MSBS/Medical Physics Clinical Radiation Oncology Degree Requirements

Transcription

1 MSBS/ MEDICAL PHYSICS- CLINICAL RADIATION ONCOLOGY DEGREE REQUIREMENTS Admission Requirements T he purpose of the MSBS/Medical Physics with concentration in Clinical Radiation Oncology (MSCRO) is to train skilled professionals to be able to work effectively, primarily with physician colleagues, in a clinical setting. Other areas of activity for these individuals include research and development and teaching. Those who obtain the MSCRO are uniquely qualified to provide dosimetry measurements and radiation safety from high energy electron linear accelerators, plan for radiation oncology treatment of individual patients, measure and implement other sources of radiation in cancer therapy, and work with various digital electronics and computer systems in optimizing the delivery of dose to patients. To be considered for the program, candidates must comply with the following: 1. Completion of all admission requirements of the University of Toledo Health Science Campus College of Graduate Studies, including submission of GRE scores, completed and signed application form, submission of official transcripts, application fee, and three letters of recommendation. Foreign transcripts must be submitted for independent evaluation of equivalency by an acceptable credential evaluation agency. The evaluation will be at the applicant s expense. Contact the HSC College of Graduate Studies for information regarding evaluation of foreign transcripts. 2. Candidates must hold a baccalaureate from an accredited college or university with a minimum 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) undergraduate cumulative grade point average (GPA). An applicant with a GPA between 2.75 and 3.0 may be considered for conditional admittance if the undergraduate GPA reflects work completed 5 years prior to application, and a 3.0 average has been achieved in science, math, and engineering courses. A candidate with less than a 3.0 undergraduate grade point average may be considered for admission with regular student status if he/she has completed at least 10 semester credits (15 quarter credits) of applicable course work at the graduate level and has a minimum GPA of 3.0 in these courses. Technical Standards for Admission The technical standards for admission are the same as those specified for the MSBS/Research Tracks and can be found in the MSBS Degree Requirements Section. 160

2 Admission Criteria for Conditional Status An applicant must complete the general admission requirements specified above. Circumstances which may result in a conditional admission (these may occur singularly or in combination) include: 1. An applicant with a baccalaureate in progress. An official transcript with the degree posted must be received prior to matriculation in fall courses. 2. An applicant with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) between 2.75 and 3.0 may be admitted with conditional status. Students must achieve a 3.0 in graduate study at UTHSC by the completion of 15credits or be subject to dismissal. 3. An applicant who has any course deficiencies to complete at the time of application may be admitted with conditional status, with a clear understanding that remaining deficiencies must be satisfactorily (grade of B or better) completed prior to matriculation in Fall courses. Official transcripts or other appropriate documentation will be required. Curriculum The following is a typical Year I schedule: YEAR ONE (42 credits) Fall (17 crs.) INDI500 8 Structure and Function MPHY618 3 Physics of Radiation Therapy MPHY611 2 Survey of Clinical Radiation Oncology MPHY612 4 Radiation Dosimetry I Spring (17 crs.) MPHY616 4 Radiation Biology MPHY688 3 Independent Study in Radiation Therapy (CT & MRI) MPHY630 3 Radiation Detection and Measurement PHYS618 2 Radiation Detection and Measurement Lab (offered at University of Toledo Department of Physics) MPHY613 4 Radiation Dosimetry II INDI602 1 On Being a Scientist 161

3 Summer (8 crs.) MPHY620 3 Radition Protection & Regulation MPHY619 3 Brachytherapy MPHY688 2 Independent Study in Radiation Therapy (Computers, Practical Measurements, Radiological Physics) YEAR TWO (21 Credits) MPHY661 8 Clinical Training in Radiation Oncology Physics I - Includes the following: Anatomy for Physicists in Radiation Therapy (Part I); Accelerator Rotations with Radiation Therapists (3 weeks per accelerator); Quality Assurance Issues, Clinical Practicum (chart checks) Part I; Introduction to Treatment Planning; Simulation and Patient Set-ups (8 weeks); Machine Calibration and QA (monthly); Seminars in Radiation Therapy (monthly) MPHY662 8 Clinical Training in Radiation Oncology Physics II - Includes the following: Anatomy for Physicists in Radiation Therapy (Part II); Computers and Treatment Planning; Quality Assurance Issues, Clinical Practicum (chart checks) Part II; MU Calculations by Hand and by Computer; Brachytherapy Treatment Planning; Brachytherapy Hand Calculations and Related NRC Issues; Seminars in Radiation Therapy (monthly); Machine Calibration and QA (monthly) MPHY663 5 Clinical Training in Radiation Oncology Physics III - Includes the following: Seminars in Radiation Therapy (monthly); Machine Calibration and QA (monthly); Rotation in Diagnostic Radiology and Radiation Safety (2 weeks); Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT); Conformal Radiation Therapy and 3-D Treatment Planning; Stereotactic Radiosurgery; Scholarly Project Report 162

4 YEAR THREE (6 Credits) INDI699 6 Thesis Research (for candidates with B.S. degree) OR MPHY697 3 Scholarly Project Requirements and Criteria for Retention 1. A student admitted into the MSCRO program must comply with rules and regulations for conduct and academic performance as stipulated by the College of Graduate Studies. This information can be found in this handbook. 2. A student will be placed on academic probation if her/his cumulative GPA falls below a 3.0 during any semester. If the full-time student remains on academic probation for three consecutive semesters, the student may be dismissed. 3. A student admitted under conditional status whose cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 following completion of the first 15 credits may be dismissed from the program and from the Health Science Campus College of Graduate Studies. 4. A grade of C or better must be earned in all courses. A student who receives a D or lower may repeat the course one time, realizing that the sequence of study will be disrupted and that additional time and expense will be required to complete the program. A student wishing to repeat a course will be required to apply for an academic leave until the course is re-offered in its regular sequence. 5. A student who receives two or more D or F grades in any one semester forfeits the opportunity to repeat and may be dismissed from the program. 6. A student who has been dismissed from the program or who has been on academic leave for longer than 1 year, must apply for readmission into the MSCRO program. Readmission will be determined on an individual basis dependent on the reason for dismissal or the conditions requiring academic leave. 163

5 Summary of Requirements for Graduation 1. Completion of all HSC College of Graduate Studies admission requirements. 2. A student who has been admitted into the MSCROP program will be eligible for graduation when s/he has successfully completed all required courses for a minimum of 63 credits. 3. Maintenance of a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA. A maximum of 12 credits of C or lower, and no grade lower than a C, is allowed in the total of 63 credits required for graduation. 4. Successful completion of the qualifying examination. 5. Successful completion of a thesis or scholarly project. Candidates with a baccalaureate will be required to complete a thesis at the end of their course work or practical training. Candidates with a master or higher level degree will not be required, but will have the option to do a thesis. Registration for at least one credit per semester while actively working on the project, including the semesters in which the scholarly project is presented. It is ultimately the responsibility of the student to assure that all administrative and academic requirements have been met. 164