Medical Physics Students Tour Indian Point

Medical Physics Programs

Medical Physics is a branch of physics where the concepts and methods of physics are used for the diagnosis and treatment of human disease. Medical Physicists provide clinical service and consultation, research and development, and teaching.

Columbia Engineering's CAMPEP-accredited Program is designed to prepare students for professional careers in the field of Medical Physics.

CAMPEP-Accredited Medical Physics MS Program

Our 36-point CAMPEP-accredited program educates, trains, and prepares future medical physicists. It is registered with the State of New York, is administered by faculty from the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science in collaboration with faculty from the College of Physicians and Surgeons and the Mailman School of Public Health, leads to a Master of Science (MS) degree, and provides preparation toward certification by the American Board of Radiology.
  • Specializations

    Radiation Therapy Physicists perform acceptance testing and commissioning of new equipment, calibrate radiotherapy units and maintain their clinical information, contribute to the development of therapeutic techniques, design treatment plans, and assure the safe and effective delivery of radiation as prescribed in patient care.

    Diagnostic Radiology Physicists contribute to the advancement and effectiveness of radiological imaging exams and procedures by helping to develop improved imaging techniques and using them for the diagnosis of disease in patients.

    Nuclear Medicine Physicists ensure correct and safe application of radioactive molecular-agents used in the diagnosis and treatment of disease, assist in the introduction of new agents including their dosimetry, assess the performance of Nuclear Medicine equipment, and contribute to the development of quality assurance programs.

    Medical Health Physicists contribute to the protection of patients and the public from excessive radiation by establishing and monitoring radiation safety procedures and ensuring compliance with applicable federal and state regulations.

  • Application

    The priority deadline for applications for full-time study is February 15. Applications received by June 30 will be considered on a space-available basis. For more information, please see Graduate Admissions. Applicants are asked to inform the Medical Program Coordinator at [email protected]  following the submission of an online application.

  • Financial Aid

    As a rule, assistantships, grants, scholarships, and fellowships are not available to students in master's degree programs, including the medical physics program. U.S. citizens and permanent residents may be eligible to receive federal student loans. Please see the FAQ for additional information.

  • Core Curriculum

    The Program consists of a core curriculum of medical and nuclear physics courses, a laboratory course, anatomy, two practicums, a tutorial, one elective, and a seminar. Specific course requirements are:

    Opportunities for specialization exist via the choice of elective courses and practicums. In addition, a fourth semester option exists.

  • Comprehensive Exam

    A passing grade on a medical physics comprehensive examination is required for graduation with a Master of Science degree in Medical Physics. This closed-book written exam is offered twice a year, in December and May, following the last semester of studies and consists of 6 questions covering the required course work taken during the program.

  • Other Requirements

    In order to be allowed to participate in a practicum at the New York Presbyterian Hospital at the Columbia University Medical Center, students in the Columbia Medical Physics Program must complete an on-line course that leads to HIPAA compliance certification. They must also comply with hospital-mandated medical surveillance, which includes drug screening:  http://www.cumc.columbia.edu/hr/policies-procedures/medical-surveillance

    Successful completion of two online ethics courses, offered without charge to students enrolled in our Program, is required for graduation.

  • Admissions and Placement Statistics

    Explore annual application, enrollment, graduation, and placement results for the Medical Physics MS and Certificate programs—including residency, advanced degree programs, industry, and clinical position outcomes.

Master of Science in Medical Physics

Find out more about Columbia Engineering's Medical Physics specialties and how the master's program combines resources from Columbia University Medical Center and the Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics.

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Specific Program Requirements

  • Medical Physics MS Program

    Full-Time Curriculum

    The following courses are required for the full-time program.

    (Schedule subject to change)

    First Fall Courses

    • APPH E4010: Introduction to nuclear science (3 pts)
    • APPH E4600: Fundamentals of radiological physics & radiation dosimetry (3 pts)
    • APPH E4710: Radiation instrumentation lab, I (3pts)
    • APBM E4650: Anatomy for physicists & engineers (3 pts)

    Spring Courses

    Summer Courses

    • Subject to availability: summer practicum(s) for which students will register in the Fall term

    Second Fall Courses

    • APPH E4330: Radiobiology for medical physicists (3 pts)
    • Varies: Practicum (see below) (6 pts)
    • Varies: Elective (see below) (3 pts)

    Practicums (2 required)

    A grade of B+ or better in the prerequisite course, adjusted at the discretion of the instructor, and permission of instructor and advisor are required for each practicum. Students register for the practicum in the Fall or the Spring term; the work for 2 of the 4 praticums may be done in the Summer term.

    Electives (3 pts. required)

    • APPH E4711: Radiation instrumentation lab, II (3 pts)
    • APPH E6336: Advanced topics in radiation therapy (3 pts)
    • APAM E6650: Research project (1-6 pts)
    • APPH numbers vary: Third Practicum (3 pts) 

    Optional Course

  • Certificate of Professional Achievement in Medical Physics

    Our CAMPEP-accredited Certificate of Professional Achievement in Medical Physics is designed for professionals who have a PhD in physics or a related discipline and who wish to become eligible to apply for the medical physics examinations given by the American Board of Radiology (ABR).

    As stated on the ABR website, to be eligible for Part 1 of the ABR Examination, applicants "must be enrolled in and in good standing with, or have graduated from, a CAMPEP-accredited program," which specifically includes CAMPEP-accredited certificate programs like Columbia's.

    Furthermore, prior to taking Part 2 of the ABR Examination, applicants are required to have completed a two-year residency in medical physics which consists of a clinical and an academic component. By successfully completing Columbia’s non-degree certificate program an applicant will have satisfied the academic component already.

    Course Requirements

    This part-time program requires satisfactory completion of six of the following courses:

    Certificate students are allowed to waive a course based on prior equivalent academic work but another 3-point course must be substituted for the waived course.

    Admission

    Doctoral degree in physics, applied physics, or one of the physical sciences is required. An applicant who was not a physics major as an undergraduate, or who does not have an advanced degree in physics, must have taken physics training at least equivalent to a minor. This training must include at least three upper level physics courses, which, if taken after completion of the undergraduate degree, must have been taken at an accredited four-year college. Completion of course prerequisites is also required.

    When appropriate, certificate program requirements are updated to conform to guidelines set by CAMPEP and by policies set by the ABR.

    • The application deadline for fall admission is August 1.
    • Applications are available online at: Graduate Admissions
    • On the "Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics" drop down menu, follow the instructions for NEW APPLICANT. Under degree level, please select "OTHER" and under program level select "MEDICAL PHYSICS CERTIFICATE."
    • Applicants are asked to inform the Program Coordinator at [email protected] following the submission of an online application.

    Because Columbia's online application system is usually changed in July from the current admissions cycle to the next one, applicants for the Certificate Program who apply in July, must contact the Medical Physics Program Coordinator at [email protected].

    The CAMPEP-accredited Certificate of Professional Achievement in Medical Physics is a part-time program that does not support visa applications and is exclusively available to U.S. citizens and residents. Our program does not offer any financial support.

I enjoyed my time in Columbia's Medical Physics program. I had the opportunity to perform novel dosimetric research, have hands-on experience with CT scanners and linear accelerators, and connect with faculty who were and are on the forefront of medical physics related research. I acquired a wealth of knowledge from the classes I have taken in the APAM department and the practicums offered afford me the experience to utilize that knowledge in a practical setting. Also studying in New York City is a big plus as well since there are so many things to explore in the city."

Kevin Liu, Former Medical Physics Graduate Student