As most students enter the program from a variety of non-medical physics backgrounds, admission to the Medical Physics program is based on undergraduate GPA, letters of recommendation, GRE scores, and a technical degree (Math, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Biology, Public Health, or Engineering). Beginning graduate students should start their studies in the fall semester as the course sequence is based on that assumption. Beginning studies in January is discouraged.
Prospective students are encouraged to visit our campus and departments. Advance arrangements are recommended in order to schedule a meeting with individual professors. For further information, send an email to Dr. Robert D. Busch, busch@unm.edu.
Application to this program requires:
Send this information to:
Graduate Admissions
Dr. Gary W. Cooper, Ph.D.
Chemical & Nuclear Engineering Department
The University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131 -1341
Application deadlines for domestic applicants:
Fall semester: Priority deadline: March 15
Application deadlines for international applicants:
Fall semester: January 1
The Prerequisites, in addition to a technical bachelor's degree, are: One year of general college physics with laboratory (purely descriptive courses are insufficient; calculus based courses are desired). One year of general college chemistry with laboratory. One year of differential and integral calculus. A survey course in general biology, human biology or mammalian physiology. A total of 32 hours of science and math is required.
In most cases, students entering the program have the necessary prerequisites so little leveling is required. However, in addition to the prerequisites listed above, a course in differential equations such as: Math 316 - Ordinary Differential Equations is required. This may be taken during the summer or the first fall semester.
There are 39 hours required for the Masters in Nuclear Engineering with a concentration in the Medical Physics Option. There are no electives in this curriculum. The M.S. degree does not require a thesis.
The Graduate School requires a Master's Comprehensive Examination that can be either written or oral, or both. For this program, this will be a written and oral comprehensive exam in the area of medical radiation physics. It will cover material from the core classes and experience acquired through the practicum.
In addition to the qualifying examination, a student wishing to obtain a Master’s degree must complete the department’s course requirements as well as the residence requirement of the Graduate School (two full-time semesters).
For the University, a student must maintain a GPA of a least 3.0 in all courses taken for graduate credit. A student is placed on probation after 2 NC/F's and will be removed from the program if a third NC or F is received. For this program, the student maintains at least a 3.3 GPA in all courses that apply towards the degree.
Some teaching assistantships and research assistance positions may be available and are awarded on a semester basis to graduate students. These appointments are usually at the level of one-third time.
All medical physics graduate students should consider becoming a student
member of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM). The
following is a link to their application page.
http://www.aapm.org/memb/prospect/apply.asp
Take some time to browse the
AAPM website to learn about the association.
