1 | 6.0 | 25.0 | |
OR | |||||
MIRA1004 | v.1 ** | Radiation Therapy Practice 1 | 5.0 | 25.0 | |
OR | |||||
MIRA1005 | v.1 * | Ultrasound Practice 1 | 7.0 | 25.0 | |
100.0 | |||||
Year 2 | |||||
MJRU-MRSMI | v.1 | Medical Imaging Major (BSc Medical Radiation Science) | 600.0 | ||
OR | |||||
MJRU-MRSRT | v.1 | Radiation Therapy Major (BSc Medical Radiation Science) | 600.0 | ||
600.0 |
* Students enrolling in the Medical Imaging Major must do this unit
** Students enrolling in the Radiation Therapy Major must do this unit
Further Information
Course Structure Disclaimer
Curtin University reserves the right to alter the internal composition of any course to ensure learning outcomes retain maximum relevance. Any changes to the internal composition of a course will protect the right of students to complete the course within the normal timeframe and will not result in additional cost to students through a requirement to undertake additional units.
Disclaimer
Information in this publication is correct at the time of printing but may be subject to change.
In particular, the University reserves the right change the content and/or method of assessment, to change or alter tuition fees of any unit of study, to withdraw any unit of study or program which it offers, to impose limitations on enrolment in any unit or program, and/ or to vary arrangements for any program.
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International students
International students studying in Australia on a student visa can only study full-time and there are also specific entry requirements that must be met. As some information contained in this publication may not be applicable to international students, refer to international.curtin.edu.au for further information. Australian citizens, permanent residents and international students studying outside Australia may have the choice of full-time, part-time and external study, depending on course availability and in-country requirements.