University of Sydney Handbooks - 2014 Archive

Download full 2014 archive Page archived at: Fri, 04 Apr 2014 13:43:56 +1100

Medical Physics

Unit of study descriptions 2014

PHYS5002 Anatomy & Biol Essentials for Physicists

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: One 3-hour lab class per week. Assessment: Mid-semester and final exams (100%).
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 Session: Semester 1 Classes: 2-hour lecture and 1-hour practical per week. Assessment: Assignments and written exam (100%).
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.
PHYS5005 Radiotherapy Physics

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: One 2-hour lecture and one 1-hour practical per week. Assessment: Assignments and written exam (100%).
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 Session: Semester 2 Classes: One 2-hour lecture and one 1-hour practical per week. Assessment: Assignments and written exam (100%).
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.
PHYS5011 Nuclear Physics

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: One 3-hour lecture per week. Assessment: Assignments and written exam (100%).
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 Session: Semester 1 Classes: One 2-hour lecture and one 1-hour practical per week. Assessment: Assignments and written exam (100%).
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.
PHYS5018 Health Physics and Radiation Protection

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: One 2-hour lecture and one 1-hour practical per week. Assessment: Assignments and written exam (100%).
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.
PHYS5019 Research Methodology and Project

Credit points: 24 Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: Library information session and research work. Prerequisites: Successful completion of the eight coursework units of the postgraduate coursework Masters degree for which the student is enrolled, equivalent to completion of the requirements for award of the Graduate Diploma. Assessment: Report and research seminar (100%).
Note: Department permission required for enrolment
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.
PHYS5020 Computation and Image Processing

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: One 1-hour lecture and one 2-hour practical per week. Assessment: Assignments and written exam (100%).
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.