Medical Physics
Unit of study descriptions
PHYS5002 Anatomy and Biol Essentials for Physicists
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Professor Annette Haworth Session: Semester 1 Classes: Three 3-hour lectures and ten 3-hour labs per semester. Assessment: Assignment, mid-semester exam and final exam (100%). Campus: Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day Faculty: Science
In this unit normally undertaken as part of the Masters of Medical Physics degree or the Graduate Diploma in Medical Physics, introduces the concepts and nomenclature of the structure of the human cell, tissues, anatomical structure and physiology. The organisation and function of major organ systems that constitute the human body are covered. Examples of pathology of diseases commonly encountered in the practice of medical physics such as cancer, will be included. Basic principles of cell and molecular biology and molecular imaging will also be introduced. The course has been designed specifically for physics students with no prior knowledge of the field.
PHYS5029 Nuclear Medicine Physics
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Professor Annette Haworth Session: Semester 1 Classes: Twelve 3-hour lectures and one 3-hour lab conducted after hours in a hospital. Assessment: Assignments, lab quiz and final exam (100%). Campus: Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day Faculty: Science
This unit of study will introduce the student to the physics associated with diagnostic and therapeutic applications in Nuclear Medicine. This will cover the use of radionuclides for imaging in single photon (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET), radiation and the patient, tomographic image reconstruction and kinetic analysis of imaging data. Internal radionuclide dosimtery will be addressed using standard (MIRD) models as well as by voxel-based estimators.
PHYS5011 Nuclear Physics
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Professor Annette Haworth Session: Semester 1 Classes: One 3-hour lecture per week. Assessment: Assignments and final exam (100%). Campus: Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day Faculty: Science
This unit is normally undertaken as part of the Master of Medical Physics or the Graduate Diploma in Medical Physics. Nuclear properties, nuclear models, nuclear decays (gamma, beta, alpha and heavy ion decay), natural radioactivity and radioactive decay series, artificial radioactivity, nuclear reactions (including high energy nuclear particle induced spallation reactions), nuclear fission (spontaneous and induced fission) and nuclear fusion are covered.
PHYS5012 Radiation Physics and Dosimetry
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Professor Annette Haworth Session: Semester 1 Classes: Ten 3-hour lectures and three 3-hour labs (conducted after hours eg. 5.30pm) per semester. Prohibitions: PHYS5001 Assessment: Assignments, lab quizzes and final exam (100%). Campus: Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day Faculty: Science
This unit is normally undertaken as part of the Master of Medical Physics degree or the Graduate Diploma in Medical Physics. Sources of radiation, interaction of radiation with matter, physical, chemical and biological effects of radiation in human tissue, physical principles of dosimetry, internal and external dosimetry, radiation units and measurement are covered.
PHYS5005 Radiotherapy Physics
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Professor Annette Haworth Session: Semester 2 Classes: Ten 3-hour lectures and three 3-hour labs (conducted after hours eg. 5.30pm or on a weekend) per semester. Assessment: Assignments, lab quizzes and final written exam (100%). Campus: Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day Faculty: Science
In this unit normally undertaken as part of the Masters of Medical Physics degree or the Graduate Diploma in Medical Physics, both theoretical and practical aspects of the major topics in radiotherapy physics are covered. These topics include radiation beam production and modification, calibration and characterisation, principles of treatment planning, dose calculation and reporting, and the physics of brachytherapy.
PHYS5006 Medical Imaging Physics
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Professor Annette Haworth Session: Semester 2 Classes: Ten 3-hour lectures and three 3-hour labs (conducted after hours eg. 5.30pm) per semester. Assessment: Assignments, lab quizzes and final exam (100%). Campus: Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day Faculty: Science
In this unit normally undertaken as part of the Masters of Medical Physics degree or the Graduate Diploma in Medical Physics, the physical principles underlying the physics of imaging in diagnostic radiology, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging and functional imaging modalities are covered. Advanced techniques, such as multi-modality imaging, are also introduced.
PHYS5018 Health Physics and Radiation Protection
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Professor Annette Haworth Session: Semester 2 Classes: Ten 3-hour lectures and three 3-hour labs (conducted after hours eg. 5.30pm) per semester. Assessment: Assignments, lab quizzes and written exam (100%). Campus: Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day Faculty: Science
This unit is normally undertaken as part of the Master of Medical Physics degree or in the Graduate Diploma in Medical Physics. Physical and biological aspects of the safe use of ionising radiation, physical principles and underlying shielding design instrumentation, international and legislative requirements for radiation protection are covered. Factors affecting dose response of tissue are considered along with models describing characteristic behaviour.
PHYS5020 Computation and Image Processing
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Professor Annette Haworth Session: Semester 2 Classes: Six 3-hour lectures, five 1-hour lectures and one 2-hour lab per week. Prohibitions: PHYS5007 Assessment: Assignments, lab quizzes and final exam (100%). Campus: Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day Faculty: Science
In this unit normally undertaken as part of the Masters of Medical Physics degree or the Graduate Diploma in Medical Physics, Monte Carlo modelling of radiation transport is covered, along with the theory of image formation, concepts of computing, numerical methods and image processing, including techniques such as enhancement, registration, fusion and 3D reconstruction.
PHYS5035 Research Methodology and Project A
Credit points: 12 Teacher/Coordinator: Professor Annette Haworth Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: library information session and research work Prerequisites: PHYS5002 and PHYS5029 and PHYS5011 and PHYS5012 and PHYS5005 and PHYS5006 and PHYS5018 and PHYS5020 Prohibitions: PHYS5019 Assessment: report and research seminar (100%) at end of PHYS5036 Campus: Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day Faculty: Science
Note: Note: Departmental permission required for enrolment. This unit must be taken in combination with PHYS5036
In this unit a research project is undertaken. The topic of the project will be determined in consultation with the course coordinator. In addition, the processes involved in conducting various forms of research, basic data analysis and interpretation, research writing and presentation skills are covered. Marks will be held over until PHYS5036 is completed.
PHYS5036 Research Methodology and Project B
Credit points: 12 Teacher/Coordinator: Professor Annette Haworth Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: library information session and research work Prerequisites: PHYS5002 and PHYS5029 and PHYS5011 and PHYS5012 and PHYS5005 and PHYS5006 and PHYS5018 and PHYS5020 Corequisites: PHYS5035 Prohibitions: PHYS5019 Assessment: report and research seminar (100%) Practical field work: Research project, equivalent to half the week Campus: Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day Faculty: Science
Note: Note: Departmental permission required for enrolment.This unit must be taken in combination with PHYS5035
In this unit a research project is undertaken. The topic of the project will be determined in consultation with the course coordinator. In addition, the processes involved in conducting various forms of research, basic data analysis and interpretation, research writing and presentation skills are covered.