Medical Physics

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, Dentistry, or Bioengineering.

For the past twenty years, physics and bioengineering majors have been either first or second on the MCAT exam used for medical school admission. (See the Medical Physics Flyer with the latest MCAT survey results).

Physics is also excellent undergraduate training for other professional programs including Law (Physics majors are number 1 on the LSAT exam).

he 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 and our affiliation with the Texas Physics Consortium provides unique faculty expertise in the medical and health physics areas. 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.

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 and our affiliation with the Texas Physics Consortium provides unique faculty expertise in the medical and health physics areas. 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.

Texas Physics Consortium offers several Advanced Electives in Medical Physics and Health Physics on a rotating basis including Medical Imaging, Medical Physics I & II, Radiation Detection I & II, and Dosimetry. In addition, students in the Medical Physics Track are encouraged to take at least 8 hours of general biology, 8 hours of College Chemistry, and at least 4 hours of Organic Chemistry. Other courses that can be used for electives in the Medical Physics track include Organic Chemistry 2, Biochemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, Optics, and Physiology.

Pre-Med and Pre-Dental

Pre-Med and Pre-Dental programs are not majors. Students wishing to pursue future admission into medical and dental schools may choose any major at Tarleton provided they compete certain required courses. The minimal courses requirements for Texas medical and dental schools are:

  • Biology – Two years as required for a college science major, including laboratory work
  • Chemistry – One year of General Chemistry and one semester of Organic Chemistry, including corresponding laboratory experience
  • Physics – One year as required for a college science major, including laboratory work
  • Mathematics – One-half year of college calculus or statistics
  • English – One year of college English

Medical Physics Track

Tarleton’s Medical Physics Track is specifically designed to provide course work beyond the minimum requirements for admission to either medical or dental school.

It also provides more than the minimum requirements for other pre-professional programs including Pre-Pharmacy, Pre-Therapy, and Pre-Optometry. 

With just a couple of courses, the program also meets requirements for Pre-Vet.

Our first graduate scored in the top 2% of all U.S. Students on the MCAT (a Tarleton Record) and was accepted into UT Southwestern Medical School for Fall 2012. Since that time, we have had graduates accepted to graduate medical physics program at Duke, MD Anderson, UC San Diego, and Oregon State as well as summer internships from the American Association of Physicists in Medicine.

In addition, for the past twenty years, physics and bioengineering majors have been either first or second on the MCAT exam used for medical school admission. (See the Medical Physics Flyer with the latest MCAT survey results).

Medical Physics Brochure – US Bureau of Labor Statistics