Program Overview

Introduction to the Radiation Health Physics Graduate Major

The Radiation Health Physics program is designed to prepare students for careers involved with the many beneficial applications of nuclear energy, radiation, and radioactive materials. This graduate curricula and research programs are designed for students with professional interests in the field of radiation protection.

Program Overview

The Radiation Health Physics profession is essential to society's well-being since they enable significant public benefits through energy security, national defense, medical health, and industrial competitiveness. The program involves an integrated study of the physical aspects of ionizing and nonionizing radiation, their biological effects, and the methods used to protect people and their environment from radiation hazards while still enabling the beneficial uses of radiation and radioactive materials.

Areas of Concentration

The program focuses on the following areas:

• Application of nuclear techniques
• Boron neutron capture therapy
• Emergency response planning
• Environmental monitoring
• Environmental pathways assessment
• Nuclear medicine
• Radiation detection and instrumentation
• Radiation dosimetry
• Radiation shielding
• Radioactive material transport
• Radioactive waste management
• Research reactor health physics
• Risk assessment

Degree Options

The School of Nuclear Science and Engineering offers graduate work leading toward the Master of Health Physics, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Radiation Health Physics.

Master of Health Physics (MHP)

The MHP degree option provides students the opportunity to pursue advanced-level study without the requirement of completing thesis research. These degrees are intended as terminal degrees, not as preparation for a doctorate, and will emphasize job-related knowledge and skills.

MHP Course List

• Core Coursework:
  • NSE 515: NUCLEAR RULES AND REGULATIONS (2 credits)
  • NSE 516: RADIOCHEMISTRY (4 credits) or NSE 519: RADIOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS
  • NSE 531: RADIOPHYSICS (3 credits)
  • NSE 535: RADIATION SHIELDING AND EXTERNAL DOSIMETRY (4 credits)
  • NSE 536: ADVANCED RADIATION DETECTION AND MEASUREMENT (4 credits)
  • NSE 582: APPLIED RADIATION SAFETY (4 credits)
  • NSE 583: RADIATION BIOLOGY (3 credits)
  • NSE 588: RADIOECOLOGY (3 credits)
  • NSE 590: INTERNAL DOSIMETRY (3 credits)
• Seminar:
  • NSE 507: SEMINAR (maximum 3 credits, taken three times)
• Electives:
  • Chosen by student, as approved by major professor (minimum 10 credits)
• Total Hours: 45

Master of Science (MS)

The MS degree requires:

• Conducting research or producing some other form of creative work
• Demonstrating mastery of subject material
• Conducting scholarly or professional activities in an ethical manner

MS Course List

• Core Coursework:
  • NSE 515: NUCLEAR RULES AND REGULATIONS (2 credits)
  • NSE 516: RADIOCHEMISTRY (4 credits) or NSE 519: RADIOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS
  • NSE 531: RADIOPHYSICS (3 credits)
  • NSE 535: RADIATION SHIELDING AND EXTERNAL DOSIMETRY (4 credits)
  • NSE 536: ADVANCED RADIATION DETECTION AND MEASUREMENT (4 credits)
  • NSE 582: APPLIED RADIATION SAFETY (4 credits)
  • NSE 583: RADIATION BIOLOGY (3 credits)
  • NSE 588: RADIOECOLOGY (3 credits)
  • NSE 590: INTERNAL DOSIMETRY (3 credits)
• Seminar:
  • NSE 507: SEMINAR (maximum 3 credits)
• Thesis:
  • NSE 503: THESIS (maximum 6 credits)
• Electives:
  • Chosen by student, as approved by major professor (minimum 6 credits)
• Total Hours: 45

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The PhD degree requires:

• Producing and defending an original significant contribution to knowledge
• Demonstrating mastery of subject material
• Conducting scholarly activities in an ethical manner

PhD Course List

• Core Coursework:
  • Chosen by student, as approved by major professor (63 credits)
• Thesis:
  • NSE 603: THESIS (minimum 45 credits)
• Total Hours: 108

Facilities and Support

World-class facilities are available for the instructional and research programs of the school, housed in the OSU Radiation Center. These include:

• A TRIGA Mark II nuclear reactor
• The Advanced Thermal Hydraulic Research Laboratory
• The APEX nuclear safety scaled testing facility
• Laboratories specially designed to accommodate radiation and the use of radioactive materials

Competitive fellowships and research and teaching assistantships are available to incoming graduate students, supported by the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Academy for Nuclear Training.