MS Medical Health Physics Program Course Descriptions
| Course | Course Description | Textbook |
|---|---|---|
| MP501 Radiation Dosimetry (4cr) | This course focuses on introducing radiation terminology used in radiation dosimetry. Fundamental dose calculation theories are reviewed and an emphasis is placed on clinical and radiation safety related dosimetry techniques. Recommended: Calculus I and Calculus II | Required: Introduction to Radiological Physics and Radiation Dosimetry, 1/e Frank Herbert Attix Wiley-Interscience (Sept. 1986) ISBN-13: 978-0471011460 Retail Price: $215.71 Recommended: The Physics of Radiology, 4/e Harold Elford Johns and John Robert Cunningham Charles C. Thomas Publisher (Feb. 1983) ISBN-13: 978-0398046699 Retail Price: $95.95 |
| MP502 Radiation Biology (3cr) | This course focuses on introducing fundamental radiation biology concepts. Emphasis is placed on radiation interactions, cell damage, cell survival curves, cell sensitivity and response, factors affecting cell response, tissue kinetics, effects on the fetus, biological models, and radiobiological risk assessment. | Required: Radiobiology for the Radiologist, 8/e. Eric Hall and Amato Giaccia Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins 2018 ISBN-13: 9781496335418 |
| MP503 Physics Diagnostic Radiology (3cr) | This course focuses on introducing fundamental physics in the medical imaging profession. Fundamental concepts are applied to the system design of each imaging component presented. A special emphasis is placed on the implementation and application of each diagnostic imaging modality. | Required: The Essential Physics of Medical Imaging, 3/e Bushberg, Seibert, Leidholdt Jr., and Boone Lippincott Williams and Wilkins (Dec. 20, 2011) ISBN-13: 978-0781780575 Retail Price: $167.36 |
| MP504 Physics Nuclear Medicine (3cr) | This course focuses on introducing physical principles of radioisotopes and imaging systems used in medicine and biology. Imaging systems are discussed at length with a focus on applying universal imaging concepts such as contrast and resolution to the Anger camera, PET and SPECT scanners. Radiochemical therapy and other radiopharmaceuticals are discussed. Health physics and quality control issues pertinent to nuclear medicine physics are addressed. | Required: No text required. Materials will be provided as needed. Recommended: Physics in Nuclear Medicine Simon R. Cherry, et al. Saunders (July 18, 2003) ISBN-13: 978-0721683416 Retail Price: $88.75 |
| MP505 Physics Radiation Oncology I (3cr) | This course focuses on applying the fundamental radiation oncology physics concepts to specialty procedures. Emphasis is placed on: Advanced electron beam therapy, electron arc therapy, electron IORT, stereotactic radiosurgery, IMRT, IGRT, IMET, Robotic therapy, Tomotherapy, physics measurement for specialty procedures using different phantoms, and comprehensive quality assurance. | Required: Khan’s The Physics of Radiation Therapy 6/e. Dr. John Gibbons. Lippincott, Williams, and Wilkins 2019 ISBN-13: 978-1496397522 Recommended: The Physics of Radiology, 4/e Harold Elford Johns and John Robert Cunningham Charles C. Thomas Publisher (Feb. 1983) ISBN-13: 978-0398046699 Retail Price: $95.95 Khan’s Lectures: Handbook of the Physics of Radiation Therapy Lippincott, Williams, and Wilkins (July 5, 2011) ISBN-13: 978-1605476810 Retail price: $53.60 |
| MP508 Radiological Instrumentation (2cr) | This course focuses on introducing fundamental radiation measuring devices and instrumentation. Emphasis is placed on clinical use of the instrumentation in the Radiological Fields. | Required: Radiation Detection and Measurement, 3/e Glenn F. Knoll Wiley (Jan. 5, 2000) ISBN-13: 978-0471073383 Retail Price: $165.95 |
| MHP510 Health Physics and Radiation Safety (3cr) | This course focuses on introducing physical principles of radioisotopes and imaging systems used in medicine and biology. Imaging systems are discussed at length with a focus on applying universal imaging concepts such as contrast and resolution to the Anger camera, PET and SPECT scanners. Radiochemical therapy and other radiopharmaceuticals are discussed. Health physics and quality control issues pertinent to nuclear medicine physics are addressed. Prerequisites: MP504 and MP505; must be taken after or concurrently with MP503 | Required: No text required. Materials will be provided as needed. |
| MHP602 Reactor Health Physics (3cr) | This course focuses on technical aspects of reactor health physics. Emphasis is placed on reactor operation, reactor waste, reactor processes, and establishment of the Health Physics Program. | Required: Introduction to Nuclear Reactor Physics, 1/e Robert E. Masterson CRC Press; (December 13, 2017) ISBN-13: 978-1498751483 Retail Price: $179.93 Radiation Protection at Nuclear Reactors Constantine Maletskos (Editor) Medical Physics Pub Corp. (1995) ISBN-13: 978-0944838556 |
| MHP603 Non-Ionizing Radiation Safety (2cr) | This course focuses on introducing fundamental concepts and safety with non-ionizing radiation sources. Emphasis will be placed on sources of the non-ionizing radiation, interaction with humans and biological effects within the body. Pertinent studies will be discussed and Exposure limits by international bodies will be referred. | Required: Public Health and Safety at Work: Non-Ionizing Radiation-Sources, Exposure and Health Effects European Commission (May,1996) ISBN-13: 978-9282754924 Retail Price: $16.08 Recommended: Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection, 1/e Andrew Wood and Colin Roy Wiley (September 2016) ISBN-13: 978-0471446811 Retail Price: $125.00 |
| MHP605 Regulations and Licensing (2cr) | This course focuses on the regulatory agencies, the respective regulations, and licensing of radiation devices. Emphasis is placed on learning the working regulations of the NRC, EPA, DOT, and other respective guidelines. | Required: No text required. Materials will be provided as needed. Materials will be provided as necessary such as 10 CFR part 20 and 10 CFR part 35 |
| MP590 Medical and Professional Ethics (1cr) | This course focuses areas that require an understanding of medical ethics. Emphasis will be placed on Patient Data, Patient Records, Publications, Presentations, General Professional Conduct, Medical Malpractice, and Research. | Required: No text required. Materials will be provided as needed. |
| MHP606 Environmental Health Physics (2cr) | This course focuses on technical aspects of environmental health physics. Emphasis is placed on radon evaluation, environmental monitoring and techniques, dose assessment from water, air, gas, and food, dose and risk assessment. | Required: Basic Environmental Health, 1/e. Yassi, A., Kjellstroem, T., de Kok, T., and Guidotti, T. Oxford University Press (2001) ISBN-13: 978-0195135589 Retail Price: $66.42 Recommended: Radioactivity Transfer in Environment and Food Fokion K. Vosniakos Springer (April 26, 2012) ISBN-13: 978-3642287404 Retail Price: $111.64 |
| MP599 Seminars (1cr) | The seminars course is designed to provide informational seminars on new and emerging technologies, research, and relevant topics related to Medical Physics. The student will write a number of white papers on the subjects of these seminars. | Required: No text required. Materials will be provided as needed. |
| MP699 Clinical Internship (4cr) | The internship is designed to give the student laboratory/clinical instruction in specific areas of medical physics or dosimetry practice. The student keeps a daily journal of their progress on each of the course competencies, to include not only assigned calculations and discussions but also relevant notes and observations on clinical practice. | Required: No text required. Materials will be provided as needed. |
| MP611 Physics of Brachytherapy (3cr) | This course focuses on introducing fundamental radiation physics and safety of Brachytherapy. Special emphasis is placed on both LDR and HDR Brachytherapy. | Required: No text required. Materials will be provided as needed. Recommended: Brachytherapy: Applications and Techniques, 1/e Phillip M. Devlin Lippincott Williams and Wilkins (Oct. 20, 2006) ISBN-13: 978-0781762779 Retail Price: $214.99 |
| MP613 Physics of Nuclear Oncology (3cr) | This course introduces the new emerging field of Nuclear Oncology. Topics covered include: liver microsphere treatment imaging and treatment, I-131 thyroid ablation, and high dose I-131 thyroid ablation, Sr-89 treatment, and new experimental isotopes. | Required: No text required. Materials will be provided as needed. |
| MP615 Physics of Proton Therapy (2cr) | This course gives the student a background in the fundamental science underlying proton and heavy ion therapy. The radiological physics of these particles is treated first to give the student background necessary for the remainder of the course. The remainder of the course emphasizes the unique challenges faced and opportunities made possible in the use of these types of treatments; these points are presented in contrast with standard x-ray and electron therapy. | Required: Proton and Charged Particle Radiotherapy, 1/e Thomas F. DeLaney and Hanne M. Kooy Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins (Sept. 1, 2007) ISBN-13: 978-0781765527 Retail Price: $219.99 |
| MD689 Medical Dosimetry Lab (1cr) | The ability to create a workable treatment plan is the fundamental responsibility of the medical dosimetrist, and is a skill that a medical physicist must keep well in practice. To give the student some experience in treatment plan creation, this course asks the student to create a series of deliverable treatment plans in the form of labs pertaining to each body site. The student will be competent in every aspect of the treatment plan, including common prescriptions and target volumes, dose constraints to critical structures, and plan evaluation. | Required: No text required. Materials will be provided as needed. |
| MP602 Advanced Radiation Biology (2cr) | This course focuses on introducing advanced radiobiological concepts and practices. Emphasis is placed on tumor kinetics, radiation biology models, experimental set-up, and radiobiological treatment planning. Prerequisite: Radiation Biology MP502 or MD502 | Required: Radiobiology for the Radiologist, 6/e Eric Hall and Amato Giaccia Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins (Dec. 1, 2005) ISBN-13: 978-0781741514 Retail Price: $34.99 OR Radiobiology for the Radiologist, 7/e Eric Hall and Amato Giaccia Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins ISBN-13: 978-1608311934 Retail Price: $97.60 |
| MHP601 Shielding Design (2cr) | This course focuses on technical aspects of Radiation Shielding fundamentals. Emphasis is placed on facility shielding for radiation devices to include: x-ray units, CT units, HDR Brachytherapy units, and therapy treatment units. | Required: No text required. Materials will be provided as needed |
| MP520 Computer Systems in Medicine (2cr) | In this course, students are presented with material that will ensure a standard level of computer ability. The student is acquainted with the basics of operation of modern computers and operating systems. The course will help students navigate the computing world to become computer literate and appreciate the effect of information technology on people, privacy, ethics, and our environment. The course covers the key information today’s students need to know to be prepared for their careers and knowledge in Health Information Management, HIM. | Required: Essentials of Health Information Management: Principles and Practices, 5/e. Mary Jo Bowie MindTap + eBook ISBN-13: 9780357624333 |
| STAT501 Statistical Methods (3cr) | This course focuses on the fundamentals of statistical analysis for biostatistics. Emphasis is placed on statistic nomenclature, probability evaluation, hypothesis testing and evaluation, experimental design, regression models, variable/data analysis, nonparametric tests, and survival analysis. | Required: Biostatistics for the Biological and Health Sciences, 3/e Triola Marc; Triola Mario; Roy, Jason;. Pearson: February 17, 2023 ISBN-13: 9780137863877 MyLab Statistics Series Microsoft Excel and any Statistical Tool such as SPSS, Minitab, StatCrunch, Statdisk, PhStat, etc. https://www.pearsonmylabandmastering.com/northamerica/mystatlab/ |
| MATH502 Advanced Mathematical Methods (2cr) | This course focuses advanced statistical analysis. Emphasis is placed on Multiple Data Comparisons, Clinical Regression Models, Time Series Analysis, Forecasting, Survival Analysis, Clinical Study Design, and Statistical Quality Control. Prerequisite: Math 401 | Required: Statistics for Engineering and the Sciences, 5/e William Mendenhall and Terry Sincich Prentice Hall (July 23, 2006) ISBN-13: 978-0131877061 Retail Price: $310.00 |