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Health Sciences
198
Radiation therapy
COURSE CODE:
PLACES 2011:
POINTS 2010:
DEGREE AWARDED:
TR055
30
515*
B.Sc. (Ther. Rad.)
SPECIAL ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:
Leaving Certificate
HC3
In one of physics,
chemistry, biology,
physics/chemistry
Advanced GCE (A-Level)
Grade C In one of physics,
chemistry or
biology
GARDA VETTING:
Students will be required to undergo Garda vetting.
See p. 27 for further details.
What is Radiation therapy?
Radiotherapy is one of the main methods used to treat patients
with cancer. This course qualifies you to work as a radiation
therapist – the practitioner who, together with the other team
members, is responsible for the preparation and delivery of a
course of radiotherapy.
When you qualify, you will work with a multidisciplinary team
comprising clinical oncologists and physicists to plan and
deliver the best course of treatment for patients. As a graduate
radiation therapist you will be the main point of contact for the
patient during the course of their treatment and involved in many
aspects of their care. As radiotherapy is expanding in Ireland so
is the opportunity for role development, making this an exciting
time to be entering the profession.
Is this the right course for you?
The radiation therapist requires very specialist skills. Your
degree will cover many science subjects so you will have to
have a keen interest in biology, physics and chemistry. The
development of your clinical skills requires you to be interested
in patient care as well. Your job will also be both physically and
emotionally demanding.
Course content
This four-year degree gives you a broad academic base on
which to develop the clinical skills of radiotherapy. It qualifies
you to analyse, evaluate and make decisions and to initiate,
participate in and encourage research into the profession. There
are both theoretical and clinical components to this degree, the
emphasis being more on the theoretical component in the first
two years and more on the clinical and research component
in the last two years. The contact hours are high in this course
and the subjects are taught through lectures, laboratory-based
practical sessions, workshops and tutorials.
The Division has the largest radiotherapy treatment
simulation and planning laboratory in Europe
and is the
hub of a sophisticated teleconferencing system that facilitates
links both nationally and internationally. This system is used
both clinically and academically, and the Division has recently
acquired an Virtual Linear Accelerator simulator.
The Freshman years
The first two years of the course cover the basic sciences –
physics, chemistry and biology. You will also study the structure
and function of the human body through anatomy, physiology,
biochemistry and genetics, and will be introduced to psychology,
pathology, research methodology and statistics, introductory
cancer medicine, clinical physics and basic professional
attitudes and skills.
A clinical component will introduce you to radiotherapy and will
develop your understanding of the complexities of the cancer
patient pathway.
The Junior Freshman year
In the Junior Freshman (first) year, there are approximately
20-30 hours per week in class or 35 hours per week in clinical
placement.
The subjects you will cover in class are:
n
Biological principles and practices
n
Chemical principles and properties
n
Anatomy 1
n
Physics for radiation therapy
n
Principles and practices of cancer care 1
n
Psychology
n
Clinical practice of radiation therapy
The Senior Freshman year
Second year courses include:
n
Biochemistry and human genetics
n
Physiology
n
Anatomy 2
n
Physics for radiation therapy 2
n
Principles and practices of cancer care 2
n
Radiolographic anatomy
n
Communication
n
Research methodology and statistics
The Sophister years
In the Sophister (third and fourth) years, you will study more
specialist subjects that are specifically related to cancer and
patient care, and complete a project in this area.
The Junior Sophister year
Third-year courses include:
n
Principles and practices of cancer care 3
n
Physics for radiation therapy 3
n
Radiobiology
n
Radiotherapy treatment planning