The medical physics graduate program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs, Inc. (CAMPEP). The program, serving both MS and PhD degrees, ensures that the students receive adequate didactic and clinical training to continue in education and research, enter clinical physics residencies or begin working as medical physicists in radiation therapy and diagnostic radiology departments. MS students are trained with an emphasis on developing skills necessary for clinical medical physicists,
In addition to the requirement of physics minor-equivalent undergraduate coursework, the qualifications and documentation required for admission to the MS program in Medical Physics are the same as for the College of Engineering.
In general, the following four types of students are typically admitted to the MS program in Medical Physics:
- Students with undergraduate degrees in biomedical engineering and other engineering disciplines who seek advanced professional training or specialization in a particular area of medical physics
- Professional engineers with degrees in other engineering disciplines who plan to enter the field of medical physics
- Students with an undergraduate degree in Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Chemistry, Biology or other fields of natural or health science who seek to diversify their career opportunities by acquiring a medical physics degree
- Students who are preparing for admission to advanced health-related or other professional programs such as medical school
Students may be given conditional admission and required to take additional undergraduate courses in engineering, physics, and/or mathematics depending on their previous course work, as specified in the admission letter. The requisite courses will be prescribed by the Department Chair or Graduate Program Director during the first advising session.
The objective of the Medical Physics program is to provide advanced knowledge in the field of medical physics with an emphasis on therapeutic medical physics, and to provide the training required for students to become licensed medical physicists. This program is coordinated by the Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Department of Radiation Oncology at the School of Medicine.
The program is opened to students enrolled in the regular MS program, as well as the dual degree (BS/MS) program. Candidates are required to have completed the physics minor equivalent coursework that must include Modern Physics (PHY 360 or equivalent), before they start their coursework in the Medical Physics program.
Students in the Medical Physics program must complete Human Physiology for Engineers (BME 602) and one of the remaining two courses from the human physiology (BME 601or BME 603) course series, and 23-credits in the core curriculum in the area of medical physics.
The topic of the non-thesis MS project (BME 707/BME 708), or MS thesis must be related to medical physics. In general, the project is co-supervised by Faculty from the Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Department of Radiation Oncology
Required Core Courses
All students enrolled in the MS program are required to complete the following core graduate courses:
The Human Physiology Courses (BME 601/BME 602/BME 603, 3 credits each) are designed to provide a basic understanding of organ-level physiology and anatomy, neurophysiology, and cellular and molecular biology. Students with an MD from a medical school accredited by the World Health Organization are exempted from taking these courses. Students holding advanced degrees in the life sciences, or equivalent experience in the field, may also be exempt. Each such exception requires the approval of the Department Chairperson and Faculty member responsible for the course of concern. Students who receive an exemption, must replace the exempted course(s) with another 3-credit graduate course(s) that meets the degree requirements.
Curriculum Requirements
MS in Medical Physics - Nonthesis Option
The MS non-thesis option is intended for students with an undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering or related disciplines who seek advanced training or specialization in a specific area of biomedical engineering; for professional engineers with undergraduate degrees in other disciplines who want to enter the field of biomedical engineering; and for students who want to prepare for admission to advanced health-related or other professional programs.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core Courses | ||
| BME 601 | Biochemistry and Cellular Physiology for Engineers | 3 |
| or BME 603 | Neurophysiology for Engineers | |
| BME 602 | Human Physiology for Engineers | 3 |
| BME 620 | Medical Imaging Systems: X-ray and CT | 3 |
| BME 621 | Medical Imaging Systems: MRI, NMI and Ultrasound | 3 |
| BME 681 | Radiation Biology and Physics | 3 |
| BME 682 | Radiation Therapy Physics | 3 |
| BME 683 | Radiation Protection | 3 |
| BME 701 | Professionalism and Ethics for Engineers and Medical Physicists | 1 |
| BME 781 | Radiation Dosimetry and Physics | 3 |
| BME 783 | Radiation Therapy Physics Clinical Rotation | 3 |
| BME 784 | Medical Physics Journal Club | 1 |
| Master's Project | ||
| BME 707 | Master’s Project I | 1 |
| BME 708 | Master’s Project II | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours | 32 | |
Non-Thesis MS Project
General description
All students enrolled in the MS non-thesis program must complete a two-semester 3 credit Master's project (BME 707 and BME 708), under the supervision of a project mentor and departmental project coordinator. The project must demonstrate the candidate’s ability to solve complex scientific or technical problems at the interface of engineering and medical physics.
The MS project can be a research or design project. The project must include a significant research or design component contributed by the M.S. student, including, but not limited to, the design of an experiment or process; the development of a device, instrument, or system; the development of a computer program; the analysis of experimental data. Projects cannot be limited solely to the review of literature, the development of research or design proposals, or the collection of experimental data.
At the completion of their project, students must submit a written project report and complete a public oral defense of their project.
Project Mentor
Students who select the MS non-thesis track must identify a project mentor and select a project before they register for their second semester of full-time study. The project mentor is generally a primary faculty member from the Medical Physics Graduate Program. The role of the project mentor is to help the student identify a suitable project, to monitor the progress of the student, to provide guidance and training in the relevant topics, and to review the final report and presentation.
Students may complete their project under the supervision of a faculty member from another Department at the University of Miami, or from the local biomedical industry, or from a local clinic, under the following conditions:
- The student must receive the approval of the Department Chairman and Graduate Program Director.
- The student must identify a co-mentor who must be a primary faculty member from the Medical Physics Graduate Program. The co-mentor must be familiar with the topic of the proposed project. The role of the co-mentor will be to monitor the student progress and ensure that the Master's project report and presentation satisfy all of the relevant requirements.
Project Coordinator
The project coordinator is a member of the primary faculty of the Department of Biomedical Engineering who is responsible for teaching the BME 707/BME 708 course. The role of the project coordinator is to:
- Help students identify a project and mentor.
- Ensure that the projects satisfy the program objectives.
- Provide general guidance and graduate scholarship training.
- Ensure that the students are making suitable progress towards the project goals.
Project Abstract
Non-Thesis MS students must submit a one-page project abstract to the Department Chairman or Graduate Program Director and to the MS Project Coordinator at the time when they register for BME 707/BME 708. The abstract must include the name of the project mentor (and co-mentor, if any), the title of the proposed project, and a brief description of the goals of the project and proposed methods. The abstract must be approved by the mentor, MS Project Coordinator, and Department Chairman or Graduate Program Director before the student can start work on the project. (Project Abstract Template)
Project Report
Non-thesis MS students must submit a detailed report describing the work completed during the project. The report must describe the objectives and significance of the work, and summarize the activities completed by the student as part of the MS project. The report must demonstrate that the work performed by the student satisfies the general project criteria. The typical length of non-thesis M.S. project reports is 20 to 30 pages. If the project resulted in the submission of a full-length peer-reviewed scientific article, the article can be submitted in lieu of a report, as long as the following conditions are satisfied:
- The student must be the first author of the article.
- The article must reflect the work performed by the student as part of the project.
- The article must be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal or conference proceedings volume.
- A one to two page introduction must be submitted to summarize the project goals and main outcomes.
The report must be reviewed and approved by the project mentor (and co-mentor, if any). Once the report is approved by the mentor(s), one printed copy and one electronic version in PDF format must be submitted to the Project Coordinator by the specified deadline. The final report must be approved and signed by the Project Mentor(s), Project Coordinator and Graduate Program Director or Department Chairman. (Signature Page Template)
Project presentation
Non-thesis MS students must give an oral presentation of their project. The oral presentation is generally scheduled during the scheduled final examination time of BME 707/BME 708 in the semester of graduation.
Project grade
The final grade for the project is given by the Project Coordinator. The final grade is a combination of a grade submitted by the Project Mentor(s) assessing the overall performance of the student on the project, and a grade given by the Project Coordinator assessing the quality of the oral presentation and report.
Curriculum Requirements:
MS in Medical Physics - Thesis Option
The thesis option is typically selected by students who are oriented towards a career in academic or industrial research and development, or students who want to acquire an initial independent biomedical research experience before seeking admission to doctoral programs.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core Courses | ||
| BME 601 | Biochemistry and Cellular Physiology for Engineers | 3 |
| or BME 603 | Neurophysiology for Engineers | |
| BME 602 | Human Physiology for Engineers | 3 |
| BME 620 | Medical Imaging Systems: X-ray and CT | 3 |
| BME 621 | Medical Imaging Systems: MRI, NMI and Ultrasound | 3 |
| BME 681 | Radiation Biology and Physics | 3 |
| BME 682 | Radiation Therapy Physics | 3 |
| BME 683 | Radiation Protection | 3 |
| BME 701 | Professionalism and Ethics for Engineers and Medical Physicists | 1 |
| BME 781 | Radiation Dosimetry and Physics | 3 |
| BME 783 | Radiation Therapy Physics Clinical Rotation | 3 |
| BME 784 | Medical Physics Journal Club | 1 |
| Thesis | ||
| BME 810 | Master's Thesis | 6 |
| Total Credit Hours | 35 | |
Thesis Option
General Description
The Master's thesis is a research monograph which describes the significance of the research and summarizes the research activities completed as part of the MS degree requirements. The objective of the thesis is to evaluate the candidate’s competence in the area of the MS research. The thesis must demonstrate that the research is original and that the candidate has the ability to solve complex scientific and/or technical problems at the interface of engineering and medicine or biology.
Thesis Mentor
Students who select the MS thesis track must identify a thesis mentor before they register for their second semester of full-time study. The thesis mentor must hold a primary or secondary faculty appointment in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. Exceptions can be made only with approval of the Graduate Program Director and Department Chairman.
The thesis mentor supervises the research work of the student and provides training and guidance in the relevant research topics, including design of experiments, experimental techniques, and scholarship activities. The mentor helps the student select a thesis topic and develop a plan, and chairs or co-chairs the thesis committee. The mentor works closely with the student to ensure that there is satisfactory progress towards the thesis goals.
Thesis Committee
The thesis must be approved by a thesis committee. The duties of the thesis committee are:
- to consult with and to advise students on their research;
- to meet, at intervals, to review progress and expected results;
- to read and comment upon the draft thesis;
- to meet, when the thesis is completed, to conduct the final oral examination and to satisfy itself that the thesis work is original; that it demonstrates the candidate's ability to solve complex scientific and/or technical problems at the interface of engineering and medicine or biology; that it is written in lucid and correct English; and that it is submitted in approved format.
The thesis committee will consist of not less than three members, with the following requirements:
- The committee chair shall be a Primary Faculty member of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, as well as a regular member of the Graduate Faculty. The Committee Chair is generally also the thesis mentor.
- A thesis mentor who is not a member of the Primary Faculty of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, can serve as Co-Chair of the Thesis Committee, together with a second Co-Chair who shall be a member of the primary faculty of the Department of Biomedical Engineering.
- It is an additional requirement of the Department of Biomedical Engineering that at least two committee members should be primary Faculty members from the Department.
- One committee member must be from outside the Department. Outside members of the thesis committee can include part-time faculty that teach within the Department.
- At least one committee member must be a regular member of the Graduate Faculty of the University of Miami.
The committee is nominated by the Graduate Program Director. Usually, the student consults with his/her research mentor and with the Chairperson or Graduate Program Director to select the Committee members.
Thesis Format and Deadlines
It is the duty of the student to ensure that the thesis defense is scheduled and that a final version of the thesis approved by the Dissertation Editor is submitted to the Dissertation Editor by the required deadlines set by the Graduate School. All information pertaining to the formatting and electronic guidelines for electronic thesis submission can be found on the Graduate School website.
Each thesis must be accompanied by a Certificate of Defense Approval for Master’s Thesis signed by all members of the Committee. Forms can be downloaded from the Graduate School website.
Evaluation Forms
The student is responsible for distributing dissertation evaluation forms to the members of the Thesis Committee for the final oral examination. The evaluation forms are used to assess the overall quality of the graduate program at the Department, College, and University level. The evaluation forms are available on the Graduate School and Department of Biomedical Engineering websites. The completed forms must be collected by the Thesis Mentor and forwarded to the Office Manager at the Department of Biomedical Engineering.
Transfer to MS Non-Thesis Program
Students enrolled in the MS thesis program who do not wish to complete their thesis can transfer to the MS non-thesis program and graduate from the MS program under the following conditions:
- The transfer must be approved by the Department Chair or Graduate Program Director.
- All requirements of the MS non-thesis option must be satisfied, including completion of a two-semester 3 credit Master's project (BME 707 and BME 708), submission of a project report, and oral defense of project. Completed thesis credits may count towards the three credit MS project requirement.
Sample Plan of Study
MS Program in Medical Physics
Typical curricula for each option of the MS program in Medical Physics are shown in the following tables. The course sequence and timeline can be adjusted based on individual needs. The minimum residence requirement for the MS degree is two semesters in full-time study or the equivalent in part-time work. Students can also complete the BS/MS program in Medical Physics.
MS without Thesis
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credit Hours | |
| BME 620 | Medical Imaging Systems: X-ray and CT | 3 |
| BME 681 | Radiation Biology and Physics | 3 |
| BME 682 | Radiation Therapy Physics | 3 |
| BME 701 | Professionalism and Ethics for Engineers and Medical Physicists | 1 |
| Credit Hours | 10 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| BME 621 | Medical Imaging Systems: MRI, NMI and Ultrasound | 3 |
| BME 683 | Radiation Protection | 3 |
| BME 781 | Radiation Dosimetry and Physics | 3 |
| BME 784 | Medical Physics Journal Club | 1 |
| Identify Co-Mentors | ||
| Submit Project Abstract | ||
| Credit Hours | 10 | |
| Year Two | ||
| First Semester | ||
| BME 602 | Human Physiology for Engineers | 3 |
| BME 603 | Neurophysiology for Engineers | 3 |
| BME 707 | Master’s Project I | 1 |
| BME 783 | Radiation Therapy Physics Clinical Rotation | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 10 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| BME 708 | Master’s Project II | 2 |
| Credit Hours | 2 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 32 | |
Sample Plan of Study
MS with Thesis*
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credit Hours | |
| BME 620 | Medical Imaging Systems: X-ray and CT | 3 |
| BME 681 | Radiation Biology and Physics | 3 |
| BME 682 | Radiation Therapy Physics | 3 |
| BME 701 | Professionalism and Ethics for Engineers and Medical Physicists | 1 |
| Credit Hours | 10 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| BME 621 | Medical Imaging Systems: MRI, NMI and Ultrasound | 3 |
| BME 683 | Radiation Protection | 3 |
| BME 781 | Radiation Dosimetry and Physics | 3 |
| BME 784 | Medical Physics Journal Club | 1 |
| Credit Hours | 10 | |
| Year Two | ||
| First Semester | ||
| BME 602 | Human Physiology for Engineers | 3 |
| BME 603 | Neurophysiology for Engineers | 3 |
| BME 783 | Radiation Therapy Physics Clinical Rotation | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 9 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| BME 810 | Master's Thesis | 6 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 35 | |
*Students who are not able to complete their thesis during the 3rd semester and have completed all 30 required credits of graduate work, must enroll in 0 credits of Research in Residence (BME 820) to maintain full-time student status.
The goal of the Medical Physics Graduate Program at the University of Miami is to train students to develop the necessary academic framework as well as a thorough practical understanding in medical physics, including areas of diagnostic radiologic physics, health physics, nuclear medicine, and a designated focus on radiation therapy.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will be able to apply knowledge of mathematics, science and engineering to formulate and solve relevant medical physics problems.
- Students will be able to communicate scientific and technical research effectively in writing and oral presentations.
- Students will be able to work with physicians and technicians in conducting diagnostic radiology or radiation therapy.
