314880 v.1 Master of Radiation Therapy
MRadTher(Curtin)
This course is pending registration for International Onshore Students on Student Visas. Please contact the Curtin International Office to determine availability for International students.
Course Overview
Master degrees (coursework) prepare students to apply advanced knowledge for professional practice, scholarship and further learning corresponding to AQF level 9 qualifications.
Radiation Therapists play an integral role in the treatment, care and management of patients undergoing radiation therapy, most commonly for cancer. Dealing with sick and sometimes very anxious people requires considerable care and understanding. Radiation therapists must balance a genuine interest in patients and their welfare with the necessary technical requirements of the radiation therapy procedure to be undertaken. All of these strands are integrated with and supported by fieldwork experience. You will gain vital experience throughout the course, developing the practical skills required for quality radiation therapy practice. This begins with a two-week placement in first semester of your first year, and increases gradually over the time of the course. Clinical placement sites include those at major teaching hospitals, private hospitals and private practices in metropolitan and rural Western Australia, or Australia. You are required to complete one rural clinical placement. Participation is obligatory in clinical units and laboratory classes. These require students to physically manipulate patients, including lifting and supporting people.
Professional Recognition
The Department of Medical Imaging Science is seeking accreditation of this course by the Medical Radiation Practitioners Board of Australia.
Additional Courses Expenses
Screening and vaccination costs are your responsibility and will vary for individual students, based on your immunisation history. The costs are an investment in your future because vaccination brings permanent benefits to your professional practice and to your personal well-being. You are strongly advised to keep a copy of your screening/vaccination history in a safe place. Please take a photocopy of each completed form prior to submitting to the Department of Imaging and Applied Physics office.
Course Entry and Completion Details
Applicants are required to meet University academic and English language entry standards; details are provided at http://futurestudents.curtin.edu.au. Subject to the duration of the course applicants usually require a bachelor degree or equivalent (and may require relevant work experience), bachelor honours degree, graduate certificate or graduate diploma.
Specifically, applicants require a relevant bachelor degree or equivalent and completion of units in anatomy and human biology or physiology at tertiary level. Study of physics or mathematics at tertiary level is desirable. Students are to have studied Physics at Year 12 or above. A bridging course is available over the December- January period for those who do not meet this requirement.
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.
Pathway to Further Study
Graduates may qualify for entry to doctoral degrees. For further details, see the University website http://curtin.edu.au.
Course Entry/Completion Note
Applicants are required to address Criminal record screening and clearance, Communicable diseases and working with children requirements. Further information can be found at http://courses.curtin.edu.au/course_overview/undergraduate/medical-imaging It is a requirement that students undertaking clinical/fieldwork placements are screened for and vaccinated before going on placement. Please refer to the following website: http://medicalimaging.curtin.edu.au/clinicscreen.cfm. You must be vaccinated against the following conditions: Tuberculosis; Hepatitis B; Measles, Mumps and Rubella (German Measles); Varicella (Chicken Pox); Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis (Whooping Cough); Influenza; Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) clearance is also required if a student has been a patient or student, or has worked, in any hospital or residential care facility outside Western Australia in the 12 months before beginning a placement. Vaccination forms can be found at the Curtin Faculty of Health Sciences Clinical Screening and Immunisation page. Screening and vaccinations are available from Curtin's Health Services or another health service. An appointment is necessary.
Course Organisation
Master degrees (coursework) contain a series of units in a specialised area of study which may include compulsory (core), optional or elective units to cater for student preferences. They may also contain a range of majors/streams for students to choose from.
The Master of Radiation Therapy, a graduate entry program, combines subjects from health sciences and science providing students with a general foundation in the healthcare environment, along with foundation studies in radiation therapy. As the course progresses, you build on this foundation knowledge with the following topics: Sectional anatomy - Allows you to assess the structures seen in the various medical images used in radiation therapy, and underpins your ability to develop, deliver and monitor appropriate radiation therapy treatments; Medical physics and instrumentation - Develops a thorough understanding of the technology associated with radiation; therapy, from radiation physics to image development, dosimetry and radiobiology; Radiation therapy practice - Prepares you for the clinical environment, skills in patient management and care, and the technical skills necessary for radiation therapy procedures acquisition. This includes understanding different patients and how to communicate effectively with them, their accompanying persons and work place colleagues. Your skill development will involve University-based learning and early introduction to clinical fieldwork, followed by increased clinical experience as the course progresses; Evidence-based practice and research - Prepares you to use the best quality radiation therapy approaches to plan and deliver optimal safe care. You will learn how to undertake research, and develop evidence-based reflective practice as means of decision making.
Course Learning Outcomes
A graduate of this course can:
1. integrate the theory underpinning radiation therapy into reflective clinical practice
2. think analytically and critically reflect upon radiation therapy theory and practice, considering a variety of perspectives in professional development and problem solving
3. analyse and synthesise complex information, and communicate research outcomes to advance current evidence-based practice
4. communicate clearly and ethically with colleagues, patients and their carers to facilitate patient-centred care
5. derive and analyse the information required from and during radiation therapy procedures to facilitate and justify relevant clinical judgements and actions
6. appraise a variety of perspectives, and adopt a reflective approach to professional development and problem solving
7. incorporate a global view into personal cognition of radiation therapy theory and practice
8. integrate respect for cultural and other diversities into professional practice
9. adapt theoretical knowledge to safe, effective and ethical professional practice, both independently and within the interprofessional team
Duration and Availability
This course is offered on a full-time, internal basis only. It does not offer a mid year intake. The duration of the course is 2 years full time plus an additional full time Summer Semester taken after Year 2, Semester 2. This is a full-time program, however, part-time enrolment will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Location and delivery Mode
| Year | Location | Period | All* | Internal | Partially Online Internal^ | External | Fully Online# |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 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 | |||||
| 309786 | v.2 | Medical Imaging Sectional Anatomy 203 | 3.0 | 25.0 | |
| 314863 | v.1 | Radiation Physics 510 | 5.0 | 25.0 | |
| 314864 | v.1 | Introduction to Radiation Oncology 510 | 4.0 | 25.0 | |
| 314865 | v.1 | Medical Imaging for Radiation Therapy 510 | 5.0 | 25.0 | |
| 100.0 | |||||
| Year 1 Semester 2 | |||||
| 314869 | v.1 | Radiation Therapy 520 | 4.5 | 25.0 | |
| 311700 | v.1 | Science Research Methodologies 551 | 3.0 | 25.0 | |
| 314868 | v.1 | Clinical Radiation Therapy 520 | 16.0 | 25.0 | |
| 314866 | v.1 | Radiobiology and Radiation Safety 520 | 3.0 | 25.0 | |
| 100.0 | |||||
| Year 2 Semester 1 | |||||
| 311127 | v.3 | Professional Medical Radiation Practice 305 | 2.0 | 25.0 | |
| 314862 | v.1 | Radiation Therapy 630 | 4.5 | 25.0 | |
| 314867 | v.1 | Integrated Medical Radiation Science in Radiation Therapy 520 | 4.0 | 25.0 | |
| 314861 | v.1 | Clinical Radiation Therapy 630 | 24.0 | 25.0 | |
| 100.0 | |||||
| Year 2 Semester 2 | |||||
| 314876 | v.1 | Integrated Radiation Therapy and Oncology 640 | 3.5 | 25.0 | |
| 314884 | v.1 | Radiation Therapy 640 | 5.0 | 25.0 | |
| 314885 | v.1 | Clinical Radiation Therapy 640 | 3.0 | 25.0 | |
| 75.0 | |||||
| Year 3 Study Period 1 | |||||
| 314887 | v.1 | Clinical Radiation Therapy 650 | 32.0 | 50.0 | |
| 314886 | v.1 | Advanced Radiation Therapy 650 | 5.0 | 25.0 | |
| 75.0 | |||||
Further Information
For more information about the course, please contact the Faculty of Science and Engineering on telephone (08) 9266 4600, email ssse@curtin.edu.au, or visit our website: http://scieng.curtin.edu.au
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.
Handbook Disclaimer
The online handbook is the repository of Curtin University of Technology (“Curtin”) course information. While Curtin makes all reasonable endeavors to keep its online courses handbook up-to-date, information within this website is subject to change from time to time. Curtin reserves the right to change the contents and/or the 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 without notification via the website.
For course overviews and enrolment information please visit our future students website.
