Admissions to the Medical Physics Program

The applicant is expected to have a bachelor's degree with two years of college mathematics (calculus I through III, plus differential equations), one year of physics (calculus-based), one semester of general chemistry, one semester of modern physics, one course in engineering-based computer programming (equivalent to Georgia Tech ME 2016), and one course in anatomy and physiology (equivalent to Georgia Tech BIOL 3751). An applicant who does not hold a bachelor’s degree in physics or applied physics is expected to have completed fundamental physics course equivalent to a minor in physics (see the ABR requirements for the Radiologic Physics Exam www.theabr.org).  The applicant must show evidence of the successful completion of the above prerequisites, except the latter two courses and the equivalent minor in physics. A student not having taken these prerequisites may be admitted; however he or she will have to complete these courses during their course of study, but without getting credit toward the master's degree requirement.

All applicants are required to take the GRE exam. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required.

There are two options: non-thesis or thesis. Both options include twelve required courses (28 credit hours) and a clinical rotation (3 credit hours). The thesis option includes an additional nine credit hours for the preparation of a thesis for a total of 40 credit hours. The non-thesis option requires two additional Medical Physics electives (6 credit hours) and one other elective (3 credit hours) for a total of 40 credit hours. The required courses are: Diagnostic Imaging Physics, Nuclear Medicine Physics, Radiation Therapy Physics Laboratory, Radiation Therapy Physics, Radiological Anatomy, Medical Health Physics, Radiation Dosimetry, Radiation Biology and Oncology, Radiation Physics, Radiation Detection, Seminar in Medical Physics I & II, and the Clinical Rotation. The clinical rotation requires four hundred contact hours of clinical rotation distributed in the areas of: Diagnostic Imaging, Nuclear Medicine, and Radiation Oncology.

Distance Learning and the Clinical Rotation

Individuals seeking admissions into the distance learning program are responsible for arranging to complete the clinical rotation at a local facility. When applying, the applicant is not required to provide information on the facility in which he/she intends to do the clinical rotation. After the review of the application has been completed, applicants who qualify for admission will be contacted by the medical physics program with detailed instructions to identify and obtain approval for a local clinical rotation facility. Once the clinical rotation facility has been approved by the program and affiliated by Georgia Tech the applicant will receive his/her letter of admission.

Note that the facility approval process can take several months to complete. It is recommended that applicants to the distance learning program complete their application early in order to be admitted to the program on time.