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Medical Physics Track
The Medical Physics Track is designed for students who are interested in the application of physics to medical and biological problems. This includes students interested in pursuing a career in Medical Physics, Medicine, or Dentistry. As noted in the APS newsletter, "physics majors routinely outperform biology and chemistry majors on the MCAT." It is also excellent undergraduate training for other professional programs including Law. The medical physics track combines traditional physics and mathematics course work with additional courses in medical physics and in the medical applications of nuclear physics. Our extensive accelerator and nuclear lab facilities provide hands on experience in ion beam production and nuclear detection. The degree also includes additional course work in biology and chemistry. A student who completes this degree will meet the course requirements for admission to medical school as well as the more extensive course requirements for the U.T. Medical Physics programs.
BREAKING NEWS
Our first Medical Physics student, Junior Cletus Fuhrman, tied the Tarleton record for his score on the recent MCAT and placed in the top 2% of students. Mr. Fuhrman is a member of Tarleton's Joint Admission Medical Program (JAMP) and is doing imaging research with Engineering Physics faculty member Falih Ahmad.
Medical Physics (Wikipedia)
Medical physics is a rapidly growing field involving the application of physics principles to solve medical problems. The primary fields of application are 1) Imaging (CRT, NMR, etc); 2) Therapeutic Radiation (IMRT, Proton Therapy, etc); and 3) Health Physics. Medical physicists work in both University and Clinical Settings. Medical physicist's duties range from working with a doctor to design radiation treatment plans, development of new imaging or radiation techniques and hardware, the training of technicians, training of physicians, the purchasing new hardware and the overseeing of compliance testing. Health Physicists do radiation monitoring and safety planning at Power plants and other industrial facilities. To work in any of these fields, you must either obtain a graduate degree in Medical Physics or obtain a graduate degree in Physics and work under a Medical Physicists. You must then pass the State Licensing Exam.