with a core for Certificate Accreditation available to Ph.D. graduate students and postdoctoral students

(pending approvals)

Proposed Track

The medical physics (MP) track – note that it is equivalently referred to as a concentration – is still subject to final approval by the partnering cohorts (the Cleveland Clinic and the Case Western Reserve University physics department) and the national Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics in Education Programs (CAMPEP). Watch this webpage for updates on the final approval process. Present date: March 5, 2025.

With the completion of the core described below, the transcript will have an MP MS distinguishing inscription in comparison with other non-MP MS tracks.

Completion of the MS along this track enables the degree holder to apply for CAMPEP accredited MP residencies, after which one can enter the rewarding accredited MP employment world.

Admission and Financial Responsibility

The admission policy for a proposed Medical Physics Track/Concentration in the Master of Science in Physics program follows and is described by the general MS admission policy: https://physics.case.edu/graduate-studies/masters-gradstudies/  This includes a rolling policy, Fall admission, limitations on the number of acceptances, physics or related bachelor’s degrees prerequisites, application fees, and no availability of tuition or stipend support (but there are possible  “fellowship course” offerings).

The MP track most closely resembles the program A track (30 credits) – that program is an MS with thesis, in which students take the graduate courses Quantum Mechanics I, Classical Electromagnetism (six credit hours), and 18 hours of additional, unspecified graduate course work plus the two-semester (6 hour) thesis work.

 In the MP track, on the other hand,  there are 21 additional credit hours, and most are specified. That is, there is a practicum (i.e., clinical rotations and ethics discussions), and the remainder is graduate course work made up five (or six) MP core courses. The core consists of radiation nuclear and dosimetry physics, radiation therapy physics, radiation safety physics, radiobiological physics, imaging physics, and, if the student lacks this background upon entrance, there are options for an anatomy/physiological introduction. If the student comes in with a/p experience, a free-elective replaces it. (To ensure all students have a best-practice ability to delineate imaging scans, a zero-credit course is required.)  Finally, a written MP thesis and oral defense is necessary for the two-semester thesis (six credit) work. The 33 hours enable completion within four semesters.

Certification Accreditation

The establishment of the above core of five courses (plus the a/p introductory requirement if needed and the zero-credit course in any case) enables students working on their PhD and postdoctoral students in a variety of disciplines to gain accreditation for residency as another pathway to an MP career. The candidate’s PhD can be in any STEM field, if the requirements of core prerequisites are met. Such students are invited to apply through the physics department website https://physics.case.edu/ (the instructions will be published if and when CAMPEP approval is obtained). The rolling admission is described there.

Accomplishments of Interest

This webpage/website will in the coming time show, annually, the numbers of applicants to the program, of students offered admission, of students matriculated, and of graduates. It will also publicize the achievements of the MP students and graduates, and the different residencies and industrial positions attained after graduation, respecting anonymity where appropriate. Similar reporting will appear here with respect to the certificate accreditation students.