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Master's Degree in Medical Physics
About the DegreeIn September 2002, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals started a new graduate program at the Department of Physics that offers a Master's degree in medical physics. The main objectives of this program are to provide education and clinical training for graduate students and to prepare them for careers in areas of diagnostic imaging, nuclear medicine, radiation therapy, and health physics.
Admission Requirements Motivated applicants who have a B.Sc. degree in science or engineering from a university of recognized standing are invited to apply for admission to the Master's degree in medical physics, provided they satisfy the general admission requirements of the Graduate School. Applicants must have a suitable scientific background to enter the medical physics program demonstrated by the completion of the following KFUPM courses or their equivalent: Methods of Applied Mathematics (MATH 301), Modern Physics (PHYS 212), and Experimental Physics I (PHYS 303). Applicants must make up any deficiencies in their prior program within two semesters of enrollment. Once accepted in the program, graduate students are required to take a full time course load.
Academic Program The following are the requirements for the Master's degree in medical physics.
Core Courses The following six core courses are required for the Master's degree in medical physics.
Elective Courses A candidate for the Master's degree in medical physics is required to take 11 credit hours to be chosen as follows:
1. A minimum of 3 credit hours to be selected from the following list of courses.
2. The remaining credit hours are to be selected from the following list of courses.
Clinical Training Clinical medical physics training is obtained in the Laboratory in Radiological Physics courses (MEPH 581-586). Each laboratory involves performing particular experiments and procedures in hospitals. Additional clinical medical physics training is obtained in the clinical training course (MEPH 590). The course consists of a 16-week hospital-based clinical rotation in: diagnostic imaging (x-rays, computerized tomography, digital subtraction Angiography, fluoroscopy, mammography, diagnostic ultrasound, MRI), nuclear medicine, radiation therapy, radiation protection, and health physics. A student in this course observes and practices clinical procedures under the direct supervision of a senior clinical medical physicist. The student will write a monthly progress report about the clinical procedures he learned and performed. The evaluation and the follow-up of each student will be done in cooperation between the supervising medical physicist from the hospital and a medical physics faculty from KFUPM. Comprehensive Examination All candidates for the Master's degree in medical physics are required to take a written comprehensive examination prior to receiving the degree. The examination is offered near the end of each semester and consists of questions on the core courses. Candidates are advised to take this exam at the end of the semester in which they complete the courses. A candidate who fails the examination may repeat it at a later regularly scheduled time. Only one such repeat is permitted. Degree Plan
Courses Description MEPH 500 Human Anatomy and Physiology (3-0-3) The course will cover subjects including cells physiology, organs and systems physiology and anatomy. The student will learn to identify gross anatomical structures, define the major organ systems, and describe the physiological mechanisms for repair, maintenance, and growth. Anatomical structures and physiological function should be correlated with the imaging modalities used to view them. Prerequisite: Instructor Consent
MEPH 501 Physics for Medicine and Biology (3-0-3) Forces on bones and muscles; body fluid flow; electrodynamics of nerve impulses; electrocardiograms; magnetocardiograms and magnetoencephalograms; diffusion processes, membrane transport, kidney function; biological effects in magnetic resonance and ultra-low frequency electromagnetic radiation; laser applications. Prerequisite: PHYS 212 or equivalent
MEPH 510 Radiobiology (2-0-2) Effects of ionizing radiations on living cells and organisms, including physical, chemical, and physiological bases of radiation cytotoxicity, mutagenicity, and carcinogensis. Co-requisite: MEPH 561
MEPH 511 Instrumentation for Medical Physics (2-3-3) Concepts of medical instrumentation, transducers, and medical electronics design. Various types of sensors and measurement apparatus used for the calibration of medical imaging and therapy systems will receive particular attention. Prerequisite: PHYS 303 or equivalent
MEPH 561 Radiological Physics and Dosimetry (3-0-3) Interactions and energy deposition by ionizing radiation in matter; concepts, quantities and units in radiological physics; principles and methods of radiation dosimetry. Prerequisites: PHYS 212 and MATH 202 or equivalent
MEPH 563 Radioisotopes in Medicine and Biology (2-3-3) Physical principles of radioisotopes used in medicine and biology and operation of related equipment; lecture and lab. Prerequisite: PHYS 212 or equivalent
MEPH 566 Radiotherapy Physics (2-3-3) Ionizing radiation use in radiation therapy to cause controlled biological effects in cancer patients. Physics of the interaction of the various radiation modalities with body-equivalent materials, and physical aspects of clinical applications; lecture and lab. Prerequisite: MEPH 561
MEPH 567 Diagnostic Radiology Physics (3-3-4) Physics of x-ray diagnostic procedures and equipment, radiation safety, general imaging considerations; lecture and lab. Prerequisites: PHYS 212 and MATH 202 or equivalent MEPH 568 Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) (2-0-2) Physics and technology of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), emphasizing techniques employed in medical diagnostic imaging. Major topics: physics of MR, pulse sequences, hardware, imaging techniques, artifacts, and spectroscopic localization. Prerequisite: MEPH 567
MEPH 569 Health Physics (3-3-4) Physical and biological aspects of the use of ionizing radiation in industrial and academic institutions; physical principles underlying shielding instrumentation, waste disposal; biological effects of low levels of ionizing radiation; lecture and lab. Prerequisite: MEPH 561
MEPH 570 Advanced Brachytherapy Physics (2-0-2) The use of radioactive sources for radiotherapy including: materials used, source construction dosimetry theory and practical application, dosimetric systems, localization and reconstruction. The course covers low dose rate, high dose rate and permanently placed applications. Prerequisite: MEPH 566
MEPH 571 Advanced External Radiation Oncology (3-0-3) Physics of ionizing radiation therapy with emphasis on external beam dosimetry and treatment planning. Prerequisite: MEPH 566
MEPH 573 Imaging in Medicine (3-0-3) The conceptual, mathematical and statistical aspects of imaging science, and a survey from this formal viewpoint of various medical imaging modalities, including film-screen radiography, positron and x-ray computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. Prerequisites: PHYS 212 and MATH 301 or equivalent
MEPH 574 Applications of Digital Imaging: DSA, CT, MRI (2-0-2) This course will focus on practical aspects of digital diagnostic imaging. The course will cover digital subtraction angiography (DSA), x-ray transmission computed tomography (CT), and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Prerequisites: MEPH 561 and MEPH 567
MEPH 575 Diagnostic Ultrasound Physics (2-3-3) Propagation of ultrasonic waves in biological tissues; principles of ultrasonic measuring and imaging instrumentation; design and use of currently available tools for performance evaluation of diagnostic instrumentation; biological effects of ultrasound; lecture and lab. Prerequisites: PHYS 212 and MATH 202 or equivalent MEPH 581 Laboratory in Radiological Physics – Radiotherapy (0-3-1) Practicing the protocol for the determination of absorbed dose from high-energy photon and electron beams. Performing dosimetry and quality assurance for radiation therapy machines. Participate in treatment plans of cancer patients. Prerequisite: MEPH 566
MEPH 582 Laboratory in Radiological Physics – Diagnostic Radiology (0-3-1) Measuring the performance of clinical x-ray, mammography, fluoroscopy and angiography machines. Performing dosimetry tests and quality assurance. Prerequisite: MEPH 567
MEPH 583 Laboratory in Radiological Physics – Nuclear Medicine (0-3-1) Do the acceptance and quality assurance procedures for Nuclear Medicine imaging and non-imaging hardware. Practicing regulations and record keeping associated with the acquisition and dispensing of radio-pharmaceuticals. Radiation safety of patients, personnel, and area monitoring. Prerequisite: MEPH 563
MEPH 584 Laboratory in Radiological Physics – Health Physics (0-3-1) Performing dosimetry procedure to monitor ionizing radiation in hospital and radiation areas. Perform shielding tests and shielding design. Practicing regulations and record keeping associated with radiation monitoring and radiation safety. Prerequisite: MEPH 569
MEPH 585 Laboratory in Radiological Physics – CT, MRI, and DSA (0-3-1) Performing acceptance and quality assurance tests on CT, DSA and MR scanners and machines. Performing dosimetry measurements to insure radiation safety. Prerequisite: MEPH 567
MEPH 586 Laboratory in Radiological Physics – Medical Ultrasound (0-3-1) Performing acceptance and quality assurance tests for clinical diagnostic ultrasound scanners. Operating clinical ultrasound equipment independently. Prerequisites: PHYS 212 and MATH 201 or equivalent
MEPH 590 Clinical Training (0-0-6)
The course consists of 16-week hospital-based clinical
rotation in: diagnostic imaging (x-rays, CT, DSA, fluoroscopy, diagnostic
ultrasound), MRI, nuclear medicine, radiation therapy, mammography, radiation
protection, and health physics. The
student will write a monthly progress report about the clinical procedures he
learned and performed. Prerequisite: Department Approval
MEPH 591 Selected Topics in Medical Physics (3-0-3) Various subjects of interest to medical physics faculty and students. Prerequisite: Consent of the Instructor
MEPH 592 Independent Reading (3-0-3) The course can be taken under the supervision of a faculty member to conduct an in depth study of a subject. Prerequisite: Consent of the Instructor
MEPH 599 Seminar (1-0-0) Graduate students are required to attend the regular departmental seminars. This course carries no credit and is graded on a Pass or Fail basis. Prerequisite: Graduate Standing
MEPH 600 Medical Physics Project (0-0-3) The project is an independent study performed by the student under the supervision of a medical physics faculty advisor. The student is required to write a report at the end of the study. The report should include an introduction to the topic, literature review, research methodology, analysis of data, conclusions and recommendations, appendices and references. The report will be presented and evaluated by a faculty committee. Prerequisite: Graduate Standing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||