Master of Diagnostic Radiography

The MDR aims to prepare graduates who hold an undergraduate degree for professional practice as a diagnostic radiographer. As this program leads to eligibility to practise, students in the course will be assisted in achieving prescribed professional competencies through practical and theoretical skill acquisition and by undertaking clinical fieldwork placements. Students undertake clinical placements in centres which are part of both the public and private sector.

During these placements they have the opportunity to develop an understanding of the career path they have chosen and its place in the modern medical environment. The pace of work in the MDR is reflective of postgraduate expectations, as is the level and complexity of the issues dealt with in the degree, including research project design.

A diagnostic radiographer is a qualified health professional who utilises a range of modalities to provide images and data for the diagnosis and treatment of an injury or disease. The diagnostic radiographer has the skills and knowledge to produce medical images and critically analyse these images and data generated to determine whether they are diagnostically adequate and appropriate for radiological interpretation. In the radiology department the diagnostic radiographer will usually work with the radiologist, however, outside the department they may work with a range of medical specialists in a variety of areas.

Honours

(Not available to students commencing after 2010. This information is for continuing students only.)

The honours dissertation will follow the University policy regarding length of written output, that it should not exceed 20,000 words: www.usyd.edu.au/ab/policies/Guidelines_Terms.pdf. Honours grades will be determined by the performance of students in the honours dissertation as well as related units of study and follow University guidelines on assessment of coursework masters honours:
www.fhs.usyd.edu.au/learn_teach/mhonsmrkngmatrx.doc.

Course outline

The course will be offered full time at a postgraduate level leading to the award of the degree, Master of Diagnostic Radiography. The general structure of the course is two years, full time with four semesters of four six-credit-point units including theoretical and clinical units of study, as based on a 16 week teaching calendar. Clinical placements will occur both during semester times and outside normal semester times as detailed in the clinical placement calendars.

The course outlines for the Master of Diagnostic Radiography at both pass and honours levels are presented in Tables 13.1 and 13.1.1. See Chapter 20 for unit descriptions and a list of faculty and research electives.

Table 13.1: Master of Diagnostic Radiography (Pass)

Table 13.1.1: Master of Diagnostic Radiography (Honours)

Course rules