Courses
Medical Physics Graduate Program


BME 6535

Radiological Physics, Measurements & Dosimetry

Interacting and measuring techniques for x-rays, gamma rays, neutrons and charged particles with matter; radioactive decay processes ion chamber measurements, scintillation detectors, and dosimetry techniques. Applications of cavity theory and dosimetry measurement in medical physics.

  • Course Director: Wesley Bolch, PhD
  • Semester: 1st Fall
  • Credits: 3
  • Grading: Letter

GMS 6651 (formerly ENU 6657)

Diagnostic Radiological Physics I

The student will learn the basics and application of projection x-ray imaging, including: x-ray imaging equipment, x-ray production, x-ray interactions within the human body, geometric principles, image receptors, image quality and patient dose. Projection imaging modalities covered in this course will include radiography, fluoroscopy, and mammography.

  • Course Director: Lynn Rill, PhD
  • Semester: 1st Fall
  • Credits: 3
  • Grading: Letter

GMS 6057 (formerly ENU 5626)

Radiation Biology

Effects of radiation in biological molecules, cells, tissues and man including cancer and deterministic effects and how to prevent in medicine, use of radiation in treatment of disease.

  • Course Directors: Izabella Barreto, PhD; BC Schwarz, PhD
  • Semester: 1st Fall
  • Credits: 3
  • Grading: Letter 

GMS 6652 (formerly ENU 6652)

Diagnostic Radiological Physics II

Experience in clinical diagnostic radiological procedures. Application of physical principles to imaging and the quality assurance of the imaging chain.

  • Course Directors: Izabella Barreto, PhD; Lynn Rill, PhD
  • Semester: 1st Spring
  • Credits: 3
  • Grading: Letter

GMS 6085 (formerly ENU 6659)

Nuclear Medicine Physics

Theory, evaluation, applications of detecting and imaging systems in nuclear medicine including collimators, gamma cameras, Single-Photon (SPECT) and Positron (PET) Emission Tomographys scanners. Uses of radionuclides in medicine for radiopharmaceutical preparation.

  • Course Director: David Gilland, PhD
  • Semester: 1st Spring
  • Credits: 3
  • Grading: Letter

BME 6591

Therapeutic Radiological Physics I

Introducing students to the principles of therapeutic radiological physics including the measurement and calculation of absorbed dose and dosimetric calculations. Studying external beam radiation therapy including dose distributions within patients and the treatment planning techniques used to produce desired isodose distributions.

  • Course Director: Amanda Schwarz, PhD; Luke Maloney, PhD
  • Semester: 1st Spring
  • Credits: 3
  • Grading: Letter 

GMS 6005 (formerly GMS 5905)

Medical Physics Career Preparation

This course is intended to prepare students for their future graduate studies and future medical physics career by informing students about career choices, work environments, residencies, board certification, and ethics and professionalism.

  • Course Directors: BC Schwarz, PhD; Emily Marshall, PhD
  • Semester: 1st Summer
  • Credits: 1
  • Grading: Letter 

GMS 6653 (formerly BME 6505)

Diagnostic Radiological Physics III

Physics of diagnostic methodologies like ultrasound, NMR, MRI, CT, Electronic imaging systems.

  • Course Director: Manuel Arreola, PhD
  • Semester: 1st Summer
  • Credits: 3
  • Grading: Letter

GMS 6910

Supervised Research

  • Course Director: Student’s Advisor
  • Semester: 1st Summer & 2nd Fall
  • Credits: 4
  • Grading: S/U

GMS 6086 (formerly GMS 5905)

Research Methods in Medical Physics

Prepares students for their MS and PhD research in medical physics by teaching concepts essential to understanding the existing body of literature and creating and communicating new research.

  • Course Director: Dr Leon
  • Semester: 2nd Fall
  • Credits: 6
  • Grading: Letter

BME 6592

Therapeutic Radiological Physics II

Building upon the basic principles of radiation therapy studying more advanced radiation treatment planning, electron beam and brachytherapy techniques. Topics of clinical and regulatory significance including radiation shielding and quality assurance.

  • Course Director: Dr Perry Johnson, PhD
  • Semester: 2nd Fall
  • Credits: 3
  • Grading: Letter

GMS 6089 (formerly GMS 5905)

Medical Physics Graduate Seminar

Students will be exposed to and updated on major concepts and issues impacting the science of Clinical Medical Physics. This includes principles, methods, and techniques (in practice and in research) for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of human diseases.

  • Course Director: Dr Arreola
  • Semester: 2nd Fall & 2nd Spring
  • Credits: 2
  • Grading: Letter

ENU 6636 (formerly GMS 5905)

Medical Radiation Shielding and Protection

Shielding design fundamentals. Methods of calculating gamma-ray attenuation, fast neutron penetration, effects of ducts and voids in shields, problems of heat generation and deposition in reactor components.

  • Course Directors: Stephanie Leon, PhD
  • Semester: 2nd Spring
  • Credits: 3
  • Grading: Letter

GMS 6602 (formerly BME 6533)

Radiological Anatomy

Fundamentals of radiological and cross-sectional human anatomy and physiology.

  • Course Director: BC Schwarz, PhD
  • Semester: 2nd Spring
  • Credits: 3
  • Grading: Letter

BME 6938 (formerly ENU 6623)

Patient Dosimetry

Concepts, dosimetry quantities and units, calculations for external gamma, beta, and neutron radiation, calculation of dose from internal radioactivity, dose measurements concepts, gamma and beta dose measurements, dose assessment from survey and personnel monitoring.

  • Course Director: Wesley Bolch, PhD
  • Semester: 2nd Spring
  • Credits: 3
  • Grading: Letter