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

 Track 1 - Oncology/Treatment (with Emphasis on Physics and Biology)

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 Oncology Track-1 (with emphasis on Physics and Biology)  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/Oncology.  Track-1 includes several recommended courses in Biology, and students also qualify for a Minor in Biology. Oncology Track-1 is aimed at students who have a strong interest in Biology (e.g. have started as majors in Biology)  and wish to pursue a career in Medical Physics and Clinical Oncology.

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

(B) Physics MS Requirement: Students must satisfy the requirements of the  3-2  BA/MS program in Physics. A total of 30 additional credits are required for a MS degree which 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 Biology and for Certificate in Medical Physics, and a minor in Optics if desired).

(D) Satisfying the requirements of a Minor in Biology is required. Per agreement with Prof. Olek in Biology, students in this program can satisfy the minor in Biology with the following  5 courses (BIO 110BIO 199 +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 had Chemistry prior to taking BIO 199. 

(E) Satisfying the requirements of the Undergraduate Certificate in Biological/Medical Physics is required.

(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 one (preferably two)  graduate course in Medical Imaging: (e.g.  PHY422/BME452/ECE452/OPT452/ PHY452 Medical Imaging (Parker, 4 credit, recommended, Spring );  or  PHY513  Magnetic Resonance Imaging: from Spins to Brain (Zhong/Davelier, 4 credit, Fall), or  PHY421/P301 Seminar in the Physics of Medical Imaging (Foster, 2 credit, Spring)

(H) At least two specialty courses are required  (e.g. nuclear and particle physics PHY440/254 (recommended);  or Nuclear Chemistry PHY446/CHM 46 or,  PHY 424/PHY253 (Biological Physics -when offered), or ECE221 Devices, or PHY 420/ECE420/PHY251  Intro to Solid State Physics, or a second course in Medical Imaging (e.g.BME 251/PHY252  Biomedical Ultrasound (4 credit, Spring), or PHY513 Magnetic Resonance Imaging: from Spins to Brain( 4 credit, Fall).

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

(J) A course in circuits or devices, e.g.  ECE210 (Circuits) is required.

(K)  Special courses (shared with medical interns from the Medical School) that help prepare students for the State board Examinations in Medical Physics are required.  These are:  PHY 423/302 Topics in Health Physics ( Schell/4 credit, Fall),  PHY425/6 (PHY325/6)  Seminar Course in Radiation I Oncology I and II, Schell/Sorbero, 2 credits each, Fall and Spring ) -  PHY327/8 (PHY 427/8)   Seminar in RadioBiology I and II. (2 credits each, Keng,  Fall and Spring).

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

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

  1. 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, is useful 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).
  2. 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 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) .
  3. In the sample program below (if the above two cluster are chosen) these courses are designated as:  

For an individualized program, consult with the Director of Undergraduate Studies in Physics prof. Nick Bigelow  (nbig@lle. rochester.edu, Physics and Astronomy)  and professor Michael Schell (michael_schell@urmc.rochester.edu, Radiation Oncology).

The following is a sample program for the Oncology-Track 1 (Physics and Biology).

First Year
Fall Spring
MTH161 or MTH171 - Calculus I (4 credit) MTH162 or MTH172 -- Calculus II (4 credit) 
Primary Writing (4 credit)
 Elective: e.g. Cluster course No. 4
CHM131 (or CHM151) Chemical Concepts I with Lab
CHM132 (or CHM152) Chemical Concepts II with Lab
BIO 110  2 
BIO 199   2 + BIO 199L (Lab)
 
Second Year
Fall Spring
MTH164 -- Multidimensional Calculus  (4 credit) MTH165 -- Linear Algebra & Diff. Eqs. (4 credit)
PHY 141 -- Honors Mechanics
or  Elective
PHY 143 -- Honors Modern Physics, 4
or
PHY 121 -- Mechanics
BIO 115 -- Genetics 1 (with Lab) BIO 115L
Elective
Elective: e.g. Cluster Course No. 2
Elective


Third Year
Fall Spring
Elective: e.g. Cluster Course No. 1
PHY 237 -- Quantum Mech. of Physical Systems 5

or  PHY 123 -- Modern Physics (4 cr)
MTH 281 -- Fourier Series
MTH 282 -- Intro. Complex Variables
BIO 203 -- Human Anatomy (with Lab) BME260 Physiology (Recommended) or
BIO 204
Human Physiology (4 credit. with Lab)
PHY 142 (or 122-- Electromagnetism (4 credits) with lab
ECE210 Circuits
PHY425 /PHY 325 or  PHY427 /PHY327    Physics of Radiotherapy I or RadioBiology I (2 cr) - each course offered on alternate years
PHY426 /PHY326 or PHY428 /PHY328 Physics of Radiotherapy II or RadioBiology II (2 cr) - each course offered alternate years
Fourth Year
Fall Spring
PHY 235 -- Classical Mechanics
Elective or PHY 237 -- Quantum Mech. of Physical Systems
PHY 217 -- Electromagnetism I
Elective:  e.g.  Cluster Course No. 5 
PHY 423/302   Reading Course: Topics in  Health Physics (Schell -4 credit)
alternates every other year   or
PHY445/245W-- Advanced Laboratory (upper level writing I)  special section:
At least one 4 credit Graduate level course in medical imaging course is required:  PHY422/BME452/ECE452/OPT452/     Medical Imaging 6 (4 credits, Parker) recommended followed by PHY513 next fall  or
PHY421/301/RAD501 Seminar in the Physics of Medical Imaging (Foster, 2 credit) (second half, Spring semester until mid May)
Elective: e.g.  Cluster course No. 3 Elective: e.g.  Cluster Course No. 6
PHY425 /PHY 325 or  PHY427 /PHY327    Physics of Radiotherapy I  or RadioBiology I (2 credit) - each course offered on alternate years
PHY426 /PHY326 or PHY428 /PHY328 Physics of Radiotherapy II  or RadioBiology II (2 credit) - each course offered on alternate years
Fifth Year
Fall
Spring
Specialty Elective 1:  PHY 440/PHY254    Nuclear and Particle Physics (recom)
or  PHY 424/PHY253 (Biological Physics -if offered)
or  ECE221 Devices,
or   PHY 420/ECE420/PHY251  Intro to Solid State Physics
or a second course in medical imaging, e,g,    PHY513  Magnetic Resonance Imaging: from Spins to Brain (4 credit, Zhong) 

Elective:  e.g.: if not taken in Senior year,  PHY421/301/RAD501 Seminar in the Physics of Medical Imaging (Foster, 2 credit) (second half, Spring semester until mid May)


Elective: PHY513  Magnetic Resonance Imaging: from Spins to Brain (4 credit, Zhong) recommended
Elective
PHY 423/302   Reading Course: Topics in  Health Physics (Schell -4 credit)
alternates every other year    or
PHY445/245W -- Advanced Laboratory (upper level writing I)  special section: the four experiments are: (1) Lifetime of Muon, (2) Electron Spin Resonance/MRI, (3) Hall Effect, (4) Nuclear Spectroscopy
Specialty Elective 2  BME  251/PHY252  Biomedical Ultrasound (4 credit)
or  PHY 446/CHM 466 Nuclear Chemistry (4 credit) (if offered)
or  PHY 440/PHY254  Nuclear and Particle Physics (if offered)
or  PHY 420/ECE420/PHY251 Solid State Physics (if offered)
or  PHY 424/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 be adjusted in consulations with Professors Bigelow and Schell.

Need to work for 3 years as a Medical Physicist Prior to Taking Certification Exam

1 Towards requirement of a Biology Minor

2  Students with a grade of 4 or 5 in AP biology can place out of BIO 110/111

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.

4PHY 143 is open to freshmen only, except by permission of the instructor (for those in this track.

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.

6A course Medical Imaging can be used  to complete the Undergraduate Certificate in Biological/Medical Physics.

Go to Undergraduate Programs page.

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:

PHY445/245WAdvanced Lab - special section (4cr)
PHY440  Nuclear and Particle Physics (4 cr) 
PHY422/ECE452/   Medical Imaging  (4 cr, Parker)
PHY 423   Topics in Health Physics (4 cr, Schell) 
PHY513  Magnetic Resonance Imaging: from Spins to Brain (4 cr, Zhong) 
PHY421RAD501  Seminar in the Physics of Medical Imaging (2 cr, Foster)
PHY 495 MS Thesis in Medical/Biological Physics or Medical/Biological Optics (6-12 cr)
BIO 201  Human Anatomy (with Lab)
BIO 204  Human Physiology (4 cr. with Lab)


  




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