Course description
Course overview
This course is for nuclear medicine technicians with a variety of experience and nuclear medicine knowledge. Some will have only just started in nuclear medicine, while others will have worked in the area for many years. Most students enrol in the Certificate course and then have the option of carrying through to Diploma and Masters levels. Technicians with suitable education and training may enrol directly onto the Masters course. Students may also study individual modules in specialist areas of nuclear medicine.
The course has been designed to be as relevant as possible to modern clinical practice and includes practical elements such as poster presentations and work-based portfolios. Lecturers on the course include those from the University and guest lecturers specialising in chosen areas of practice.
Course content
Modules:
Certificate
* Instrumentation
* Nuclear Medicine
* Clinical (Imaging)
Diploma
All Certificate subjects, plus:
* Nuclear Medicine Extension
* Radiopharmacy
* Clinical (Radiopharmacy)
* Research Methods
MSc
All Certificate and Diploma subjects, plus a Dissertation.
Clinical Portfolios
An integral part of the course is work-based learning and assessment. Clinical portfolios are completed while the student is at work as well as during self-study. They enable the student to learn directly from the work they are carrying out and to link this with what has been learnt at the University.
Deferring modules
Some students find that for a variety of reasons, that they are unable to complete the entire programme in one sitting. This may be due to, among other things, personal reasons, work commitments or lack of funding. The course offers flexibility to overcome this.
Once enrolled, students have five years in which to complete the entire course (Certificate through to Diploma and/or Masters level). Some students decide to only study one module per term, spreading the course out and allowing time for other commitments. If department funding is an issue, students may enrol initially in the Certificate course and then carry on to the Diploma or MSc level if and when funding permits.
Teaching and assessment
Students must obtain:
* 60 Credits to receive the award of Post Graduate Certificate
* 120 Credits to receive the award of Post Graduate Diploma
* 180 Credits to receive the award of MSc.
The course also requires students to obtain an average of at least three days per week clinical experience within an approved nuclear medicine department.
Mode of learning
The course involves a variety of teaching methods including formal lectures, class based workshops, presentations and assessments.
From September 2007 WebCT will become part of the course. Students will be able to complete some areas of revision online.
Self-study is also a vital area of study. Students must be aware that many hours of their own time are needed to complete the course.
Assessment
Assessments cover a range of types, many of which have a practical, clinical element to them. These are designed to give the student skills that will be useful in their nuclear medicine careers.
Professional placement and study abroad
Students must be working in an approved nuclear medicine department for at least three days per week. This is to ensure that what students learn during university attendance can be directly observed and studied in the clinical setting. Some students may be required to visit various other departments to ensure they gain experience in all areas of nuclear medicine. These placements are generally easy to arrange.
The nuclear medicine course is in the process of setting up a student exchange programme between various departments in the United States and the United Kingdom. This will take place at a student or technician level.
