Medical Dosimetry, Advanced Certificate in

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Adjunct Associate Professor Chang, Graduate Program Director, 516-463-5583

The Advanced Certificate Medical Dosimetry, is a non-degree program* in collaboration with Northwell Health to provide the didactic component of the Medical Dosimetry Program. All clinical components of this program are typically completed at Northwell Health.

A medical dosimetrist is an analytical member of the radiation oncology team to design, generate, and measure radiation dose distributions and dose calculations while providing oversight to high level treatment procedures in both external beam radiation therapy and brachytherapy. To become a medical dosimetrist, a trainee needs to gain an overall knowledge of math, physics, anatomy & physiology, radiobiology, and knows the characteristics and clinical relevance of radiation oncology treatment machines and equipment.

Upon completion of the combined training at Hofstra University and Northwell Health, the graduate will be fully prepared to apply for medical dosimetrist positions offered by many radiation oncology clinics.

Note: Given the nature of this certificate program, its education content DOES NOT fulfill the graduate education requirements for New York State licensure in medical physics.

Admission Requirements

Applications will be jointly reviewed by the Admissions Committee of the MS in Medical Physics Program at Hofstra University and the Admissions Committee of Medical Dosimetry Program at Northwell Health.
Applicants are required to present evidence of a baccalaureate or graduate degree in physics or an allied science from a fully, regionally accredited institution.
1. Applicants should demonstrate a minimum grade point average of 3.0.
Official transcripts of degrees must be submitted. These must show evidence of satisfactory course work (grades of B or higher) in:
1. Calculus (equivalent to Hofstra University’s MATH 071-073),
2. Introductory to General Physics (equivalent to Hofstra University’s PHYS 011A, 011B, 012A, 012B), and
3. Anatomy and Physiology (equivalent to Hofstra University’s BIOL 209). Most students with a degree in physics or engineering meet these requirements.
Applicants are required to present evidence of observing at least 40 hours in a dosimetry clinic prior to applying.
Two letters of recommendation.
A statement of purpose that summarizes the candidate’s background and rationale for applying to the program.
A recent curriculum vitae.

Note:

Transfer students: Up to 6 semester hours can be transferred. The program director will review the situation of each applicant and make a decision. If deemed appropriate, as many as 6 semester hours with a grade of B or better from another JRCERT-accredited dosimetry program or CAMPEP-accredited medical physics program may be transferred.
The transferred credits must be for the core courses. Since 6 semester hours corresponds to two courses, at least three of the five core courses must be completed in this program.

Program Requirements - Total Semester Hours: 16

1) Required Core Courses - Total Semester Hours: 16. The following six courses must be completed first, either in this certificate program or in previous studies at other JACERT- or CAPEP-accredited programs.

MPHY 216 - Radiobiology Semester Hours: 3
MPHY 218 - Introduction to Radiological Physics Semester Hours: 2
MPHY 220 - Radiation Protection and Radiation Safety Semester Hours: 3
MPHY 230 - Fundamentals of Imaging in Medicine I Semester Hours: 3
MPHY 240 - Radiation Therapy Physics I Semester Hours: 3
MPHY 241 - Radiation Therapy Physics II Semester Hours: 2

Electives

2) Electives: The following courses can be taken with the permission of Program Director to fulfill the credit requirements of this certificate program if the student has taken some of the above required core courses in other JACERT- or CAMPEP-accredited programs:

BIOL 209 - Anatomy and Physiology for Medical Physics Semester Hours: 3
MPHY 212 - Foundations of Clinical Medical Physics Semester Hours: 2
MPHY 214 - Radiological Physics and Dosimetry Semester Hours: 3
MPHY 231 - Fundamentals of Imaging in Medicine II Semester Hours: 2

3) B Average or Higher

A minimum average GPA of 3.0 (a “B” letter grade) must be maintained throughout the program. Students falling below the minimum average GPA may be put on academic probation for one semester or asked to leave the program, at the discretion of the graduate program director and upon advisement of the Steering Committee.

4) Sample Plan of Study

Program Requirements: 16 semester hours (credit hours). The following is a sample course sequence for the program. Candidates can discuss with the director about class schedules.

Semester 1 (Fall)

MPHY 218 Introduction to Radiological Physics (2 sh)
MPHY 220: Radiation Protection and Radiation Safety (3 sh)

Semester 2 (Spring)

MPHY 216: Radiobiology (3 sh)
MPHY 240: Radiation Therapy Physics I (3 sh)

Semester 3 (Fall)

MPHY 230: Fundamentals of Imaging in Medicine (3 sh)
MPHY 241 - Radiation Therapy Physics II (2 sh)

Electives: The following courses can be taken to fulfill the degree requirements if some of the above core courses have been previously taken in another JRCERT-accredited or CAMPEP-accredited programs:

BIOL 209 - Anatomy and Physiology for Medical Physics (3 sh)
MPHY 212 - Foundations of Clinical Medical Physics (2 sh)
MPHY 214 - Radiological Physics and Dosimetry (3 sh)
MPHY 231 - Fundamentals of Imaging in Medicine II (3 sh)

Search