2018 Undergraduate Courses
  • Students are to follow the requirements of the Handbook for the year they commenced the course.

    However, the subject links below do not contain the subject information for the current year. You can view current subject information through the new Course Handbook.

Bachelor of Medical and Radiation Physics Advanced (Honours) | 2018

Testamur Title of Degree:

Bachelor of Medical and Radiation Physics Advanced (Honours)

Abbreviation:

BMedRadPhysAdv(Hons)

UOW Course Code:

357

CRICOS Code:

085499J

Total Credit Points:

192

Duration:

4 years full-time or part-time equivalent

Home Faculty:

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences

Intake Session(s):

Autumn/Spring

Delivery Mode:

On-campus (Face-to-face)

Delivery Campus / UAC Code:

Wollongong / 757603

Overview

The Bachelor of Medical and Radiation Physics Advanced (Honours) degree is designed to produce graduates with the specialist skills necessary to find employment in hospital radiation oncology and nuclear medicine departments, in academic institutions or industry. Graduates understand radiation interactions, dosimetry, detectors and instrument design related to medical physics, health physics, nuclear physics, radiation safety, and accelerator and reactor physics. Computer programming related to cancer treatment planning, particle transport and medical imaging is also taught.

The Honours year is entirely devoted to Medical Physics topics. It has a substantial 24-credit point research component which is carried out in collaboration with community, local, state or federal organisations. This research project is supported by three special subjects which deal with the major activities of a Medical Radiation Physicist: Medical Imaging; Nuclear Medicine; Radiobiology and Radiation Protection.

Professional medical physicists from major hospitals in the State will deliver key lectures and practical work as well as co-supervising thesis work. Students will find that they will move easily into employment and/or postgraduate work in this specialised area.

Entry Requirements & Credit Arrangements

Information on academic and English language requirements, as well as eligibility for credit for prior learning, is available from the Course Finder.

Course learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes are statements of learning achievement that are expressed in terms of what the learner is expected to know, understand and be able to do upon completion of a course. Students graduating from this course will be able to demonstrate:

CLO Description
1 Compare medical radiation related instrumentation and apply techniques associated with diagnostic imaging and radiation oncology.
2 Analyse theoretical, practical and professional information and communicate knowledge, ideas and procedures to other health care professionals/practitioners, researchers and other key stakeholders.
3 Employ independent learning strategies to self-evaluate and update professional knowledge of innovations in medical radiation physics
4 Apply knowledge of the basic structure and function of the human body relevant to clinical diagnostic imaging and radiation oncology.
5 Appraise radiation and radioactivity, its properties, units of measure, dosimetry measurement concepts and methods.
6 Compare radiation safety practices and procedures associated with diagnostic imaging and radiation oncology.
7 Consolidate and synthesise knowledge of the biological effects of radiation and its application for radiation safety and for radiation treatment.
8 Perform the clinical support procedures required of a medical physicist in a professional and ethical manner.
9 Integrate knowledge of a variety of fundamental physical laws to analyse behaviour and properties of physical systems.
10 Exercise critical thinking, initiative and judgment in understanding complex concepts and constructing new understandings in contemporary physics.

Course Structure

In order to complete the course in the minimum time of 4 years, students need to commence in Autumn session. 

In their final year, each student must prepare a project or thesis on a research topic under the supervision of an academic staff member. The research project is 24 credit points. Other subjects are listed below.

Students must maintain a Weighted Average Mark of 80 to stay in the course. Students who do not maintain this will be transferred to the Bachelor of Medical and Radiation Physics.

Subject Code Subject Name Credit Points Session(s)
Year 1
PHYS141 Fundamentals of Physics A 6 Autumn
MEDI100 Human Structure and Function 6 Autumn
MATH187 Mathematics 1: Algebra and Differential Calculus 6 Autumn
MEDI112 Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology II 6 Spring
MATH188 Mathematics 2: Series and Integral Calculus 6 Spring
PHYS142 Fundamentals of Physics B 6 Spring
Plus TWO electives from the General Schedule (6cp each)
Year 2
PHYS205 Advanced Modern Physics 6 Autumn
MATH201 Multivariate and Vector Calculus 6 Autumn
MATH203 Linear Algebra 6 Autumn
PHYS235 Mechanics & Thermodynamics 6 Spring
MATH202 Differential Equations 2 6 Spring
PHYS215 Vibrations, Waves & Optics 6 Autumn
PHYS225 Electromagnetism and Optoelectronics 6 Spring
PHYS255 Radiation Physics 6 Spring
Year 3
PHYS305 Quantum Mechanics 6 Autumn
PHYS325 Electromagnetism 6 Autumn
PHYS365 Detection of Radiation: Neutrons, Electrons and X Rays 6 Autumn
PHYS366 Physics of Radiotherapy 6 Autumn
PHYS375 Nuclear Physics 6 Spring
PHYS385 Statistical Mechanics 6 Spring
PHYS396 Electronic Materials 6 Spring
Plus ONE elective from the General Schedule (6cp)
Year 4
PHYS466 Research Methods 6 Annual
PHYS462 Medical Imaging 6 Autumn
PHYS463 Nuclear Medicine 6 Spring
PHYS461 Radiobiology and Radiation Protection 6 Spring
PHYS457 Research Project 24 Annual, Spring 2018/Autumn 2018

Professional Recognition/Accreditation

The Bachelor of Medical and Radiation Physics Advanced Honours degree conforms to the requirements for membership of the Australian Institute of Physics and the Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine.

Other Information

For further information email: eis@uow.edu.au or Academic Program Director

Last reviewed: 24 November, 2017