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Bachelor of Science in Health Physics
Program Overview
Bachelor of Science in Health Physics
About
The mission of the B.S. in Health Physics Program is to provide a high-quality undergraduate education experience for students in the field of radiation safety. The educational experience is accomplished through rigorous classroom instruction aided by computer and multi-media instruction, practical laboratory experiences, an introduction to the principles of research, and mentoring.
The products of this experience are entry-level professionals capable of critical thinking and problem solving, devoted to a lifetime of learning, committed to the ethical standards of their profession, and highly sought after by employers.
Learning Outcomes
- Graduates well grounded in science and math disciplines related to health physics.
- Graduates well grounded in the theoretical fundamentals of health physics.
- Graduates capable of assessing and solving problems related to health physics.
- Graduates will demonstrate competence with experimental equipment and techniques.
- Graduates will be effective communicators of technical information in both written and oral form.
- Graduates will be able to function within a team.
- Graduates will be able to participate in the research process and disseminate results.
- Graduates cognizant of the need for life-long learning and professional responsibility.
- Graduates will demonstrate the ability to assess and solve problems in a professional setting.
- Graduates will demonstrate knowledge of health physics ethics and professional responsibility.
Career Possibilities
Health physicists work in a variety of disciplines, including:
- Research
- Industry
- Education
- Environmental protection
- Enforcement of government regulations
Although the health physicist usually concentrates in one of these disciplines, a professional health physicist typically performs duties in several areas.
Requirements
Health Physics (BS)
The mission of the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Health Physics is to provide a high-quality undergraduate education experience for students in the field of radiation safety. The educational experience is accomplished through rigorous classroom instruction aided by computer and multi-media instruction, practical laboratory experiences, an introduction to the principles of research, and mentoring.
Learning Outcomes
- Knowledge of the basic health physics sciences.
- Knowledge of the theoretical aspects of health physics.
- Familiarity with the practical applications of health physics.
- Competency in health physics problem solving.
- Competency in communicating technical information in written and oral form.
- Knowledge of basic principles of radiation science and safety.
- Knowledge of the chemical and biological effects of radiation.
- Obtain a strong foundation in math and the basic sciences.
- Familiarity with basic computer programming skills.
- Familiarity with statistics of relevance to the field of health physics.
Career Possibilities
Health physicists work in a variety of disciplines, including:
- Research
- Industry
- Education
- Environmental protection
- Enforcement of government regulations
Although the health physicist usually concentrates in one of these disciplines, a professional health physicist typically performs duties in several areas.
Advising
Please see advising information at the UNLV Division of Health Sciences Academic Advising Center.
Accreditation
For information regarding accreditation at UNLV, please head over to Academic Program Accreditations.
University Graduation Requirements
Please see Graduation Policies for complete information.
Health Physics (BS) Degree Requirements - Total: 120 Credits
Health Physics is the profession devoted to protection of the individual, population, and environment from the potentially harmful effect of ionizing and nonionizing radiation. The Health Physics program at UNLV is designed to train students for entry-level positions in health physics. Graduates also meet many of the prerequisites required for postgraduate studies in areas such as health physics, radiation therapy, pharmacy or medicine. The specific program objectives are that, upon graduation, the graduate should:
- Apply theoretical and practical health physics in the workplace.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the research process and its relationship to current and future health physics activities.
- Continue to acquire knowledge and experiences requisite to assuming a leadership role in the health physics profession.
- Function collaboratively with members of the health physics community and representatives from related health and safety professions.
- Have a solid academic foundation for graduate study.
- Conduct themselves in an ethical and professional manner.
General Education Requirements - Subtotal: 37-38 Credits
First-Year Seminar - Credits: 2-3
English Composition - Credits: 6
- ENG 101 - Composition I
- ENG 102 - Composition II
Second-Year Seminar - Credits: 3
Constitutions - Credits: 4
Mathematics - Total Credits: 4
- MATH 181 - Calculus I
Distribution Requirement - Credits: 18
Please see Distribution Requirements for more information.
- Humanities and Fine Arts - Credits: 9
- Two courses from two different areas - 6 credits
- One course in Fine Arts - 3 credits
- Social Science - Credits: 9
- One course each from three different fields
- Life and Physical Sciences and Analytical Thinking
- Automatically satisfied by Major requirements
Multicultural and International
Multicultural, one 3 credit course required
International, one 3 credit course required
These courses may overlap with general education and major requirements. A single course may not meet the multicultural and international requirements simultaneously. For the list of approved multicultural and international courses, go to:
Major Requirements - BS in Health Physics - Subtotal: 83 Credits
- Mathematics - Credits: 4
- MATH 182 - Calculus II
- Biology - Credits: 12
- BIOL 190A - Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology
- BIOL 190L - Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory
- BIOL 223 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I
- BIOL 224 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II
- Chemistry - Credits: 8
- CHEM 121A - General Chemistry I
- CHEM 121L - General Chemistry Laboratory I
- CHEM 122A - General Chemistry II
- CHEM 122L - General Chemistry Laboratory II
- Physics - Credits: 12
- PHYS 180 - Physics for Scientists and Engineers I
- PHYS 180L - Physics for Scientists and Engineers Lab I
- PHYS 181 - Physics for Scientists and Engineers II
- PHYS 181L - Physics for Scientists and Engineers Lab II
- PHYS 182 - Physics for Scientists and Engineers III
- PHYS 182L - Physics for Scientists and Engineers Lab III
- Health Physics - Credits: 26
- HPS 300 - Physics of Ionizing Radiation
- HPS 301 - Principles of Health Physics
- HPS 402 - Radiation Detection
- HPS 403 - Radiation Physics and Instrumentation Laboratory
- HPS 411 - Health Physics Seminar (see note 1 below)
- HPS 416 - Advanced Health Physics
- HPS 420 - Radiation Biology
- HPS 470 - Environmental Health Physics
- HPS 495 - Health Physics Research
- Science, Math or Engineering Electives - Credits: 21
- STAT 491 - Statistics for Scientists I
- CS 117 - Programming for Scientists and Engineers
- Additional Electives (must be approved by the student's advisor)
Total Credits: 120
Major Requirements - BS in Health Physics - Preprofessional Concentration - Subtotal: 83 Credits
- Mathematics - Credits: 4
- MATH 182 - Calculus II
- Biology - Credits: 16
- BIOL 190A - Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology
- BIOL 190L - Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory
- BIOL 223 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I
- BIOL 224 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II
- Chemistry - Credits: 16
- CHEM 121A - General Chemistry I
- CHEM 122A - General Chemistry II
- CHEM 241 - Organic Chemistry I
- CHEM 241L - Organic Chemistry for Life Sciences Lab I
- CHEM 242 - Organic Chemistry II
- CHEM 242L - Organic Chemistry for Life Sciences Laboratory II
- Physics - Credits: 12
- PHYS 180 - Physics for Scientists and Engineers I
- PHYS 180L - Physics for Scientists and Engineers Lab I
- PHYS 181 - Physics for Scientists and Engineers II
- PHYS 182 - Physics for Scientists and Engineers III
- PHYS 182L - Physics for Scientists and Engineers Lab III
- Health Physics - Credits: 26
- HPS 300 - Physics of Ionizing Radiation
- HPS 301 - Principles of Health Physics
- HPS 402 - Radiation Detection
- HPS 403 - Radiation Physics and Instrumentation Laboratory
- HPS 411 - Health Physics Seminar (must be taken for four semesters)
- HPS 416 - Advanced Health Physics
- HPS 420 - Radiation Biology
- HPS 470 - Environmental Health Physics
- HPS 495 - Health Physics Research (1 credit)
- Science, Math or Engineering Electives - Credits: 9
- STAT 491 - Statistics for Scientists I
- CS 117 - Programming for Scientists and Engineers
- CHEM 474 - Biochemistry I
Total Credits: 120
Notes
- HPS 411, must be taken for four semesters.
- Every student must complete a three-credit multicultural course and a three-credit international course. Courses satisfying other requirements may simultaneously satisfy the multicultural and international requirements except one course cannot satisfy both the multicultural and the international requirements.
- HPS 300 is a Milestone Experience course for Health Physics B.S.
- HPS 416 is a Culminating Experience course for Health Physics B.S.
Documents/Downloads
Bachelor of Science in Health Physics
Plans of Study
- 4 Year Plan
- 4 Year Plan
- 4 Year Plan
Syllabi
- HPS
- HPS
- HPS
- HPS
- HPS
Degree Worksheets
Careers
- NA
Graduate Handbooks
- NA
Additional Downloads
- NA
Related Links
- NA
Pre-Professional Track
Plans of Study
- 4 Year Plan
- 4 Year Plan
- 4 Year Plan
Syllabi
- NA
Degree Worksheets
Careers
- NA
Graduate Handbooks
- NA
Additional Downloads
- NA
Related Links
- NA
Contacts
Department of Health Physics and Diagnostic Sciences
The department of health physics and diagnostic sciences within the School of Integrated Health Sciences provides a high-quality educational experience for undergraduate and graduate students in the areas of health physics; medical physics; comprehensive medical imaging; radiochemistry; and radiography.
School of Integrated Health Sciences
With many degree offerings that are accredited by national organizations, the School of Integrated Health Sciences offers dynamic classroom instruction, laboratory/clinical practice, research, and mentoring. Our students develop skills that help them break into health-related fields and further their graduate or professional studies.
