Requirements for completion of the (M.S.)Ph.D. degree in Medical Physics are course work, research tutorials, research thesis and dissertation, and clinical rotations elaborated below.  The spirit of the Program's degree requirements is to meet the existing requirements of the GSBS for the (M.S.)Ph.D. degree, with the following addition and options:  (1) requiring a full slate of didactic courses in Medical Physics necessary to qualify for CAMPEP Accreditation, (2) requiring two clinical rotations, and (3) requiring core Biomedical Science courses that are more aligned with the field of Medical Physics.

1. Biomedical Science Core Curriculum (12 semester hours)

The required core curriculum listed below parallels GSBS requirements for core courses in the area of quantitative, molecular, cellular, and systems.  These courses provide background for Medical Physics training, although they would not be adequate for other areas.

(3) GS020183 Mathematics for Medical Physics (Quantitative)
(4) GS030014 Metabolic Biochemistry (Molecular)*
(2) GS020042 Radiation Biology (Cellular)
(2) GS020142 Anatomy and Oncology for Medical Physicists (Systems)
(1) GS210051 The Ethical Dimensions of the Biomedical Science (Ethics)

 

2. Medical Physics Core Curriculum (24 semester hours)

Students who have completed equivalent graduate level courses in these areas may petition to the Program Steering Committee for advanced placement credit. 

(3) GS020093 Introduction to Medical Physics I: Basic Interactions
(3) GS020103 Introduction to Medical Physics II: Medical Imaging
(3) GS020113 Introduction to Medical Physics III: Therapy
(3) GS020193 Introduction to Medical Physics IV: Nuclear Medicine
(3) GS020203 Electronics for Medical Physicists
(3) GS020053 Radiation Detection, Instrumentation, and Data Analysis
(3) GS020133 Introduction to Radiation Protection
(3) GS020731 Medical Physics Seminar (3 semesters x 1 hour/semester)
 

3. Research Tutorials (12 semester hours)

The students establishes an area of research for the M.S. thesis or Ph.D. dissertation by completing three research tutorials of 200 hours each.  One of the three tutorials may be outside the area of Medical Physics. If the student had completed an M.S. degree with thesis, then only two research tutorials are required.

(12) GS000514 Tutorial Research Experience (3 semesters)
 

4. Thesis

An M.S. thesis, of quality sufficient for publication in a refereed journal, is required.  The student must register for thesis credit for at least 1 semester. The student officially begins thesis research upon advancement to M.S. candidacy. This requires approval, by the Program and the GSBS Academic Standards Committee, of the student's program of course work, abstract of proposed research, and proposed members of the Supervisory Committee.

The M.S. thesis is considered complete when the final written version is signed by all members of the student's Supervisory Committee and after the delivery of a public seminar and successful passing of an oral examination on the Thesis given by members of the Supervisory Committee and other interested faculty members.

The student is expected to prepare a first draft of at least one paper based on the thesis work for submission for publication in an appropriate peer-reviewed scientific journal.

If a student already has a thesis-option M.S. degree, then he/she may petition to bypass the M.S. degree enroute to the Ph.D. The ultimate decision regarding the M.S. bypass is made by the Oral Candidacy Exam Committee.

***Effective Fall 2007, students without a thesis-option M.S. degree can also petition to bypass the M.S. degree. Such student must successfully pass a written candidacy exam prior to the formation of the Oral Candidacy Exam Committee. Typically, this written exam is taken at the start of the summer semester of a student's second year. However, the written exam can be taken as early as the third semester following matriculation. In addition, student must submit one manuscript as first author to a peer-reviewed journal and pass the oral candidacy exam. Again, the ultimate decision regarding the M.S. bypass is made by the Oral Candidacy Exam Committee.

GS000910 Thesis for Masters of Science (1 semester minimum)

***** Requirements for the M.S. degree are fulfilled at this point *****
5. Specialty Curriculum

The student shall complete specialty courses as prescribed by the student's Ph.D. Advisory or Supervisory Committee.  This should not exceed 12 semester hours for any one student.  Below are selected, available advanced courses.

(4) GS010014 Biomedical Statistics
(2) GS020012 Physics of Positron Emission Tomography
(2) GS020032 Principles of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
(2) GS000610 Special Radiation Therapy Procedures
(3) GS000610 Special Project Course: Digital Processing of Biomedical Images
(2) GS000610 Special Project Course: Radiation Transport Methods
(2) GS000610 Special Project Course: Volumetric Imaging Reconstruction
(X) Other electives within GSBS, Rice University, or University of Houston  


6. Clinical Rotations (8 hours) The student gains an introduction into clinical medical physics by completing two clinical rotations, one in therapy and one in imaging, each of 200 hours.

(4) GS020154 Radiation Therapy Physics Rotation
(4) GS020174 Diagnostic Imaging Physics Rotation  


7. Oral Candidacy Exam

Each student is given the opportunity to develop the skill of formulating a significant research problem. The attainment of the skill is demonstrated by the student's passing an oral candidacy examination, which test the student's preparedness for undertaking a research problem and knowledge of the pertinent scientific background.

Prior to the oral exam, the student is required to write a proposal in his or her area of Ph.D. dissertation research in the form of a NIH research grant application.  It is the intention of this requirement to expose the student to the need for a sound scientific reasoning and literacy which precedes actual research.  The student's Advisory Committee will review this proposal, submit a written critique to the student that may request modification or rewriting of the proposal, and determine whether the proposal is acceptable for presentation to the Oral Candidacy Examination Committee.
 

8. Dissertation

A dissertation, of quality sufficient for publication in a refereed journal, is required. The student must register for dissertation credit for at least 1 semester. The student officially begins their dissertation research upon their advancement to Ph.D. candidacy. This requires passing the Oral Candidacy Exam and receiving approval by the Program and the GSBS Academic Standard Committee of the student's program of course work, abstract of proposed research, and proposed members of the Supervisory Committee.

After successfully completing the research and writing, the student must hold a formal defense of the dissertation, which includes the presentation of research findings in a public seminar.

The student is expected to submit at least one paper based on the dissertation work for publication in an appropriate peer-reviewed scientific journal.

GS000920 Dissertation for Doctor of Philosophy (1 semester minimum)
 

9. Supplementary Training (non-mandatory)

Students receive supplementary training by taking short courses in Therapeutic Radiological Physics offered by the Department of Radiation Physics/MDACC, or Diagnostic Physics offered by the Department of Imaging Physics/MDACC. Formal credit is not awarded for these courses.  Students should arrange for enrollment in consultation with the Department of Imaging Physics Executive Director for Educational Programs (Georgeanne Moore).