Medical Physics Program - Program Layout and Plan of Studies

Program Layout

Commencing each fall term, the Master of Science (MS) degree program is structured as a full-time curriculum spanning two academic years, inclusive of one summer semester. Successful completion of the MS program necessitates a minimum of 42 credit hours, comprising core courses, approved electives, and graduate research.

Throughout the summer months, graduate students will apply their foundational knowledge of medical physics to investigational and translational research projects. Additionally, they will engage in a medical physics laboratory course and gain exposure to clinical workflows through observations in area hospitals and clinics.

During their enrollment in the program, students actively engage in diverse activities to enhance their academic experience. These include participation in journal club sessions, attendance at clinical talks and departmental seminars, and exposure to expert talks. Additionally, students pursue a self-directed cross-sectional anatomy and physiology course as part of their curriculum.

Plan of Studies

First Year

Semester

Course Number

Course Name

Credit Hours

Fall

MPHS 501 (/PHYS 286)

Radiological Physics and Dosimetry

3

Fall

MPHS 502 (/PHYS 284)

Medical Imaging Technology

3

Fall

PHSC-317

Structures & Functions in Therapeutics

2

Fall

MPHS 504 (/PHYS 278)

Current Topics in Medical Physics

1

 

Total Credits

9

  

Semester

Course Number

Course Name

Credit Hours

Spring

MPHS 511 (/PHYS 287)

Radiation Therapy Physics

4

Spring

MPHS 503 (/PHYS 292)

Health Physics and Radiation Safety

3

Spring

MPHS 505 (/PHYS 279)

Ethics and Professional Issues in Academia and Clinical Practice

1

Spring

MPHS 500 (/PHYS 299)

Graduate Research

1

 

Total Credits

9

  

Semester

Course Number

Course Name

Credit Hours

Summer

MPHS 517 (/PHYS 290)

Clinical Medical Physics Laboratory

2

Summer

MPHS 500 (/PHYS 299)

Graduate Research

2

 

Total Credits

4

 

Second Year

Semester

Course Number

Course Name

Credit Hours

Fall

MPHS 601 (/PHYS 293)

Radiation Biology

3

Fall

MPHS 602 (/PHYS 279)

Technical Documents Review

1

Fall

 

Elective *

3

Fall

 

Elective *

3

 

Total Credits

10

  

Semester

Course Number

Course Name

Credit Hours

Spring

BIOL 430

Elective: Biostatistics*

4

Spring

MPHS 605

Special Topics in Medical Physics 1

3

Spring

MPHS 500 (/PHYS 299)

Graduate Research

3

 

Total Credits

10

 

* Electives currently include the following taken at other schools within Howard University or DC consortium institutions, subject to the offering of the courses:

At Howard - Biol 420 Cancer Biology (3Crs); CSCI 660 Introduction to Artificial intelligence (3Crs); CSCI 672 Introduction to Machine Learning (3Crs)

At Johns Hopkins University, ME 420.709 Radiopharmaceutical therapy (Spring), ME.420.707 Nuclear Medicine Imaging (Fall)

At University of DC – CSCI 435 Digital Image Processing (3Crs).

At George Washington University – BME 3907 Medical Imaging Analysis (3Crs.); DATS 6101 Introduction to Data Sciences (3Crs.); DATS 6103 Introduction to Data Mining (3Crs.).

    TOTAL CREDITS:        42