MS Health Physics Program Course Descriptions
| Course | Course Description | Textbook |
|---|---|---|
| HP501 Advanced Radiation Dosimetry (2cr) | This course provides a broad overview of topics in radiation dosimetry for health physicists. | TBD |
| 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 |
| HP509 Advanced Radiological Instrumentation (3cr) | This course is an extension of the Radiological Instrumentation course. Students will learn more in-depth neutron detection methods, solid state detectors, and Gel Dosimetry. Discussions will be extended to calorimetry and chemical dosimetry. Linear and Logic Pulse Functions and multichannel pulse analysis will be studied. | Required: Radiation Detection and Measurement, 3/e. Glenn F. Knoll Wiley (Jan. 5, 2000) ISBN-13: 978-0471073383 Retail Price: $82.92 Radiation Dosimetry Instrumentation and Methods Gad Shani CRC Press (2017) ISBN-13: 978-1138561564 Retail Price: $83.95 |
| MHP510 Health Physics/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 |
| 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 |
| HP612 Advanced Environmental Health Physics (2cr) | This course discusses Environmental Health Physics using a case study approach. There will be a comprehensive comparison between health and hazard risk assessment as well as a discussion on principles and calculations to understand the concept of environmental health physics. | TBD |
| HP514 Radiation Emergencies (2cr) | This course discusses the methods and current requirements to be followed in radiation emergencies. | TBD |
| HP513 Hazardous Waste Handling (2cr) | This course covers the appropriate ways of handling radioactive and hazardous waste as well as health and safety related to hazardous waste workers. Licensing and Regulations requirements in reference to the handling of radioactive materials will also be discussed. | TBD |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| HP517 Accelerator Health Physics (1cr) | Students will learn about principles of the different types of accelerators. This will be followed by radiation monitoring and shielding of high energy electron and proton accelerators. Students will also be exposed to challenges of personal dosimetry and environmental monitoring. | TBD |
| HP518 Environmental Epidemiology (1cr) | This course will discuss the environmental epidemiology studies. The discussion will also incorporate ionizing radiation effects, electromagnetic fields and cancer risk and health effects from environmental noise exposure. Students will also learn about statistical issues in the design and analysis of epidemiological studies. | TBD |
| HP519 Public Law and Policy (1cr) | This course will detail public health and protection of individual’s rights. Students will also learn about global health law and public health governance. There will also be a discussion on public health strategies and medical countermeasures of epidemic diseases. | TBD |
| 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. | TBD |
| HP699 Internship (6cr) | The internship is designed to give the student laboratory/professional experience in health physics. 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. | TBD |
| *Required to complete four 1-credit Seminar courses | ||
| MP503 Physics of 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 of 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 |
| HP611 Advanced Reactor Health Physics (1cr) | This course will be an in-depth discussion on dose reduction methods, decommissioning criteria, and management of low level and mixed waste. The class will review risk management and safety related issues with nuclear reactors. Discussions on pertinent NUREG reports and NRC reports will be encouraged | TBD |
| 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 |