The M.S. degree with specialization in Medical Physics is a program designed for individuals who seek the M.S. degree and wish to be educated in clinical medical physics. The program objective is to provide clinical and research training in Medical Physics, and provide opportunities for the student to prepare for a professional career in a clinical environment, a clinical support research laboratory, or a clinical support industry. The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs (CAMPEP) and provides preparation for board certification. The program curriculum is designed to educate the student in the areas of therapy, imaging, and safety related to both ionizing and non-ioning radiation. The area of therapy includes radiotherapy and hyperthermia; the area of imaging includes both nuclear medicine and diagnostic radiology; the area of safety includes radiation protection from ionizing and non-ionizing radiation. It is expected that the program be completed within 30 months. Program requirements include both core and elective coursework, clinical rotations, and a research thesis. It is also expected that the student draft a publication-quality journal article based on the thesis.

Prerequisites: A bachelor's degree in physics or a bachelor's degree in basic science or engineering with an established physics background. This may be exemplified by completion of upper-level courses in the following areas: atomic and nuclear physics, electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, classical mechanism, and thermodynamics. Curriculum requirements are calculus, differential equations, and one year of chemistry; one year of biology would be beneficial. Applicants are expected to have a grade point average of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 on all upper division junior, senior, and graduate level work taken previously (particularly in the prerequisite areas). Completion of the General Test of the Graduate Record Examinations is required; completion of the specialty test in physics is optional, but could be of benefit to the applicant. Foreign nationals whose native language is not English must present evidence of proficiency in English by satisfactorily completing the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The preferred application date is February 1.

The student must complete a minimum of 34 semester hours of didactic coursework, including 32 hours of required courses and 2 hours of electives.

Required Courses (semester hours in parentheses)

• (3) GS020183 Mathematics for Medical Physics (Quantitative)
• (3) GS020093 Introduction to Medical Physics I: Basic Interactions
• (3) GS020103 Introduction to Medical Physics II: Medical Imaging
• (3) GS020113 Introduction to Medical Physics III: Therapy
• (3) GS020193 Introduction to Medical Physics IV: Nuclear Medicine
• (3) GS020203 Electronics for Medical Physicists
• (3) GS020053 Radiation Detection, Instrumentation, and Data Analysis
• (3) GS020133 Introduction to Radiation Protection
• (1) GS020731 Medical Physics Seminar (3 semesters x 1 hour/semester)
• (2) GS020042 Radiation Biology (Cellular)
• (2) GS020142 Anatomy and Oncology for Medical Physicists (Systems)
• (1) GS210051 The Ethical Dimensions of the Biomedical Science (Ethics)

Available Electives (semester hours in parenthesis)

• (4) GS010014 Biomedical Statistics
• (1) GS000610 Commissioning and Quality Assurance of Radiation Treatment Planning Systems
• (2) GS020012 Physics of Positron Emission Tomography
• (2) GS020032 Principles of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• (3) GS010043 Digital Processing of Biomedical Images
• Physics or Engineering Courses at Rice University or University of Houston

A thesis, whose quality is sufficient for publication in a refereed journal, is required. The student must registrar for thesis credit for at least 2 semesters. The student is admitted to candidacy upon the GSBS Academic Standards Committee approving that the planned program of coursework, abstract of the proposed research*, and proposed members of the Supervisory Committee meet Program standards. The student must be admitted to candidacy before receiving credit for the first semester of Thesis.

The M.S. thesis is considered complete when the final written version is signed by all members of the student's Supervisory committee and after the student's delivery of a public seminar and successfully passing an oral examination on the thesis by members of the Supervisory Committee and other interested faculty.

The student is expected to prepare at least a fist draft of at least one paper based on the thesis work for submission for publication in an appropriate peer-reviewed scientific journal.

The student must complete two clinical rotations of 200-300 contact hours duration each:

• (4) GS020154 Radiation Therapy Physics Rotation
• (4) GS020174 Diagnostic Imaging Physics Rotation

Students receive supplementary training by taking 3-6 weeks of short courses in Therapeutic Radiological Physics offered by the Department of Radiation Physics/MDACC. Formal credit is not awarded for these courses. Typically, they are taken during the Summer/Fall at the end of the student's first year. Students should arrange for enrollment in consultation with the Department of Radiation Imaging Executive Director for Educational Programs (Georgeanne Moore).

* The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences only requires that the student do a 1-page abstract; however, Medical Physics Program Advisory Committees may require the M.S. student to do a proposal in NIH format. The Advisory Committee will let the student know early on which is required. First year students are given a lecture on preparing a research proposal in NIH format as part of the Spring Medical Physics Seminar course. The NIH formatted research proposal is usually required by the Advisory Committee of students doing a research project in Imaging.

The Ph.D. degree Program in Medical Physics is designed for individuals who seek a Ph.D. degree program that will prepare them for a research career in the medical physics of radiology. Since most Ph.D. medical physicists work in either a totally clinical environment or an academic environment with significant clinical responsibilities, the program also prepares the graduate for a clinically oriented career in radiological physics. The program is accredited by the Commission of Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Program (CAMPEP) and provides preparation for board certification. The program curriculum is designed to educate the student in the areas of therapy, imaging, and safety related to both ionizing and non-ionizing radiation. The area of therapy emphasizes radiotherapy; the area of imaging includes both diagnostic radiology and nuclear medicine; the area of safety includes radiation protection from ionizing and non-ionizing radiation. It is expected that the program be completed within five years for students with a M.S. Program requirements include course work, research tutorials, research thesis and dissertation, and clinical rotations. The spirit of the Program's degree requirements is to meet the existing requirements of the GSBS for the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees with the following additions and options: (1) requiring a full slate of didactic courses in Medical Physics necessary to qualify for CAMPEP accreditation, (2) requiring two clinical rotations, and (3) requiring core Biomedical Science courses that are more aligned with the field of Medical Physics.

Prerequisites: In addition to admission standards established by the GSBS, the Program will use the following standards in evaluating Medical Physics applicants:

Degree

• B.S., B.A., M.S., or M.A. in Physics,
• M.S. in Medical Physics, or
• B.S., B.A., M.S., or M.A. degree in Physical Science or Engineering with an established physics background.

This should be exemplified by completion of upper level courses in the following areas: (1) electricity and magnetism, (2) modern physics and quantum mechanics, and (3) preferably additional upper level courses in classical mechanics, thermodynamics, and atomic and nuclear physics, or their engineering equivalent.

Non-Physics Curriculum

• Mathematics - a minimum of 2 semesters of calculus and differential equations,
• Chemistry - a minimum of 1 year,
• Biology - a minimum of 1 year. Applicants are expected to have a grade point average of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 on all upper division junior, senior, and graduate level work taken (particularly in the prerequisite areas).

Completion of the General test of the Graduate Record Examination is required; completion of the specialty test in physics is optional, but could be of benefit to the applicant. Foreign nationals whose native language is not English must present evidence of proficiency in English by satisfactorily completing the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The preferred application date is January 15.

Requirements for completion of the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in the Ph.D. Program in Medical Physics are course work, research tutorials, research thesis and dissertation, and clinical rotations elaborated below. The spirit of the Program's degrees with the following addition and options: (1) requiring a full slate of didactic courses in Medical Physics necessary to qualify for AAPM Accreditation, (2) requiring two clinical rotations, and requiring core Biomedical Science courses that are more aligned with the field of Medical Physics.

Biomedical Science Core Curriculum (12 semester hours)

The required core curriculum listed below parallels GSBS requirements for core courses in the area of quantitative, molecular, cellular, and systems. These courses provide background for Medical Physics training, although they would note be adequate for other areas.

• (3) GS020183 Mathematics for Medical Physics (Quantitative)
• (4) GS030090 Introductory Biochemistry (Molecular)*
• (2) GS020042 Radiation Biology (Cellular)
• (2) GS020142 Anatomy and Oncology for Medical Physicists (Systems)
• (1) GS210051 The Ethical Dimensions of the Biomedical Science (Ethics)

*GS030014 Biochemistry may be substituted

Medical Physics Core Curriculum (24 semester hours)

Students who have completed equivalent graduate level courses in these areas may petition to the Program Steering Committee for advanced placement credit.

• (3) GS020093 Introduction to Medical Physics I: Basic Interactions
• (3) GS020103 Introduction to Medical Physics II: Medical Imaging
• (3) GS020113 Introduction to Medical Physics III: Therapy
• (3) GS020193 Introduction to Medical Physics IV: Nuclear Medicine
• (3) GS020203 Electronics for Medical Physicists
• (3) GS020053 Radiation Detection, Instrumentation, and Data Analysis
• (3) GS020133 Introduction to Radiation Protection
• (3) GS020731 Medical Physics Seminar (3 semesters x 1 hour/semester)

The students establishes an area of research for the M.S. thesis or Ph.D. dissertation by completing three research tutorials of 200 hours each. One of the three tutorials may be outside the area of Medical Physics. If the student had completed an M.S. degree with thesis, then only two research tutorials are required.

• (12) GS000514 Tutorial Research Experience (3 semesters)

An M.S. thesis whose quality is sufficient for publication in a refereed journal is required. The student must register for thesis credit for at least 2 semesters. The student officially begins their thesis research upon advancement to M.S. candidacy. This requires approval by the Program and the GSBS Academic Standards Committee of the student's program of course work, abstract of proposed research, and proposed members of the Supervisory Committee.

The M.S. thesis is considered complete when the final written version is signed by all members of the student's Supervisory Committee and after the student's delivery of a public seminar and successfully passing an oral examination on the Thesis given by members of the Supervisory Committee and other interested faculty.

The student is expected to prepare a first draft of at least one paper based on the thesis work for submission for publication in an appropriate peer-reviewed scientific journal.

• GS000910 Thesis for Masters of Science (1 semester minimum)

Requirements for the M.S. degree are fulfilled at this point.

The student shall complete specialty courses as prescribed by the student's Ph.D. Advisory or Supervisory Committee. This should not exceed 12 semester hours for any one student. Below are selected, available advanced courses.

• (4) GS010014 Biomedical Statistics
• (2) GS000610 Commissioning and Quality Assurance of Radiation Treatment Planning Systems
• (2) GS020012 Physics of Positron Emission Tomography
• (2) GS020032 Principles of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• (3) GS010043 Digital Processing of Biomedical Images
• Physics or Engineering Courses at Rice University or University of Houston

Clinical Rotations (8 hours)The student gains an introduction into clinical medical physics by completing two clinical rotations, one in therapy and one in imaging, each of 200 hours.

• (4) GS020154 Radiation Therapy Physics Rotation
• (4) GS020174 Diagnostic Imaging Physics Rotation

Each student is given the opportunity to develop the skill of formulating a significant research problem. The attainment of the skill is demonstrated by the student's passing an oral candidacy examination, which test the student's preparedness for undertaking a research problem and knowledge of the pertinent scientific background.

Prior to the oral exam, the student is required to write a proposal in his or her area of Ph.D. dissertation research in the form of a NIH research grant application. It is the intention of this requirement to expose the student to the need for a sound scientific reasoning and literacy which precedes actual research. The student's Advisory Committee will review this proposal, submit a written critique to the student that may request modification or rewriting of the proposal, and determine whether the proposal is acceptable for presentation to the Oral Candidacy Examination Committee.

A dissertation whose quality is sufficient for publication in a refereed journal is required. The student must register for dissertation credit for at least 1 semester. The student officially begins their dissertation research upon their advancement to Ph.D. candidacy. This requires passing the Oral Candidacy Exam and receiving approval by the Program and the GSBS Academic Standard Committee of the student's program of course work, abstract of proposed research, and proposed members of the Supervisory Committee.

After success fully completing the research and writing, the student must hold a formal defense of the dissertation, which includes the presentation of research findings in a public seminar.

The student is expected to submit at least on paper based on the dissertation work for publication in an appropriate peer-reviewed scientific journal.

• GS000920 Dissertation for Doctor of Philosophy (1 semester minimum)

Students receive supplementary training by taking 3-6 weeks of short courses in Therapeutic Radiological Physics offered by the Department of Radiation Physics/MDACC. Formal credit is not awarded for these courses. Typically, they are taken during the Summer/Fall at the end of the student's first year. Students should arrange for enrollment in consultation with the Department of Radiation Imaging Executive Director for Educational Programs (Georgeanne Moore).

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