UMass Lowell's Medical Physics program offers fundamental physics knowledge with a medical physics specialization.

At a Glance

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

Get Started

Deadline for fall semester entry:
January 15

Medical Physics Program Overview

Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Educational Program (CAMPEP), UMass Lowell's Medical Physics doctoral 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 duration of the Ph.D. program is usually between four and six years.

Curriculum

Our program builds on the M.S. in Radiological Sciences and Protection, Medical Physics Option curriculum and adds further requirements, including graduate courses in physics, biology, or chemistry and a doctoral dissertation. The research results are expected to be published in at least one peer-reviewed journal paper. 

Students in the program qualify for and are expected to take the American Board of Radiology (ABR) Part-1 Exam by the second or third year of 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. 

For complete program details and course descriptions, please visit the Academic Catalog.

  • This sequence assumes the entering student has adequate preparation in undergraduate Mechanics, Electricity and Magnetism, Quantum Mechanics and Statistical Mechanics; therefore no physics remedial courses (PHYS.5000 level) are necessary. Note that the actual degree pathway depends on the particular preparation of the student, therefore this example may not be applicable to everyone.
    Year 1, Semester 1 (Fall)
    Course #Course NameCr.
    Total9
    RADI.5010Radiation Safety and Control I3
    RADI.5090Nuclear Instrumentation3
    PHYS.6570Electromagnetic Theory I3
    PHYS.7200Medical Physics Seminar0
    PHYS.7010Physics Colloquium0
    Year 1, Semester 2 (Spring)
    Course #Course NameCr.
    Total9
    RADI.5980Medical Imaging I3
    RADI.5620Radiation Biology3
    PHYS.6580Electromagnetic Theory II3
    PHYS.7200Medical Physics Seminar0
    PHYS.7021Physics Colloquium0
    Year 1,  Summer Trimester
    Course #Course NameCr.
    Total9
    DPTH.6510Sectional Human Anatomy (or equivalent, if needed)3
    DPTH.6590LSectional Human Anatomy Lab (or equivalent, if needed)3
    Target date for Comprehensive Doctoral Examination.
    Year 2, Semester 3 (Fall)
    Course #Course NameCr.
    Total9
    RADI.6980Medical Imaging II3
    RADI.6050Radiation Interactions & Transport3
    RADI.5330External Dosimetry and Shielding3
    PHYS.7200Medical Physics Seminar
    PHYS.7010Physics Colloquium0
    Year 2, Semester 4 (Spring)
    Course #Course NameCr.
    Total9
    RADI.5650Radiation Therapy Physics3
    RADI.6060Monte Carlo Simulation of Radiation Transport3
    XXXX.XXXX
    Classical Mechanics or
    other approved elective
    		3
    PHYS.7200Medical Physics Seminar0
    PHYS.7020Physics Colloquium0
    Target date for start of research.
    Year 3, Semester 5 (Fall)
    Course #Course NameCr.
    Total9
    XXXX.XXXX
    Computational Methods in Physics or
    Other approved elective
    		3
    RADI.6760Advanced Project3
    PHYS.7310Graduate Seminar in Radiological Sciences0
    BMBT.5200Ethical Issues in Biomedical Research
    PHYS.7200Medical Physics Seminar
    PHYS.7010Physics Colloquium
    Year 3, Semester 6 (Spring)
    Course #Course NameCr.
    Total9
    RADI.6650Advanced Radiation Therapy Physics3
    RADI.6860Advanced Medical Physics Internship3
    PHYS.7320Advanced Project0
    PHYS.7200Medical Physics Seminar
    PHYS.7020Physics Colloquium
    Target date for graduate research admissions exam and formation of thesis committee. Recommended date for taking ABR Part I examination.
    Year 4, Semester 7 (Fall)
    Course #Course NameCr.
    Total9
    PHYS/RADI.XXXXApproved Elective
    PHYS/RADI.7560Doctoral Dissertation - Physics6
    PHYS.7200Medical Physics Seminar0
    PHYS.7010Physics Colloquium0
    Year 4, Semester 8 (Spring)
    Course #Course NameCr.
    Total9
    PHYS/RADI.XXXXApproved Elective
    PHYS/RADI.7560Doctoral Dissertation - Physics3
    PHYS.7200Medical Physics Seminar3
    PHYS.7010Physics Colloquium0
    Year 5, Semester 9 (Fall)
    Course #Course NameCr.
    Total9
    PHYS/RADI.7560Doctoral Dissertation - Physics3
    PHYS.7200Medical Physics Seminar3
    PHYS.7010Physics Colloquium0
    Year 5, Semester 10 (Spring)
    Course #Course NameCr.
    Total9
    PHYS/RADI.7560Doctoral Dissertation - Physics3
    PHYS.7200Graduate Seminar in Radiological Sciences3
    PHYS.7020Physics Colloquium0

    Target date for dissertation defense.

    Last updated: 1/26/2021

  • This sequence assumes the entering student has advanced preparation in the core Physics courses, which are part of the requirements for the PhD degree in Physics, including MS thesis. The Advanced Project may be waived, as done in this example, if the appropriate conditions are met. Note that the actual degree pathway depends on the particular preparation of the student, therefore this example may not be applicable to everyone.
    Year 1, Semester 1 (Fall)
    Course #Course NameCr.
    Total9
    RADI.5010Radiation Safety and Control I3
    RADI.5090Nuclear Instrumentation3
    RADI.6050Radiation Interactions and Transport3
    PHYS.7200Medical Physics Seminar0
    PHYS.7010Physics Colloquium0
    Year 1, Semester 2 (Spring)
    Course #Course NameCr.
    Total9
    RADI.5980Medical Imaging I3
    RADI.5620Radiation Biology3
    RADI.5650Radiation Therapy Physics3
    PHYS.7200Medical Physics Seminar0
    PHYS.7020Physics Colloquium0
    Year 1,  Summer Trimester
    Course #Course NameCr.
    Total4
    DPTH.6510Sectional Human Anatomy (or equivalent, if needed)3
    DPTH.6590Sectional Human Anatomy Lab (or equivalent, if needed)1
    Target date for comprehensive examination.
    Year 2, Semester 3 (Fall)
    Course #Course NameCr.
    Total9
    RADI.6980Medical Imaging II3
    RADI.6760Graduate Medical Physics Internship2
    RADI.5330External Dosimetry and Shielding3
    PHYS.7200Medical Physics Seminar1
    PHYS.7010Physics Colloquium0
    Target date for graduate research admission exam.
    Year 2, Semester 4 (Spring)
    Course #Course NameCr.
    Total9
    RADI.6650Advanced Radiation Therapy Physics3
    RADI.6060Monte Carlo Simulation of Radiation Transport3
    RADI.6860
    Advanced Medical Physics Internship
    		2
    BMBT.5200Ethical Issues in Biomedical Research (or equivalent)1
    PHYS.7200Medical Physics Seminar0
    PHYS.7020Physics Colloquium0
    Recommended date for taking ABR Part I examination.
    Year 3, Semester 5 (Fall)
    Course #Course NameCr.
    Total9
    PHYS/RADI.XXXXApproved Elective3
    PHYS/RADI.7560Ph.D. Dissertation Research6
    PHYS.7200Medical Physics Seminar0
    PHYS.7010Physics Colloquium0
    Year 3, Semester 6 (Spring)
    Course #Course NameCr.
    Total9
    PHYS/RADI.XXXXApproved Elective3
    PHYS/RADI.7560Ph.D. Dissertation Research6
    PHYS.7200Medical Physics Seminar0
    PHYS.7020Physics Colloquium0
    Target date for graduate research admissions exam.
    Year 4, Semester 7 (Fall)
    Course #Course NameCr.
    Total9
    PHYS/RADI.7560Ph.D. Dissertation Research9
    PHYS.7200Medical Physics Seminar0
    PHYS.7020Physics Colloquium0
    Year 4, Semester 8 (Spring)
    Course #Course NameCr.
    Total9
    PHYS/RADI.7560Ph.D. Dissertation Research9
    PHYS.7200Medical Physics Seminar0
    PHYS.7020Physics Colloquium0
    The schedule in Year 3 or 4 may be continued in subsequent years, as appropriate within the time limit set by the University and the Department, depending on the progress of the student’s dissertation research.
    Target date for dissertation defense.

    Last updated: 1/28/2021

  • This sequence assumes the entering student has an MS Degree with thesis in Medical Physics from a CAMPEP-accredited institution, including clinical rotation, but has no advanced preparation in the core Physics courses. It is further assumed that the prior MS Degree involved a total of 30 credits beyond the baccalaureate degree. The Advanced Project may be waived, as done in this example, if the appropriate conditions are met. Note that the actual degree pathway depends on the particular preparation of the student, therefore this example may not be applicable to everyone.
    Year 1, Semester 1 (Fall)
    Course #Course NameCr.
    Total9
    PHYS.5610Nuclear Physics I3
    PHYS.6570Electromagnetic Theory I3
    RADI/PHYS.XXXXApproved Elective3
    PHYS.7200Medical Physics Seminar0
    PHYS.7010Physics Colloquium0
    Year 1, Semester 2 (Spring)
    Course #Course NameCr.
    Total9
    PHYS.6580Electromagnetic Theory II3
    PHYS.6620Nuclear Physics II3
    XXXX.XXXX
    Classical Mechanics or
    Approved Elective
    		3
    PHYS.7200Medical Physics Seminar0
    PHYS.7020Physics Colloquium0
    Target date for comprehensive examination.
    Year 2, Semester 3 (Fall)
    Course #Course NameCr.
    Total9
    XXXX.XXXX
    Computational Methods in Physics or
    Approved elective
    		3
    RADI.6050Radiation Interactions and Transport3
    PHYS/RADI/7560Ph.D. Dissertation Research3
    PHYS.7200Medical Physics Seminar0
    PHYS.7010Physics Colloquium0
    Target date for graduate research admission exam.
    Year 2, Semester 4 (Spring)
    Course #Course NameCr.
    Total9
    RADI.6060Monte Carlo Simulation of radiation Transport3
    PHYS/RADI.7560PH.D. Dissertation Research6
    PHYS.7200Medical Physics Seminar0
    PHYS.7020Physics Colloquium0
    Recommended date for taking Part I examination if not already taken.
    Year 3, Semester 5 (Fall)
    Course #Course NameCr.
    Total9
    RADI.7560Ph.D. Dissertation Research6
    PHYS.7200Medical Physics Seminar0
    PHYS.7010Physics Colloquium0
    The schedule in Semester 5 may be continued in subsequent semesters, as appropriate within the time limit set by the University and the Department, depending on the progress of the student’s research.

    Target date for dissertation defense.

    Last updated: 1/28/2021

Medical Physics Career Outlook

Upon graduation, medical physics students are prepared to receive advanced clinical training by entering a medical physics residency program or through working under the direction of a board-certified medical physicist. 

Patient is prepared for image-guided radiation therapy.

Recent graduates have accepted positions as:

  • Clinical residents
  • Postdoctoral fellow/researchers in an academic environment
  • Professional clinical medical physicists
  • Medical physicists in a research laboratory
  • Medical physicists in industry

Admissions & Aid

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

    • 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.

  • A limited number of Teaching Assistantships (TA) is available for qualified full-time doctoral students. The Department of Physics and Applied Physics offers TA support for the first two years of study. Thereafter, one of the research groups may offer a Research Assistantship (RA) on a competitive basis. For further details, including the current TA/RA compensation amounts, please visit Graduate Student Assistantships. 

    Learn more about Tuition & Aid for Graduate Programs.

Request More Information

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