Graduate Program in Public Health Colorado State University's Health Physics M.S. program has received full and unconditional accreditation from ABET/Applied Sciences Accreditation Commission. This Health Physics graduate program is only the 5th in the U.S. to be accredited.
Health Physics is a profession associated with using radiation for the benefit of society. This
includes applying scientific as well as practical knowledge in order to obtain these benefits without
unreasonable risks to man or the environment.
The profession has evolved into a necessary part of all
programs that involve radiation, including anything from naturally occurring radioactivity to man made
sources of radiation. Originally the focus was directed to the prevention of unwarranted exposures to
radiation.
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.
Successful persons in health physics have broad backgrounds
in physics, biology, instrumentation and understanding of risks and risk analysis.
What is the difference between Health Physics and Medical Physics?
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.
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 (e.g. hospital RSO) and opens the door to a
medical physics residency or entry level medical physics position (radiotherapy clinic or radiology
department).
Click here to read about a recent graduate's job search experiences.
The department participates in DOE Health Physics Fellowship programs.
Additional funding opportunities here.
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. The number of assistantships may vary from year to year depending on the level of research funding.
Department Admission Requirements
1. A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
2. An overall grade point average of 3.0 or higher
3. GRE scores in the general examination (verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing) within 10 years
4. Three letters of recommendation
5. Statement of academic interest and career plans
6. TOEFL scores (minimum 213-Computer; 550-Paper) & proof of support (international students only)
Additional Requirements for the Health Physics Section (click here for a PDF file)
Formal coursework in the following topics:
1. Mathematics - Calculus including limits, continuity, differentiation and
integration of elementary and transcendental functions, sequences and series.
Usually two semesters of calculus are sufficient.
2. General Physics - Topics including the properties of forces, energy, momentum, heat, light, electrostatics, magnetism, with an understanding of
dimensional analysis (quantities and units) and elementary modern physics.
Usually two semesters of general physics are sufficient.
3. Biology - Introduction to biology including characteristics of animals,
genetics, the human body and interactions with the environment. Usually one
semester of general biology is sufficient.
4. Chemistry - Fundamentals of chemistry including atomic and molecular
theory, gases, liquids, solids, solutions, acid/base reactions,
oxidation/reduction reactions, and kinetics. Usually one semester of general
chemistry is sufficient.
If an admitted student lacks needed prerequisite courses, the student may petition to take those courses concurrently with graduate coursework. Some additional course requirements may apply to certain programs. Typical programs take two years to complete and require 30 semester credit-hours and a thesis (plan A).
Interested persons are encouraged to read the Graduate and Professional Bulletin for additional information related to Admissions Requirements and Procedures at Colorado State University.
Health Physics classes listed here.
For additional information about the Health Physics program, inquiries should be addressed to:Mailing Address
Environmental & Radiological Health Sciences
1618 Campus Delivery
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO 80523
Phone: (970) 491-5222
Fax: (970) 491-0623
Email: ERHSDepartment
