Health Physics Program

ISU offers Ph.D., M.S., B.S., and AAS degrees in the discipline of Health Physics. 

Health Physics

The ISU Health Physics programs are academically rigorous and intended for serious students who are willing to make a commitment to excellence and reap the benefits of this challenge in a well compensated and strategically important profession.

Health Physics is the profession dedicated to the protection of humans and their environment from the harmful effects of both ionizing and non-ionizing radiation while providing for its beneficial uses.

Health Physics is an interdisciplinary science that combines the elements of physics, biology, chemistry, Engineering and statistics, in the evaluation and improvement of practices involving radiation producing machines and radioactive materials with the goal of optimizing system performance with respect to human health and safety, economy and stewardship of the environment.

Mission

The mission of Health Physics (HP) is to educate students so they can achieve the highest standards of the Health Physics profession and to solve important problems for the people and industries of Idaho and the Nation through teaching, research, and service.

Program Educational Objectives

The educational objectives of the ISU Health Physics program are to produce Health Physicists with:

1. broad, fundamental technical knowledge
2. professional and public communication skills
3. professional judgment and capability to think critically
4. practical experience in solving applied health-physics problems
5. the ability to work independently and in teams
6. a professional ethic of magnitude sufficient for them to productively and successfully work in a variety of health physics settings.

 Student Outcomes

The program must have documented student outcomes that prepare graduates to attain the program educational objectives. There must be a documented and effective process for the periodic review and revision of these student outcomes. Criteria for master’s level applied science programs are inclusive of those for baccalaureate level applied science programs with the following additions: one year of study beyond the baccalaureate level and a project or research activity resulting in a report that demonstrates both the mastery of the subject matter and a high level of communication skills.

Baccalaureate (and Master of Science) degree programs must demonstrate that graduates have:

1. an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and applied sciences
2. an ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data
3. an ability to formulate or design a system, process, or program to meet desired needs
4. an ability to function on multidisciplinary teams
5. an ability to identify and solve applied science problems
6. an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
7. an ability to communicate effectively
8. the broad education necessary to understand the impact of solutions in a global and societal context
9. a recognition of the need for and an ability to engage in life- long learning
10. a knowledge of contemporary issues
11. an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern scientific and technical tools necessary for professional practice.

Annual student enrollment and graduation data

The graduate program has two additional educational objectives:

1. an ability to conduct research
2. professional tools and experience above that expected for the baccalaureate program.

Please see the Health Physics Transfer Credit page for information on how the ISU Health Physics program evaluates credit transfers from other schools and credit.