Medical physics is a profession that combines principles of physics and engineering with those of biology and medicine to effect better diagnosis and treatment of human disease while ensuring the safety of the public, our patients and those caring for them.
The Medical Physics Graduate Program offers the Specialized Master of Science (SMS) degree and the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees through the MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Two University of Texas components, UTHealth Houston and MD Anderson, jointly support the program, with the majority of faculty and students, as well as the program administration, working at MD Anderson.
The SMS degree is a professional master's degree that prepares the student for clinical practice as a medical physicist. The PhD degree is intended for the student who is preparing for a career that includes a strong research component. The two degree tracks have similar didactic curricula, but the SMS research project is typically more clinically focused and shorter in duration than the research work for the MS and PhD degrees.
In addition to the SMS and PhD degree programs in Medical Physics, the GSBS offers a Graduate Certificate in Medical Physics. The certificate program is intended for those who already have a PhD in physics or a related discipline and are interested in obtaining the didactic education in medical physics that is required by residency programs and by the American Board of Radiology. Some of the requirements for admission to this program are a PhD in physics or a PhD in a related discipline plus at least a minor in physics and medical physics research experience at The University of Texas MD Anderson or UTHealth Houston.
The Medical Physics Program has specific course requirements and electives that students must complete to make progress towards their degree.
Please visit the Medical Physics program requirements page on the GSBS website to learn more about program-specific requirements for courses, advisory committees, and candidacy exams.