Health Physics and Diagnostic Sciences

Many industries, medical facilities, and research laboratories demand professionals who understand the safe and effective use of radiation and radioactive materials.  Health physics is the study of radiation protection, and the safe use of radioactive materials.  Our M.S. and Doctor of Medical Physics (DMP) programs provide students with instruction and research opportunities focused in two career paths: (1) medical physics, the effective use of radiation for medical imaging and therapy, and (2) environmental health physics, including radiation protection, the industrial applications of radiation and radioactive materials, and the behavior and evaluation of radiation in the environment.  The Department of Health Physics faculty members look forward to working with prospective students in this challenging program of study. 

Health physics is the profession dedicated to the protection of the individual, the population, and the environment from the potentially harmful effects of radiation while allowing society to benefit from medical applications of radiation and radioactive materials. It incorporates the principles and technical skills from many disciplines including physics, chemistry, biochemistry, biology, mathematics, and ecology. The wide spectra of knowledge required of both health and medical physicists make these professions both challenging and rewarding.  The Master of Science (M.S.) in Health Physics is designed to prepare students in the fields of health physics and medical physics to administer public and private radiation health programs; investigate medical uses of radioactivity; measure and control radiation in the workplace and the environment; ensure compliance with radiation protection regulations; assist in the cleanup of radioactive and hazardous waste sites; evaluate worker, patient, and public radiation doses; and conduct research in radiation protection, medical imaging, and radiation therapy. 

The Master of Science in Health Physics is divided into two sub-plans: environmental health physics and medical physics. The environmental health physics sub-plan is accredited by the Applied and Natural Science Accreditation Commission of ABET (http://abet.org). The medical physics sub-plan is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs (CAMPEP).

For accreditation information, see the Graduate Student Handbook .

Steen Madsen, Ph.D., Chair & Graduate Coordinator  

Program Information 

Health Physics and Diagnostic Sciences Faculty  

Health Physics and Diagnostic Sciences Courses   

Department Website

Plan 

Advanced Graduate Certificate in Medical Physics   

Master of Science - Health Physics  

Doctor of Medical Physics