Medical Physics Graduate Program
M.S. (Thesis) Plan of Study

Graduate Core Curriculum for the M.S. (Thesis) Degree in Medical Physics

This program consists of 30 credit hours of course work, 6 credit hours of research, and 14 credit hours of clinical rotation, and is designed for the student to complete his/her MS in Medical Physics within 2 years.

Required Coursework

First Graduate Year
First Semester
Course
Number
Course
Title
Credit
Hours
BIOL 301Human Design: Anatomy and Physiology3
HSCI 312Radiation Science Fundamentals3
HSCI 696Seminar in Health Sciences (initial student seminar)1
STAT 511Statistical Methods3
 Radiological Science Electives3-6
Total13-16
Second Semester
Course
Number
Course
Title
Credit
Hours
BIOL 302Human Design: Anatomy and Physiology3
HSCI 514Radiation Instrumentation Laboratory2
HSCI 540Radiation Biology3
HSCI 570Introduction to Medical Diagnostic Imaging3
HSCI 572Radiaton Oncology Physics3
HSCI 696Seminar in Health Sciences (attending)1
 Radiological Science Electives0-3
Total15-18
Third (Summer) Semester
Course
Number
Course
Title
Credit
Hours
HSCI 690Medical Physics Clinical Rotation I6
Total6
 

Second Graduate Year
Fourth Semester
Course
Number
Course
Title
Credit
Hours
ENTM 612Responsible Conduct in Research1
HSCI 574Medical Health Physics2
HSCI 696Seminar in Health Sciences (attending)1
HSCI 698Research MS Thesis6
 Radiological Science Elective3
Total13
Fifth Semester
Course
Number
Course
Title
Credit
Hours
HSCI 690Medical Physics Clinical Rotation II8
Total8

Notes

  • HSCI 312 is required for students that do not have equivalent coursework upon entry into the program.
  • Upon entry into the program, students are expected to have completed the equivalent of two semesters of anatomy and physiology. Students that have not completed prior course work in anatomy and physiology are required to take BIOL 301 and 302, BIOL 203 and 204, or BMS 510 (Gross Anatomy).
  • STAT 512 can be substituted for STAT 511
  • Students may substitute a research project (HSCI 590 Special Topics in Medical Physics) for one semester of clinical rotation.

Radiological Science Electives

  • HSCI 313 Principles of Radiation Detection and Measurement
  • HSCI 322L Radiation Dosimetry Lab
  • HSCI 526 Principles of Health Physics and Dosimetry
  • HSCI 534 Applied Health Physics
  • HSCI 590 Radiation Oncology Physics Laboratory
  • HSCI 590 Special Topics (in Medical Physics)
  • CHM 333 Principles of Biochemistry
  • STAT 311 Introductory Probability
  • CS 314 Numerical Methods (3 credit hours)
  • BIOL 415 Introduction To Molecular Biology
  • HK 445 Principles of Epidemiology
  • CS 478 Introduction to Bioinformatics
  • MA 527 Advanced Mathematics For Engineers And Physicists I
  • AT 572 Human Error
  • MA 416 Probability
  • MA 527 Advanced Math for Engineering & Physics I
  • NUPH 530 Applied Nuclear Pharmacy
  • NUPH 550 Introduction to PET
  • BIOL 516 Molecular Biology of Cancer
  • PHYS 360 Quantum Mechanics
  • PHYS 550 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
  • PHYS 556 Introductory Nuclear Physics
  • PHYS 564 - Introduction To Elements Particle Physics I
  • PHYS 565 - Introduction To Elementary Particle Physics II
  • PHYS 580 Computational Physics

The clinical rotation is performed under the direct supervision of a qualified medical physicist at an affiliated hospital or medical center and is co-supervised by a School of Health Sciences faculty member. The faculty supervisor in consultation with the clinical co-supervisor performs a competency based grading of the clinical rotation. A minimum of 30 credit hours with no more than 6 credit hours at the 300 or 400 level is required for this M.S. degree.

IMPORTANT: To be eligible for American Board of Radiology (ABR) certification in radiologic physics, you must hold a bachelor's degree in physics or applied physics. Other physical science or engineering degrees may be considered if the appropriate fundamental physics courses have been completed equivalent to a minor in physics (including general physics with calculus and upper level courses in, for example, electricity and magnetism, atomic physics, nuclear physics, modern physics, quantum mechanics, or mechanics). For additional information about ABR certification, please see http://theabr.org/.

Semester and year requirements are effective for the new student: Fall 2009
Approved by the Faculty Committee May 2009


NOTICE: Graduate courses taken while registered as a graduate student at Purdue University may be considered for fulfilling the plan of study requirements only if the student has received grades of C or better. For courses at the 300 or 400 level taken as a graduate student or courses that represent either undergraduate or graduate excess credit or transfer credit, grades of B or better are required for fulfilling plan of study requirements.

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