Accredited by CAMPEP, UMass Lowell's Medical Physics program qualifies students for all medical physics specialties and prepares them for residency programs, junior medical physicist positions and future ABR exams.

At a Glance

  • Flexibility
    Part Time | Full Time
  • Delivery Options
    On Campus
  • Degree
    MS

Medical Physics Program Overview

Gain education and training in radiation sciences, radiation protection, medical applications of radiation, and dosimetry (including laboratory work and clinical internship) with UMass Lowell's Medical Physics program.

Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Educational Program (CAMPEP), our master's program collaborates with local and regional teaching hospitals and cancer centers in the Boston area to provide you with cutting-edge education in therapeutic and imaging medical physics. 

The program duration is designed to be two years plus one summer semester, although the typical academic plan may be different due to elective courses and the length of thesis research.

Program Quick Facts

  • Accredited by CAMPEP
  • Prepare for ABR Exams
  • Scholarships and Financial Aid Available
  • STEM-designated Degree Program

Curriculum

Our master's program requires a combination of didactic courses, laboratories, clinical training and a thesis of publishable quality. Elective courses may be taken to meet particular educational needs, especially for the student’s research. 

Students in the program qualify for and are expected to take the American Board of Radiology (ABR) Part-1 Exam by the second year of their study. Historically, most students have concentrated on therapy physics but because faculty and the cooperating hospitals also have imaging and nuclear medicine research projects, over the last decade a number of students have focused on other medical physics specialties as well. 

The clinical component provides the students with training dominantly in radiation therapy, but diagnostic imaging traineeships are also available.

For complete program details, please visit the Academic Catalog.

For students entering Fall 2024 and beyond.
Core Courses
Course NumberCourse NameCredits
Total43
RADI.5010Radiation Safety and Control - I3
RADI.5090Nuclear Instrumentation3
RADI.5330External Dosimetry and Shielding3
RADI.5620Radiation Biology3
RADI.5650Radiation Therapy Physics3
RADI.5980Medical Imaging - I3
RADI.6980Medical Imaging - II3
RADI.6050Radiation Interactions and Transport3
RADI.6060Monte Carlo Simulation of Radiation Transport3
RADI.6650Advanced Radiation Therapy Physics3
RADI.6760LGraduate Medical Physics Internship1-3‡
RADI.6860LAdvanced Medical Physics Internship1-3‡
BMBT.5200Ethical Issues in Biomedical Research1†
PHYS.7200Medical Physics Seminar0-1*
PHYS.7010Physics Colloquium0
RADI.7430
OR
PHYS.7430		Thesis Research6
HSCI.5510§Clinical Pathophysiology§§3
Curriculum Summary
Total credits required for the degree43
Number of courses required for the degree17
  • † The Bioethics course offered by the Radiological Society of North America is equivalent and can be taken in lieu of this course. Please submit a Graduate Academic Petition to have the RSNA course accepted towards the completion of the Medical Physics Degree.
  • * Students enroll in PHYS 7200 for all semesters of their studies. Only one of them can be taken for credit, in which they usually present their thesis work as public seminar. Waiver may be obtained from the course director if this course conflicts with clinical rotation schedule.
  • ¶ All graduate students in the Physics Department are required to take Physics Colloquium. MS students typically take this course for 0 credit hours. Waiver may be obtained from the course director if this course conflicts with clinical rotation schedule.
  • § and §§ Required course in Anatomy and Physiology - A graduate course in anatomy and physiology is a requirement for all Medical Physics students. Students who have taken an equivalent course in anatomy and physiology at another accredited institution may request a course transfer, subject to UML's credit transfer policy. For these students, the total number of courses required for degree is 16 and the total number of credits is 40. Students in this program must take a specific section of HSCI.5510 indicated by their coordinator.
  • ‡ Required Clinical Rotations  - Two clinical rotations, which typically take place during the Fall and Spring semesters of the second year or later, are required. Rotation in the summer semester is also possible. Each rotation consists of spending an average of 12 to 15 hours per week in the cooperating clinic (depending on the site) under the supervision of a Board-Certified clinical medical physicist. Depending on the time spent in the clinic, these courses carry flexible credits and are repeatable.<</li>

MS Thesis Research

A thesis, whose quality is sufficient for publication in the AAPM annual meeting or in an appropriate peer-reviewed scientific journal, is required. Students must take at least 6 credit hours of thesis research.

Updated 12/3/24

Medical Physics Career Outlook

UMass Lowell graduates are qualified for all medical physics specialties and prepared for residency programs, industrial positions and future ABR exams.
Medical professional analyzes color-enhanced images of brain.

Recent graduates have pursued further research training in medical physics programs offering a doctoral degree or accepted positions as:

  • Clinical residents
  • Medical physicists in a research laboratory
  • Medical physicists in industry

Tuition and Admissions

Eligible students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for financial assistance.

Complete the FAFSA

View Estimated Annual Tuition and Fees for the 2025 - 2026 Academic Year

As a graduate student, you may qualify for federal student aid and other need-based scholarships. To be considered for financial assistance, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Learn more at UMass Lowell Graduate Aid.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and certain eligible non-citizens. Please visit Financial Aid if you have questions about your eligibility.

  • Application:
  • Application Fee: $50
  • Statement of Purpose: Outline goals, experience and achievements (maximum 2 pages).
  • Letters of Recommendation: Two (2) for master's, three (3) for doctoral applicants.
  • Transcripts: You may apply with unofficial transcripts, but if accepted, official transcripts are required. We do not accept opened, photocopied, emailed PDFs or faxed official transcripts.
  • Test Scores: UMass Lowell’s school code is 3911. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are only required for the following programs:
    • Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Computer Science,
    • Medical Physics and Radiological Sciences.
    • Some programs will waive the test score requirements under certain conditions.

All materials must be received before your application is reviewed. To add documents before review, log in and select “Program Materials.”

Chemistry and Polymer Science Ph.D. Applicants

All required documents are due to the Office of Graduate Admissions by February 15 for full Fall consideration. Applications received after this date will be reviewed for the next semester.

International Applicants

A transcript evaluation is required for the M.S. in Biological Sciences and Ph.D. in Applied Biology.

International transcripts must indicate completion of a four-year bachelor’s degree (equivalent of an American bachelor's degree) before an application will be processed. The Office of Graduate Admissions reserves the right to have any application credentials evaluated.  Baccalaureate verification may be obtained for a fee from:

English proficiency is required. If English is not your country’s national language, please submit one of the following scores:

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): 79+
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS): 6.5+
  • Duolingo: 115+
  • ASC English: Level 6+
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE): 53+

Please note:

  • Deadline for fall semester entry: January 15
  • Successful applicants typically have an undergraduate major in physics, engineering, or a similar technical field. Students with other undergraduate degrees may be accepted if the prerequisite coursework, equivalent to a minor in physics, is satisfied. Applicants with minor deficiencies (e.g., one of the required courses is missing) may be admitted with the provision of satisfying the prerequisite during the first year of graduate study. In cases when multiple prerequisite courses are lacking, we recommend that the student satisfactorily complete these courses before embarking on graduate studies in Medical Physics.
  • Review complete Admission Qualifications for the Medical Physics Program in the academic catalog.

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Questions? Contact Us!

Phone:
800-656-4723 (U.S. Students)
978-934-2390 (International Students)

Email: 
Graduate_Admissions@uml.edu

For program questions or to connect with our current students, please contact:

Erno Sajo, Ph.D.
Phone: 978-934-3288
Email: Erno_Sajo@uml.edu