The Master of Medical Imaging program is the first graduate program in the Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences at Palestine Ahliya University. It is an applied program spanning two years (four semesters) that aims to prepare medical imaging specialists and medical physicists across the various imaging modalities: radiography, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, and nuclear/molecular imaging. The program focuses on the theoretical and practical skills and competencies required to work as advanced medical imaging specialists and medical physicists, imaging department leaders, and researchers, and it is aligned with the university’s bachelor’s program in Medical Imaging. The program qualifies students to improve image quality and patient safety, ensure radiation protection, and keep pace with the latest technical developments and clinical applications.
In general, the program aims to: prepare a highly qualified graduate who is confident and self-reliant to work in the field of medical imaging and to mentor peers; enhance the student’s research skills and prepare them to pursue doctoral study; contribute to advancing the understanding of medical imaging practices and their contemporary issues; and provide practitioners in the public and private sectors with the new knowledge and skills related to their work. Its specific objectives include: acquiring advanced theoretical and practical experience in the main imaging modalities (radiography, CT, MRI, and ultrasound) and selecting appropriate protocols for clinical indications with a focus on image quality and patient safety; learning the principles of radiation protection, dose optimization, and quality control and assurance; and developing competence in medical imaging informatics (PACS/RIS), image processing, and linking imaging results with clinical and pathological information to support diagnostic accuracy.
I am text block. Click edit The program targets graduates of Medical Imaging, Radiography/Radiologic Technology, Medical Physics, and closely related health and imaging disciplines, as well as those wishing to develop their knowledge across the main imaging modalities, including professionals in the field and researchers interested in diagnostic imaging, and unemployed medical imaging graduates who wish to develop themselves in research.to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Graduates of the program are expected to be able to: understand the principles of the main medical imaging modalities and their clinical applications and be aware of common errors; discuss medical imaging techniques and their current uses to achieve accurate diagnosis and good patient outcomes; interpret the anatomical and physiological patterns in images for normal and abnormal cases; select best work practices while considering patient and staff safety; understand quality assurance and image enhancement; and safely perform common medical imaging procedures within professional and legislative frameworks. The graduate is prepared for roles such as: CT and MRI technologist, medical imaging (radiology) department manager, Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) and informatics officer, quality and radiation protection officer, and medical imaging researcher/academic.
Applicants are required to: hold a bachelor’s degree in Medical Imaging, Radiography/Radiologic Technology, Medical Physics, or a closely related health or imaging discipline, with a grade of not less than (Good), and in accordance with the instructions and decisions of the Council of Higher Education / the National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission / the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research; pass a personal interview before the program committee; and obtain the approval of the program committee if the number of applicants exceeds the capacity; in addition to meeting the conditions set out in the master’s (graduate studies) program regulations at Palestine Ahliya University. The degree is awarded after completing (36) credit hours with a cumulative average of not less than 75%, completing and successfully defending the master’s thesis, and passing any remedial courses recommended by the graduate studies committee.
Upon completion of the master’s degree, the student will be able to: demonstrate advanced knowledge of the physical principles, instrumentation, and image-formation processes of the main imaging modalities (radiography, CT, MRI, and ultrasound); optimize imaging protocols to produce high-quality diagnostic images while applying the principles of patient safety and radiation protection (ALARA); interpret cross-sectional and radiographic anatomy and correlate imaging findings with normal and pathological conditions; apply quality assurance and quality control procedures across the various imaging modalities; use medical imaging informatics, PACS systems, and image-processing tools effectively and evaluate the suitability of imaging modalities for common clinical indications; design and conduct independent research in medical imaging with sound methodology and biostatistics and communicate its findings; apply the professional, ethical, and legal standards governing medical imaging practice; collaborate effectively within the multidisciplinary healthcare team and contribute to continuous professional development; and critically evaluate emerging technologies and evidence to support best practices and quality improvement in medical imaging.
Most medical imaging specialists and medical physicists work in hospitals, while some work in physicians’ clinics, diagnostic laboratories, and imaging clinics. The most prominent career fields for the graduate include: computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (CT/MRI) technologist for the medical imaging specialist, medical imaging (radiology) department manager, Picture Archiving and Communication Systems and imaging informatics (PACS) officer, quality and radiation protection officer in medical imaging for the medical physicist, and researcher or academic in the field of medical imaging. Employment in this field is expected to grow steadily over the next ten years, in cooperation with the new program offered by the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
| First Year | |||||
| First Semester | Second Semester | ||||
| Course No. | Course Name | No. of hours | Course No. | Course Name | No. of hours |
| Research Methods and Biostatistics | 3 | Cardiology Techniques in Medical Imaging | 3 | ||
| Anatomy and Physiology Applied to Medical Imaging | 3 | Advanced Techniques in Medical Imaging | 3 | ||
| Medical Imaging Physics and Radiobiology | 3 | Clinical Applications of Medical Imaging | 3 | ||
| Total | (9) | (9) | |||
| Second Year | |||||
| First Semester | Second Semester | ||||
| Course No. | Course Name | No. of hours | Course No. | Course Name | No. of hours |
| Quality Assurance in Medical Imaging | 3 | Elective Course (2) | 3 | ||
| Theranostic and Interventional Applications in Medical Imaging | 3 | Thesis I | 3 | ||
| Elective Course (1) | 3 | Thesis II | 3 | ||
| Total | (9) | Total | (9) | ||
| No. | name | Description |
| 1 | Research Methods and Biostatistics | Provides students with the research design, statistics, and critical-appraisal skills needed to plan, conduct, and report medical imaging research. |
| 2 | Anatomy and Physiology Applied to Medical Imaging | Presents detailed cross-sectional and radiographic anatomy of body regions as they appear in radiography, CT, MRI, PET, SPECT, and ultrasound, with emphasis on image interpretation. |
| 3 | Advanced Techniques in Medical Imaging | Covers the physics of X-ray production, image formation, detectors, and the instrumentation underlying the main imaging modalities, including photon-counting CT, SPECT/CT, PET/CT, and PET/MRI. |
| 4 | Cardiology Techniques in Medical Imaging | Focuses on cardiac imaging across the different modalities (echocardiography, cardiac CT, cardiac MRI, and nuclear cardiology), including imaging protocols, functional assessment, and clinical applications in cardiovascular disease. |
| 5 | Medical Imaging Physics and Radiobiology | Presents radiation physics, image formation, and dosimetry together with the biological effects of ionizing radiation on cells and tissues to support safe imaging practice. |
| 6 | Clinical Applications of Medical Imaging | Reviews the clinical use of imaging modalities across the different body systems, correlating imaging findings with disease presentation to support diagnostic accuracy and patient management. |
| 7 | Quality Assurance in Medical Imaging | Addresses quality assurance and quality control programs, equipment performance testing, regulatory standards, and radiation protection principles (ALARA) across imaging modalities. |
| 8 | Theranostic and Interventional Applications in Medical Imaging | Explores the theranostic approach that combines diagnostic imaging with targeted therapy, along with image-guided interventional procedures, their instrumentation, techniques, and patient care. |
| 9 | Molecular Imaging Procedures | Introduces radiopharmaceuticals, the gamma camera, SPECT and PET imaging, and the principles of molecular and functional imaging and its clinical applications. |
| 10 | Physics, Instrumentation, and Computer Technology in Medical Imaging | Covers the physical principles, detector and instrument design, computing techniques, and image processing underlying modern imaging systems. |
| 11 | Clinical Pathology in Medical Imaging | Correlates imaging findings with the underlying pathological processes across body systems to enhance diagnostic interpretation. |
| 12 | Clinical Procedures in Medical Imaging | Provides practical information on patient preparation and positioning, contrast media administration, and protocols for the main imaging examinations. |
| 13 | Dosimetry Applications in Medical Imaging | Focuses on radiation dose measurement, patient and staff dosimetry, and dose optimization and monitoring strategies across imaging modalities. |
| 14 | Thesis I | Students in the thesis track complete a thesis to fulfill the degree requirements; under the supervision of one or more faculty members, the student develops a preselected research-proposal draft, subject to the approval of the supervisor and the program committee. |
| 15 | Thesis II | The student conducts the field research to collect data and completes all components of the research report, including statistical analysis, presentation and discussion of results, and writing the final thesis, in accordance with the regulations of the Deanship of Graduate Studies at Palestine Ahliya University. |