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GRADUATE STUDY IN HEALTH PHYSICS

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Colorado State University's Health Physics M.S. program is one of only five in the U.S. to receive full and unconditional accreditation from ABET/Applied Sciences Accreditation Commission.

 

The Environmental & Radiological Health Sciences department offers a comprehensive program leading toward the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in the field of radiation protection or health physics. Required course work is structured to provide a sound foundation in the basic skills essential to the health physics profession. The student may concentrate on specific areas of interest through a wide selection of elective courses. Formal course work is supplemented by extensive laboratory exercises, field trips, and research.

Graduate research assistantships are available on a competitive basis to qualified students. Additionally, the department participates in Department of Energy Health Physics Fellowship programs.

Application Deadlines:
July 1 for fall semester
Spring semester applications are not accepted without prior approval from a section faculty member
Summer session applications are not accepted

NOTE: Priority will be given to students who submit their applications by February 15 for fall semester and by July 15 for spring semester, who wish to be considered for fellowships or assistantships.

 

Department Admission Requirements

PRIOR TO APPLYING: Students are strongly encouraged to contact a Health Physics faculty member to ensure availability of program space and/or funding.

Core requirements for admission to the Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences
(required of all graduate applicants to ERHS):

1) Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
2) A copy of the applicant's resume or curriculum vitae
3) Minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0 in all prior college-level work for regular admission
4) Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores in the general examination (verbal, quantitative and analytical writing) within 5 years
5) One official transcript from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended (note: CSU transcripts are not required)
6) Written statement of background, interests, motivation, and goals
7) Three (3) letters of recommendation from academic or professional sources

International students only

8) TOEFL/IELTS SCORES

The minimum TOEFL score for unconditional admission is 213 (computer based); 550 (paper based); or 80 (internet based)
The minimum IELTS score for admission without condition is 6.0

Typical M.S. programs take two years to complete and require 30 semester credit-hours and a thesis (plan A).

Some additional course requirements may apply to certain programs.
Additional Requirements for the Health Physics Section (pdf)

The Health Physics Profession

Health Physics is a profession associated with using radiation for the benefit of society. Sources of radiation range from naturally occurring radioactivity to reactors. Successful persons in health physics have broad backgrounds in physics, biology, instrumentation and understanding of risks and risk analysis.

Today, the health physicist is called upon to help society make judgments concerning the balance of risks and benefits from new technologies that depend on radiation. This spans many diverse fields including basic research, medicine, environmental restoration, industrial applications and space exploration.


Health Physics and Medical Physics are similar but different

Medical physicists apply physical principles of radiation (ionizing and non-ionizing) to treat and diagnose disease.

Health physicists apply the same physical principles to ensure a safe working and/or public environment.

Thus, the coursework for the closely related disciplines is usually quite similar. Most medical physics programs will add a few specialized courses in radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging physics to the typical health physics core sequence. Additionally, the medical physics MS project is usually more clinically oriented.


Introduction of a Medical-Health Physics Track

Our department has just introduced a medical-health physics track by adding diagnostic imaging physics and a radiotherapy physics courses to our ABET accredited HP program while providing the opportunity for a more clinical oriented project utilizing the outstanding resources in our veterinary teaching hospital.

A health physics degree with a medical physics emphasis prepares you for health physics opportunities in a clinical setting, such as a hospital Radiation Safety Officer, and opens the door to a medical physics residency or entry level medical physics position in a radiotherapy clinic or radiology department.

Health Physics is one of five different training programs within the Mountains and Plains Education Research Center.

Inquiries for additional information about the Health Physics program should be addressed to:

Health Physics Section Faculty:

 

Link to Health Physics Visiting Lecture Videos

 

Summer Internship with U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

 

Department Contact Information:

Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences
1681 Campus Delivery
Fort Collins, CO 80523

Phone: 970-491-7038
Fax: 970-491-2940