Mar 28, 2024  
2021-2022 University Catalog 
    
2021-2022 University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Radiological Health Sciences-Health Physics, BS


About the Program

Radiation is all around us and is used to generate power, analyze samples and materials, diagnose medical conditions and treat cancer. These powerful tools require trained individuals (radiation safety officer/health physicist/medical physicist) to protect patients, medical staff and the public from unnecessary exposure to radiation. A radiation safety officer within an organization is responsible for the safe use of radiation and radioactive materials as well as regulatory compliance. A trained health physicist evaluates the radiation environment using instruments and calculations and works with regulatory authorities to ensure compliance with radiation exposure standards. Medical physicists work closely with physicians and patients to develop radiation therapy treatments that minimize side effects while effectively treating cancer.

School of Health Sciences

Radiological Health Sciences Major Change (CODO) Requirements  

Degree Requirements


120 Credits Required

Health Physics Concentration (38-40 credits)


A minimum grade of “C” is required for HSCI 52600 and 53400.

Other Departmental/Program Course Requirements (18-19 credits)


  • ♦ (satisfies Oral Communication for core)
  •  

  • ♦ (satisfies Written Communication and Information Literacy for core) or
  • ♦ (satisfies Written Communication and Information Literacy for core)
  •  

  • Human Cultures: Behavioral/Social Sciences Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00 (satisfies Human Cultures: Behavioral & Social Sciences for core)
  • English Selective (any ENGL course 20000 level or above) - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • HSCI Humanities, Behavioral/Social Sciences Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Human Cultures: Humanities Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00 (satisfies Human Cultures: Humanities for core)

Electives (0-3 credits)


University Requirements


University Core Requirements


For a complete listing of University Core Course Selectives, visit the Provost’s Website.
  • Human Cultures: Behavioral/Social Science (BSS)
  • Human Cultures: Humanities (HUM)
  • Information Literacy (IL)
  • Oral Communication (OC)
  • Quantitative Reasoning (QR)
  • Science #1 (SCI)
  • Science #2 (SCI)
  • Science, Technology, and Society (STS)
  • Written Communication (WC)

Civics Literacy Proficiency Requirement:


The Civics Literacy Proficiency activities are designed to develop civic knowledge of Purdue students in an effort to graduate a more informed citizenry.

Students will complete the Proficiency by passing a test of civic knowledge, and completing one of three paths:

  • Attending six approved civics-related events and completing an assessment for each; or
  • Completing 12 podcasts created by the Purdue Center for C-SPAN Scholarship and Engagement that use C-SPAN material and completing an assessment for each; or
  • Earning a passing grade for one of these approved courses (or transferring in approved AP or departmental credit in lieu of taking a course)

For more information visit the Civics Literacy Proficiency website.



Prerequisite Information:


For current pre-requisites for courses, click here.


Program Requirements


17-18 Credits


15 - 17 Credits


15 Credits


13 Credits


16 Credits


Spring 3rd Year


15 Credits


Fall 4th Year


16 Credits


Spring 4th Year


  • MA/CS Science Selective - Credit Hours: 4.00
  • General Science or RADH Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Human Cultures: Humanities- Credit Hours: 3.00

13 Credits


Notes


  • A student may elect the Pass / Not-Pass grading option for elective courses only, unless an academic unit requires that a specific departmental course/s be taken Pass / Not-Pass.  Students may elect to take University Core Curriculum courses Pass / Not-Pass; however, some major Plans of Study require courses that also fulfill UCC foundational outcomes.  In such cases, students may not elect the Pass / Not-Pass option.  A maximum of 24 credits of elective courses under the Pass / Not-pass grading option can be used toward graduation requirements. For further information, students should refer to the College of Health and Human Sciences Pass / Not-Pass Policy.
  • A minimum grade of C must be earned in HSCI 31200  HSCI 31300 , HSCI 51400 , HSCI 52600 , HSCI 53400 , HSCI 54000 , and HSCI 57400,  and they cannot be taken as pass/no pass.
  • An Ethics course (such as PHIL 11100 Ethics or PHIL 29000 Environmental Ethics) is highly recommended for elective credit.

  • Students must complete 32 credit hours of Purdue coursework at the 30000 level or higher for graduation.
  • 2.0 Graduation GPA required for Bachelor of Science degree.

World Language Courses


World Language proficiency requirements vary by program. The following list is inclusive of all world languages PWL offers for credit; for acceptable languages and proficiency levels, see your advisor.

ASL-American Sign Language ARAB-Arabic CHNS-Chinese FR-French
GER-German GREK-Greek (Ancient) HEBR-Hebrew (Biblical) HEBR-Hebrew (modern)
ITAL-Italian JPNS-Japanese KOR-Korean LATN-Latin
PTGS-Portuguese RUSS-Russian SPAN-Spanish  

 

 
 
 

 

 

Critical Course


The ♦ course is considered critical.

In alignment with the Degree Map Guidance for Indiana’s Public Colleges and Universities, published by the Commission for Higher Education (pursuant to HEA 1348-2013), a Critical Course is identified as “one that a student must be able to pass to persist and succeed in a particular major.  Students who want to be nurses, for example, should know that they are expected to be proficient in courses like biology in order to be successful.  These would be identified by the institutions for each degree program”. 

Disclaimer


The student is ultimately responsible for knowing and completing all degree requirements.

The myPurduePlan powered by DegreeWorks is the knowledge source for specific requirements and completion.