Description
This course will look at the fundamental scientific principles underlying key types of medical imaging. We will examine the types of information that can be obtained from different classes of imaging - radiography, tomography, magnetic resonance, nuclear medicine and ultrasound imaging. We will look both at what we can learn and what we can't know from different types of images. We will consider the limitations and what drives the cost associated with different approaches. As we build an understanding of the science of different imaging techniques, we will also investigate the history, politics economics and ethics that underlie health care decisions and the advancement of new techniques. This course is appropriate for anyone interested in a broader understanding of medical imaging, both the non-scientifically and scientifically focused student.
Objective
The first-year seminar program serves as a bridge to the overall university experience. Courses are designed to analyze a topic, in our case medical imaging, from a variety of perspectives, emblematic of a liberal arts approach. We will be working to enhance skills, including critical reading, knowledgeably speaking and, most importantly, effectively writing, in ways expected in college classrooms. You’ll become familiar with the libraries and other academic resources that are available to help you excel in your courses. Learning is a journey that is undertaken together.