UMass Lowell's Medical Physics program qualifies students for all medical physics specialties and prepares them for residency programs, junior medical physicist positions and future ABR exams.

At a Glance

  • Flexibility
    Part Time | Full Time
  • Delivery Options
    On Campus
  • Degree
    MS

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Deadline for fall semester entry:
January 15

Medical Physics Program Overview

Gain education and training in radiation sciences, radiation protection, medical applications of radiation, and dosimetry (including laboratory work and clinical internship) with UMass Lowell's Medical Physics program.

Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Educational Program (CAMPEP), our master's program collaborates with local and regional teaching hospitals and cancer centers in the Boston area to provide you with cutting-edge education in therapeutic and imaging medical physics. 

The program duration is designed to be two years plus one summer semester, although the typical academic plan may be different due to elective courses and the length of thesis research.  

Curriculum

Our master's program requires a combination of didactic courses, laboratories, clinical training and a thesis of publishable quality. Elective courses may be taken to meet particular educational needs, especially for the student’s research. 
Students in the program qualify for and are expected to take the American Board of Radiology (ABR) Part-1 Exam by the second year of their study. Historically, most students have concentrated on therapy physics but because faculty and the cooperating hospitals also have imaging and nuclear medicine research projects, over the last decade a number of students have focused on other medical physics specialties as well. 
The clinical component provides the students with training dominantly in radiation therapy, but diagnostic imaging traineeships are also available.
For complete program details, please visit the Academic Catalog.

For students entering Fall 2024 and beyond.
Core Courses
Course NumberCourse NameCredits
Total43
RADI.5010Radiation Safety and Control - I3
RADI.5090Nuclear Instrumentation3
RADI.5330External Dosimetry and Shielding3
RADI.5620Radiation Biology3
RADI.5650Radiation Therapy Physics3
RADI.5980Medical Imaging - I3
RADI.6980Medical Imaging - II3
RADI.6050Radiation Interactions and Transport3
RADI.6060Monte Carlo Simulation of Radiation Transport3
RADI.6650Advanced Radiation Therapy Physics3
RADI.6760LGraduate Medical Physics Internship1-3‡
RADI.6860LAdvanced Medical Physics Internship1-3‡
BMBT.5200Ethical Issues in Biomedical Research1†
PHYS.7200Medical Physics Seminar0-1*
PHYS.7010Physics Colloquium0
RADI.7430
OR
PHYS.7430		Thesis Research6
HSCI.5510Clinical Pathophysiology§3
Curriculum Summary
Total credits required for the degree43
Number of courses required for the degree17
  • † The Bioethics course offered by the Radiological Society of North America is equivalent and can be taken in lieu of this course. Please submit a Graduate Academic Petition to have the RSNA course accepted towards the completion of the Medical Physics Degree.
  • * Students enroll in PHYS 7200 for all semesters of their studies. Only one of them can be taken for credit, in which they usually present their thesis work as public seminar. Waiver may be obtained from the course director if this course conflicts with clinical rotation schedule.
  • ¶ All graduate students in the Physics Department are required to take Physics Colloquium. MS students typically take this course for 0 credit hours. Waiver may be obtained from the course director if this course conflicts with clinical rotation schedule.
  • § Required course in Anatomy and Physiology - A graduate course in anatomy and physiology is a requirement for all Medical Physics students. Students who have taken an equivalent course in anatomy and physiology at another accredited institution may request a course transfer, subject to UML's credit transfer policy. For these students, the total number of courses required for degree is 16 and the total number of credits is 40. 
  • ‡ Required Clinical Rotations  - Two clinical rotations, which typically take place during the Fall and Spring semesters of the second year or later, are required. Rotation in the summer semester is also possible. Each rotation consists of spending an average of 12 to 15 hours per week in the cooperating clinic (depending on the site) under the supervision of a Board-Certified clinical medical physicist. Depending on the time spent in the clinic, these courses carry flexible credits and are repeatable.<</li>

MS Thesis Research

A thesis, whose quality is sufficient for publication in the AAPM annual meeting or in an appropriate peer-reviewed scientific journal, is required. Students must take at least 6 credit hours of thesis research.

Updated 6/14/2024

Medical Physics Career Outlook

UMass Lowell graduates are qualified for all medical physics specialties and prepared for residency programs, industrial positions and future ABR exams.
Medical professional analyzes color-enhanced images of brain.

Recent graduates have pursued further research training in medical physics programs offering a doctoral degree or accepted positions as:

  • Clinical residents
  • Medical physicists in a research laboratory
  • Medical physicists in industry

Admissions & Tuition

Take the next step and apply. Learn more about admission requirements, tuition and funding options.

  • Successful applicants typically have an undergraduate major in physics, engineering, or a similar technical field. Students with other undergraduate degrees may be accepted if the prerequisite coursework, equivalent to a minor in physics, is satisfied. Applicants with minor deficiencies (e.g., one of the required courses is missing) may be admitted with the provision of satisfying the prerequisite during the first year of graduate study. In cases when multiple prerequisite courses are lacking, we recommend that the student satisfactorily complete these courses before embarking on graduate studies in Medical Physics.
  • Review complete Admission Qualifications in the academic catalog.

For information about the application process and requirements, please visit Sciences Admission Requirements.

Estimated Full-Time Graduate

TypeTotal TuitionMandatory Fees*Housing**Food Plan Costs***Total Tuition and Mandatory Fees
In-State$15,714$720$10,548$5,600$32,582
Out-of-State$28,398$720$10,548$5,600$45,266
New England Regional Program$24,430$720$10,548$5,600$41,298
International****$28,398$4,356$10,548$5,600$48,902

Cost of Attendance (COA) is an estimate of the cost of attending UMass Lowell. It is based on residency status, career level, and whether the student will be living on-campus, off-campus or commuting. The cost of attendance includes both direct and indirect costs.

  • *Mandatory Fees include Technology Fee and Activity Fee only.
  • **The Housing Cost reflects the Weighted Average Cost.
  • ***Food Plan Cost reflects the Unlimited 200 Plan (most popular plan).
  • ****International Mandatory Fees includes the International Fee and the Health Insurance Fee.

Housing Options range from $9,240-$12,520. Visit the Office of Residence Life for more information.

Graduate Tuition and Fee charges are based on 9 credits per semester. Credits in excess of 9 will have additional charges added.

These prices are estimates and subject to change by vote of the UMass Board of Trustees.

Additional fees that may apply are based on your status and enrollment. Fee descriptions provide more information on each fee that may be charged.

Online Tuition

For online programs, please visit Tuition & Fees for Graduate, Online & Professional Studies.

For more information about government aid, visit the Federal Student Aid website.

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Contact Us

For program questions or to connect with our current students, please contact:

Erno Sajo, Ph.D.
Phone: 978-934-3288
Email: Erno_Sajo@uml.edu