Health & Social Care

This exciting course is for radiographers who wish to extend their knowledge and skills to an advanced level in forensic imaging practice relevant to the needs of a clinical radiology department and the mass fatalities environment. Teesside University is the only university to offer an MSc Forensic Radiography in the UK, and by engaging with this course you will acquire the necessary research skills to engage in a dissertation that will add to existing knowledge and create new knowledge in forensic imaging practice.

This course:

• extends your knowledge and skills to an advanced level in forensic imaging practice relevant to the needs of a clinical radiology department and the emergency mortuary environment
• enables you to develops a critical understanding of the role of forensic imaging in the mass fatalities and emergency mortuary environment and the clinical radiology environment
• enables you to develop further the independent learning ability required for continuing professional development in response to relevant professional requirements
• enables you to develop knowledge and skills in systematically and critically evaluating research evidence
• enables you to develop a comprehensive and critical knowledge and understanding of primary and secondary research approaches and designs, in order to plan and manage a research project which meets ethical standards
• enables you to develop the intellectual and professional independence commensurate with mastery
• enables you to contribute to the knowledge base which underpins and informs an aspect of forensic imaging practice.

What you study

The course is made up of six modules. The first two modules can be engaged with via blended delivery or entirely online: Medico-Legal Issues in Forensic Imaging Practice and Principles of Forensic Imaging. The second-year module, Forensic Imaging in Mass Fatalities is delivered via a block of attendance at the beginning of the module followed by online directed study. The other modules (Designing Research Projects, Negotiated Learning in Forensic Imaging Practice, and Dissertation) can either be accessed via the traditional method of attendance at the University or entirely online. The sessions are facilitated by recognised specialists in the field of forensics, demonstrating the multidisciplinary nature of forensic practice.

How you learn

Appropriate learning and teaching strategies are utilised for each module to facilitate you in critically relating theory to practice. For some modules, there are two options in how you can engage in this course, blended or online. Other modules are delivered entirely online and you are supported online with directed study via the virtual learning environment. Support is also available to you via email and telephone.

The blended approach requires you to attend the university at the beginning of each module. Appropriate learning and teaching strategies are used for each module to facilitate you in critically relating theory to practice. Examples are lectures, seminars, small group work, tutorials, court room experience, dental and fluoroscopy practicals. Following the block of study for each module, you are supported online with directed study via the virtual learning environment, e-learning@tees.

The online approach uses the virtual learning environment, e-learning@tees, and will utilise a variety of tools to facilitate your learning. Examples are podcasts, webinars, seminars, recommended readings, interactive exercises, blogs, wikis, quizzes, Skype, small group work, and tutorials. There are synchronous sessions where all students are online at the same time to learn together as well as being able to study other material at a time that is suitable for you. You will need to have prolonged access to a recent multi-media computer (whether a PC or a Mac) that has a Broadband connect to the Internet, a suitable internet browser, a Skype account, and the discipline and motivation to study in this format. The court room experience is simulated for the online students and a dental practical workshop is offered annually for those wishing to enhance these skills (there is an additional cost for the dental workshop). A video is available to demonstrate the fluoroscopy practical to online students.

How you are assessed

The assessments for both modes of study are designed to be relevant to each radiographer’s area of practice and are in the form of written assignments, which can be submitted electronically.

Career opportunities

The College of Radiographers advocates that all radiographers who undertake forensic radiography examinations must be appropriately educated and trained in all aspects of forensic practice. Successful completion of this course will enhance your career as a practitioner with specialist forensic radiography skills.

Advanced posts in the NHS normally require staff to hold a master’s degree and so successful completion of the MSc programme will aid your career as you will be eligible for more senior posts. If your department has plans for you to become the lead radiographer for forensic imaging in your department, then the MSc is definitely an advantage to ensure that you are not just competent in forensic imaging skills, but have taken these skills to an advanced level.

Professional accreditation

This course is accredited by Skills for Justice, sector skills council for the Justice sector.

Entry requirements

Applicants should be registered radiographers and have an honours degree (2.2 classification or above) or be able to provide evidence of the ability to work at postgraduate level. No prior experience of forensic radiography is required.

For additional information please see the undergraduate and postgraduate entry requirements in our admissions section

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