Program Overview

Bachelor of Diagnostic Radiography

The Bachelor of Diagnostic Radiography is a professional degree program designed to develop competent professionals with a thorough grounding in the knowledge and skills required for Diagnostic Radiography. The program is offered by the Department of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences at the University of Johannesburg, with the goal of producing graduates who can apply their knowledge and skills in accredited workplaces and register with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) as Diagnostic Radiographers upon successful completion of the program and meeting the HPCSA's requirements.

Programme Duration

• Full-time: Minimum 4 years and Maximum 6 years
• NQF Level 8, 480 Credits
• Work Integrated Learning (WIL) is incorporated into the employment contract with the respective clinical training centre.

Purpose

The purpose of this qualification is to develop a competent professional who has thorough grounding in the knowledge and skills required for Diagnostic Radiography and who has gained experience in applying such knowledge and skills in accredited workplaces. Successful completion of this qualification will entitle the student to register with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) as a Diagnostic Radiographer, provided all HPCSA requirements are met, including completion of the required clinical hours and competencies as stipulated by the HPCSA at the time of study and any additional requirements the HPCSA may have for registration.

Outcomes

After completion of the programme, the student will be able to:

1. Perform routine and specialized radiographic procedures to produce images of diagnostic quality.
2. Access, organize, and present information applicable to the radiography context in order to record, retrieve, and communicate patient data.
3. Evaluate the quality of routine and specialized radiographic images and perform image interpretation to identify normal and abnormal appearances.
4. Plan, develop, and apply total quality management appropriate to the diagnostic radiography context, ensuring continuous improvement in patient care and service delivery, aligned with the principles of quality management and patient safety.
5. Perform safe and effective patient care in accordance with the patient's needs and departmental protocol to provide a quality service and to maintain the welfare of the patient, adhering to ethical standards and professional conduct.
6. Apply the principles of human rights, ethics, and relevant medical law which ensure the well-being of the patient, respecting patient autonomy, dignity, and confidentiality.
7. Apply the principles, specific knowledge, skills, and values related to one of the chosen electives as listed, demonstrating an understanding of the specialized area and its application in diagnostic radiography, and contributing to the advancement of the field through research and professional development, including the ability to design, conduct, and present research in a clear and concise manner, and to critically evaluate research findings and their implications for practice, education, and policy in diagnostic radiography
8. Conduct research, demonstrating the ability to identify research questions, design and implement research studies, collect and analyze data, and interpret and present findings, contributing to the evidence base of diagnostic radiography and informing best practices in the field, and to apply research findings to improve patient outcomes, service delivery, and professional practice, ensuring that research is conducted in an ethical and responsible manner, with respect for