3-2 Program in Medical Physics Track 3 imaging (Physics Engineering Emphasis)

Each student should discuss an individualized course-plan for the 3-2 program with Professors Bodek and Bigelow (Physics), in consultation with Professor Schell (Oncology) and Professor Zhong (Radiology and Physics). The course plan should satisfy the requirements of a BA in Physics and a MS in Physics. The following is one possible track for students

Students in the imaging Track-3 (with emphasis on physics and engineering) of this 3-2 program receive a BA degree in Physics with an Undergraduate Certificate in Biological/Medical Physics and an MS degree in Physics with an emphasis in Medical Physics, Medical Imaging and Diagnostics. Since the program includes several recommended courses in ECE, students also qualify for a minor in ECE. Imaging Track -3 is aimed at students who have a strong interest in Physics and Electrical Engineering (e.g. have started as majors in physics or engineering) and wish to pursue a career in Medical Imaging and Diagnostics.

(A) Physics BA Requirement: Students must sastisfy the requirements of a BA degree degree in Physics: A total of 128 credits are required for a BA.

(B) Physics MS Requirement: Students must sastisfy the requirements of the 3-2 BA/MS program in Physics: A total of 30 additional credits are required for a MS degree and includes a MS thesis. The MS thesis should be in an area of Medical/Biological Physics.

(C) Two introductory courses in Chemistry: CHM131 (or CHM151) Chemical Concepts I with Lab and CHM132 (or CHM152) Chemical Concepts II with Lab are required (also needed for a minor in Optics and for the Certificate in Medical Physics; or for a minor in Biology if desired).

(F) Biology Requirements: one course in Human Anatomy BIO 203 -- Human Anatomy (with Lab) and one course in Human Physiology (BME260 is recommended but BIO 204 Human Physiology with Lab is OK) or equivalent courses in the Medical School

(G) At least two 4 credit graduate courses in Medical Imaging: PHY422/BME452/ECE452/OPT452/ PHY452 Medical Imaging (required) and PHY513 Magnetic Resonance Imaging: from Spins to Brain recommended.

(H) ECE446 and ECE447 recommended

(I) Advanced Experimental Techniques PHY445/245W required (special section of PHY443/243W). The four experiments are(1) Lifetime of Muon, (2) Electron Spin Reonance/MRI, (3) Nuclear Spectroscopy. (4) Frank Hertz Experiment or Hall Effect,

(J) Upper-level writing requirement is satisfied with PHY445/245W(Advanced Lab) or PHY 495 MS Thesis.

(K) Cluster Requirements. Students can elect to satisfy their Humanites and Social Science Cluster requirements in any way they chose. However,

It is recommended (but not required) that undergraduates satisfy their social science 3-course cluster requirement in the area of Psychology. For example, S1CSP008 (Personality Psychology), as medical professionals need to communicate effectively with patients and family members (This cluster is satisfied by the following courses: Psychology CSP161, Motivation and Emotion CSP262, and Gender Difference in Communication CSP192Q).
It is recommended (but not required) that undergraduates in the program satisfy their humanities 3-course cluster requirement in the area of verbal and written communication. For example H1ENG016 (Media, Culture and Communication) would be good because medical professionals must communicate effectively with with patients and family members, as well as write a variety of reports. (This cluster is satisfied by the following courses: Media Communication ENG118, Debate ENG135, and Public Speaking ENG134).
In the sample program below (if the above two cluster are chosen) these courses are designated as:

Students may also do a Minor in Biology if they wish (per agreement with Prof. Olek in Biology, students in this program can get a minor in Biology with the following 5 courses (BIO 110, BIO 199 ²+ BIO 199L (Lab) (Cell and Molecular Biology), Bio198+lab (Genetics), BIO 203+lab (Anatomy) and BME 260-recommended (or BIO 204) Physiology. Students in this program do not need to take Bio111 (if they have had Chemistry prior to taking Bio 199).

The following is a sample recommeded program for students track -3 Diagnostics (including a minor in ECE).

First Year

Fall

Spring

MTH161 or MTH171 - Calculus I (4 credit)

MTH162 or MTH172 Calculus II (4 credit)

PHY 141 -- Honors Mechanics³, or Primary Writing (4 credit)

Primary Writing, or PHY 121 -- Mechanics³

Elective: e.g. Cluster Course No. 1

PHY 143 -- Honors Modern Physics,⁴ or Elective

Elective: e.g. Cluster Course No. 2

Elective: e.g. Cluster course No. 4 (4 credit)

Second Year

Fall

Spring

MTH164 -- Multidimensional Calculus (4 credit)

MTH165 -- Linear Algebra & Diff. Eqs. (4 credit)

PHY 142 (or PHY 122-- Electromagnetism (4 credits) with Lab

PHY 237 -- Quantum Mech. of Physical Systems (4 cr), or PHY 123 -- Modern Physics (4 cr)⁵

ECE minor course 1: ECE111 Intro to signals and circuits¹

ECE minor course 2: ECE113 (circuits and design)

CHM131 (or CHM151 ) Chemical Concepts I with Lab

Elective: e.g. Cluster Course No. 5

Third Year

Fall

Spring

PHY 217 -- Electromagnetism I

Elective: Or PHY 237 -- Quantum Mech. of Physical Systems⁵

MTH 281 -- Fourier Series

MTH 282 -- Intro. Complex Variables

PHY 235 -- Classical Mechanics

CHM132 (or CHM152 ) Chemical Concepts II with Lab

ECE minor course 3: ECE241 Signals

ECE minor course 4: ECE114 (C++)

Fourth Year

Fall

Spring

BIO 110 ²

BIO 199 ²+ BIO 199L (Lab)

ECE446 (Digital Signal Processing)

ECE Minor Course 5: ECE242 communications

PHY445/245W -- Advanced Laboratory (upper level writing I) special section:

PHY422/BME452/ECE452/OPT452/ Medical Imaging ⁶ (4 credits, Parker)

Elective: e.g. Cluster course No. 3

Elective: e.g. Cluster Course No. 6

Fifth Year

Fall

Spring

ECE447 Digital Image Processing

Elective: e.g. PHY421/301/RAD501 Seminar in the Physics of Medical Imaging (Foster, 2 credit) (noon-1 , second half of Spring semester till Mid May)

BIO203 -- Human Anatomy (with Lab)

BIO 204 Human Physiology (4 credit. with Lab)

PHY513 Magnetic Resonance Imaging: from Spins to Brain (4 credit, Zhong) (recommended)
or PHY 423/302 Reading Course: Topics in Health Physics (Schell - 4 credit)
alternates every other year
or PHY420/ECE420/PHY251 Intro to Solid State Physics
or PHY 440/PHY254 Nuclear and Particle Physics
or PHY 424/PHY253 Biological Physics (if offered)
or ECE221 Devices

Elective: e.g. BME 251/PHY252 Biomedical Ultrasound (4 credit)
or PHY446/CHM 466 Nuclear Chemistry (4 credit) (if offered)
or PHY440/PHY254 Nuclear and Particle Physics (if offered)
or PHY420/ECE420/PHY251 Solid State Physics (if offered)
or PHY424/PHY253 Biological Physics (if offered)

PHY 495 MS Thesis in Medical Physics or Biological Physics or Medical/Biological Optics (4 Credits)

PHY 495 MS Thesis in Medical or Biological Physics or Medical/Biological Optics (4-6 Credits)- upper level writing II

Above program can by adjusted to student interest in consultation with Bigelow and Zhong

³Students who have had an introduction to differential and integral calculus in high school are encouraged to take PHY 141 in the Fall instead of PHY 121 in the Spring.

⁵Students who have taken PHY 143 in their freshman year should take PHY 237 in their sophomore year, and consider PHY 246 for their junior year. Students who have not taken PHY 143 in their freshman year should take PHY 123 in their sophomore year andPHY 237 in their junior year.

Requirements for a MS in Physics under the 3-2 Program taken from
http://spider.pas.rochester.edu/mainFrame/education/special/special3-2.html
For the Master's degree, the requirements include at least 30 credit hours of coursework beyond the requirements for the Bachelor's degree, with the following stipulations: At least 12 hours must be at the 400 level or higher .

For Plan A (MS Thesis), 6-12 hours must represent the dissertation research/reading. At most 6 hours may be reading course(s). At most 10 hours may be transfer credits, including courses taken at the University of Rochester prior to graduate matriculation in the program. (The regulations state that "Ordinarily, no course completed before the candidate has received the bachelor's degree may be included in the graduate program.'' This rule is waived for the 3/2 program.)

For the Specialization in Medical physics the three 400 level courses, the MS Thesis and the 30 credit hours are typically satisfied by the following courses:

3-2 BA/MS Program in Physics with an Emphasis on Medical Physics

Track 3 -Imaging/Diagnostics (with Emphasis on Physics and Medical Imaging)