Master of Radiological & Imaging Sciences

MRS 500: Radiation Counting Statistics

This course is designed to review the fundamental principles of probability and statistics as applied to the radiologic and imaging sciences. The course cover formal in-classroom lectures, self-directed learning with guided tutorials, and statistical analysis sessions. At the conclusion of the course, students will have developed necessary skills to understand and perform basic statistical analysis of radiation counting and biomedical research data and interpretation.

MRS 502: Radiological Research

This course requires students to work in groups on a hypothetical research grant application in the general area of their research interest based on a list of case studies provided by the instructor. Upon completion of the course students will be able to: prepare a comprehensive literature review on a specific research area; write concise project objectives; expand on project objectives by developing a salient methodology; propose a management plan to coordinate a project; write a detailed budget estimate; explain (briefly) the expected results; and develop a short resume/CV.

MRS 503: Ethics in Radiology

This course is designed to introduce students to the basic principles of ethical theories applicable to exposing humans to radiation, a known carcinogen. It will also discuss ethics of biomedical research and professional practice, including scope and code of practice in each radiologic profession as set by its respective professional organization.

MRS 504: Radiological and Imaging Sciences I

This course discusses basic sciences of radiological professions including physical principle, sources of radiation and radioactivity, radiation interactions, radiation detection instrumentation, data capture, processing and management.

MRS 505: Radiological and Imaging Sciences II

This course will review the basic of radiological imaging modalities in preparation for advanced training. Topics include conventional and digital radiography, mammography, and interventional radiology. Computer tomography, bone densitometry, magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound imaging. Image storage and transmission systems PACS, and teleradiology.

MRS 506: Topics in Medical Imaging

This is the first of three required courses of all students in the program. These courses discuss technical advancements in medical diagnostic imaging. The first course is designed to review and survey digital diagnostic medical imaging modalities, their physical principles, and their clinical applications. Examples include digital radiography, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and interventional procedures.

MRS 507: Topics in Radiation Therapy

This is the second of a series of three required courses of all students in the program. The course is designed to discuss all radiation therapy modalities, their physical principles and their clinical applications. Examples include brachytherapy, external beam therapy including advance methods like cyberknife, IMRT and IGRT.

MRS 508: Topics in Nuclear Medicine

This is the third of three required courses of all students in the program. The course is designed to discuss all nuclear medical imaging and therapeutic modalities, their physical principles and their clinical applications. Examples include planar nuclear imaging, SPECT/CT and PET/CT as well as radionuclidic therapy applications.

MRS 509: RIS Seminar

The course aims to train the students for in-classroom research presentation in preparation for their oral defense of their capstone project. The primary aim of the course is to orient student to the latest and most current research in the field. In doing so, they will be asked to research the literature on current developments in the radiological and imaging sciences, prepare slide presentations, write brief reports and present their slide to peers in the classroom.

MRS 510: Academic Program Management

Orientation to academic program directorship, faculty and staff management, student affairs, faculty and academic affairs, the higher education system in the KSA, USA and other examples and how colleges and universities work. Self-study preparation, applying for and maintaining accreditation, site visits, etc. Introduction to the meaning and concepts of serving as radiological and imaging sciences faculty. Topics include scholarship, advisement, teaching plus faculty recruitment, retention, and development. Principles and practice of effective pedagogy, curriculum development and evaluation in radiological and imaging sciences.

MRS 511: Faculty Development

Pedagogical orientation to academic programs, faculty and staff management, student affairs, faculty and academic affairs, and the higher education system in the KSA. Principles and practice of effective pedagogy, curriculum development and evaluation in radiological and imaging sciences.

MRS 512: RIS Instruction & Assessment

RIS instruction and assessment includes principles and practice of effective pedagogy, curriculum development and evaluation in radiological and imaging sciences. Outcome assessments, benchmarking.

MRS 513: RIS Academic Program Accreditation

Preparation of a complete application of a self-study for professional academic program accreditation. Accreditation requirements of all three JRCs will be discussed in depth. Emphasis on the role of the radiological educators and program directors. Additional discussion on the NCAAA requirements and accreditation schemes are also covered.

MRS 514: Radiologic Financial Management

This course is designed to survey the field of finance and provide the foundation in relation to the health sciences industry. Topics include sources of business and financial information, financial statement analysis, the time value of money, the nature and measurement of risk, financial institutions, investments and corporate finance.

MRS 515: Personnel Management in Radiology

This course provides an in-depth review of case studies in contemporary, diverse workforce issues in a variety of health care environments. Students examine current human resource theories and models and published studies on personnel management issues. They then develop simulations and formulate innovative solutions for recruiting, training, and retaining health care personnel.

MRS 516: Clinical Accreditation & QM

Application for and maintenance of professional accreditation of clinical operations, i.e, ACR and IAC . Emphasis on the role of the radiological technical administrator. Students will learn to view quality from a variety of functional perspectives and in the process, gain a better understanding of the problems associated with improving quality, also quality tools utilized in service and international/ environments.

MRS 517: Professional Development

Discusses matters and topics related to personnel management in the radiologic and imaging sciences. Topics include professional development as well as certification maintenance requirements; continuing education course design, accreditation and offering; professional career development and advancement and peer mentoring.

MRS 518: Ultrasound Physics

Presents general acoustic principles including sound wave parameters, energy transfer, through wave propagation, pulsed and continuous wave generation and parameters, surface reflection processes, and transducer construction. Discusses beam profile consideration and an introduction to A-mode, B-mode, and M-mode. Emphasizes applied principles of physics, knobology, and instrumentation relative to ultrasound. Discussion of properties of sound and presents advanced concepts including computer technology and the instrumentation used to create and store the ultrasound image, and introduction to fluid dynamics, spectral, color and amplitude Doppler. Emphasizes advanced principles of physics, knobology, acoustical artifacts, bioeffects/safety and quality assurance relative to ultrasound.

MRS 519: Sonography Cross-Sectional Anatomy

Introduces gross anatomic structures and abnormalities of cranial, neck, thoracic, abdominal and pelvic regions relative to diagnostic ultrasound. Presents correlations to cadaver slides as well as CT and MRI images.

MRS 520: Abdominal Sonography

Presents normal and pathophysiological abdominal anatomy, physiology, related vasculature, scanning techniques and protocols regarding the abdominal sonographic examination.

MRS 521: Pelvic Sonography

Presents female pelvic anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, related vasculature, scanning techniques and protocols regarding the pelvic sonographic examination. Reviews the anatomy and physiology of reproduction. Presents normal and abnormal first trimester sonography.

MRS 522: Obstetrical Sonography

Presents obstetrical applications of diagnostic ultrasound. Reviews the anatomy and physiology of fetal development. Presents normal and abnormal second and third trimester sonography. Emphasizes obstetrical measurements and fetal dynamics.

MRS 523: Clinical Sonography

Students perform sonographic procedures during clinical rotations at affiliate sites under the supervision of designated clinical instructors. Evaluation of cognitive, effective and psychomotor skills is based on competency in scanning protocols and techniques, professionalism and proficiency in patient care. Provides supervised clinical practice of obstetrical and gynecological sonography in a clinical setting.

MRS 524: Sonography Procedures

MRS 525: Musculoskeletal, Neonatal & Pediatric Sonography

This course introduces students to anatomy and physiology relevant to sonographers in the imaging of the musculoskeletal system, neonatal brain, hips and abdomen. The focus of the course is on relational and cross-sectional anatomy in the musculoskeletal system, neonatal brain, hips and abdomen. Sectional human anatomy in the transverse, sagittal and coronal planes. Pediatric abdominal organs associated with the gastrointestinal tract such as liver, gallbladder and pancreas are emphasized. In addition, structure and function of the spleen, kidneys, adrenal glands and the blood vessels supplying the region is included in the course.

MRS 526: Sonographic Vascular & Postoperative Imaging

Sonographic scanning methods, techniques and protocols related to selected examinations of the cardiovascular system. Gross anatomical structure and function and relevant pathophysiological disorders associated with the cardiovascular and immune systems. Interpretational skills in respect to artifacts and the sonographic appearances of the examinations addressed will be gained. The process of organ rejection and the role of ultrasound in the postoperative evaluation of liver and renal transplants. Quality assurance, sonographic measurement techniques, the utilization of specific duplex modalities and the use of stents and grafts in vascular surgery

MRS 527: Echocardiography Imaging

This course will cover the cardiac structure, function, pathophysiology and scanning techniques at an advanced level. During this unit students will progress through standard heart views to focus on the ultrasound appearance and Doppler haemodynamics of congenital and acquired cardiac abnormalities and common syndromes. Students will develop the ability to recognise fetal arrhythmias. Students will acquire knowledge of advanced imaging techniques tailored to echocardiography including spatio-temporal imaging correlation (STIC), 3 / 4-D colour Doppler, tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and some common cardiac physiological measurements.

MRS 600: Thesis A

Students completing a Thesis Option master’s degree are expected to write a report, referred to as a thesis, on the results of an original investigation, in conjunction with a Master’s Advisory Committee. Length and style of the thesis vary by college/department. All these are filed with the Office of Graduate Studies. A Master’s Advisory Committee will be formed for each student and will consist of three members; an Alfaisal faculty member as the Major Advisor and Chair, and two other members, one of whom may be from an organization outside of the University. The Chair of the Committee must have research and graduate student advising experience. This Committee will assist the student in the formulation of the Thesis Project Proposal, and later advise the student in the execution of the research project, the Thesis write-up, and help the student to prepare for the oral defense.

MRS 600: Thesis B

Students completing a Thesis Option master’s degree are expected to write a report, referred to as a thesis, on the results of an original investigation, in conjunction with a Master’s Advisory Committee. Length and style of the thesis vary by college/department. All these are filed with the Office of Graduate Studies. A Master’s Advisory Committee will be formed for each student and will consist of three members; an Alfaisal faculty member as the Major Advisor and Chair, and two other members, one of whom may be from an organization outside of the University. The Chair of the Committee must have research and graduate student advising experience. This Committee will assist the student in the formulation of the Thesis Project Proposal, and later advise the student in the execution of the research project, the Thesis write-up, and help the student to prepare for the oral defense.

MRS 601: Research/Capstone Project

The intent of this project is to enable to the student to learn to pursue a chosen topic through a literature search on a topic approved by the graduate advisor, collection and analysis of data, project report preparation and defense. Although this course officially begins toward the end of the second year, the trainees are encouraged to identify a project topic and supervisor in their first year so that they are able to begin their research project in the winter of their second year.

Classes