B-SCIMRS v.1 Bachelor of Science (Medical Radiation Science)

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 two majors, Medical Imaging (MJRU-MRSMI) 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. 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. 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

The Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy majors of the BSc(MRS) are approved by the Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia. More information is available at www.ahpra.gov.au. It is the University’s responsibility to register students who are enrolled in the BSc(MRS) with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. Mandatory reporting obligations apply to registered health professionals and educational providers. Further information is available at ahpra.gov.au.

Course Accrediatation

The BSc(MRS) is approved for accreditation by the Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia. Further information is available at https://www.medicalradiationpracticeboard.gov.au/.

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 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.

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/specialisations 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. Students can take no more than 250 credit points of first year level units.

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 above 65. All graduates regardless of having completed the Pass or Honours stream will be eligible for registration with the MRPBA

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.

Location and delivery Mode

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.

YEAR 1 SEMESTER 1

YEAR 1 SEMESTER 2

YEAR 2

* Students enrolling in the Medical Imaging Major must do this unit

** Students enrolling in the Radiation Therapy Major must do this unit

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://study.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 ATAR and Mathematics Methods ATAR or Mathematics: Specialist ATAR. 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/non-school-leavers/rpl.cfm

Specific Course Completion Details

Mandatory requirements for clinical placement include: a suitable first aid qualification, a suitable manual handling qualification, a National Police Clearance, screening for and vaccination against a range of infectious diseases, and a Working With Children Check. Students must be available to undertake clinical practice during and/or outside semester in healthcare facilities. Clinical practice blocks are several weeks in length and, generally, may not be completed part-time. Students are required to undertake at least one block in an approved rural or regional location. It is expected that the student will maintain the currency of these requirements for the duration of the course. All costs are the responsibility of the student. Additional mandatory requirements for laboratory work include: Curtin clinical uniform and personal radiation monitoring. It is expected that the student will maintain the currency of these requirements for the duration of the course. All costs are the responsibility of the student. More detailed information related to the mandatory requirements is provided to enrolled students during Year 1 Semester 1.