Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What semester can I start this program?
    The program begins in the fall semester of each academic year.
  2. Are the classes available in the evening or online?
    Currently, the classes for this program are only available as a full time day format.
  3. Can non-degree seeking students take these classes?
    Enrollment is open to others in the Washington University community who are interested in taking individual courses if there is room available and prerequisites have been met.
  4. Does the program accept transfer credits from another program or university?
    For students without a CAMPEP accredited Master’s degree (or equivalent), up to 2 courses (no more than 6 units) from a CAMPEP accredited institution/program may be transferred. To qualify for transfer, these courses must meet the current CAMPEP standards for whichever topic the course covers.  The CAMPEP standards are found at https://www.campep.org/GraduateStandards.pdf and it is the responsibility of the applying student to show the Program Director that the course meets the current standards. 

    Students entering the program with a CAMPEP accredited Master’s degree (or equivalent)  may be eligible for credit of up to all 22 core medical physics courses. 

    Students entering the program with graduate-level (500 or higher) qualifying electives taken at Washington University in St. Louis may be eligible to transfer credit for those electives. 

    Acceptance of transfer credits in any condition is up to the discretion of the Program Director and Admissions Committee.
  5. Can I pursue this degree if I am a part-time student?
    Currently, the program is designed for full time study. (This may change depending on approval for part time requirements.)
  6. Do the classes have to be taken in a specific order?
    It is required that the courses be taken in the specified sequence in order to fulfill all prerequisite requirements for subsequent courses.
  7. What classes are accepted for the elective requirements?
    Electives must be courses offered through Washington University in St. Louis and must be at the graduate level (500 or above) to fulfill the course credit, although up to two electives may be at the 400 level with permission of the student’s Faculty Advisor.  Although not required, students are encouraged to select electives that provide didactic background for their selected thesis topic.  Electives listed as Medical Physics (MP), Physics (Physics), Biomedical Engineering (BME), Electrical and Systems Engineering (ESE), Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), and/or Mathematics (Math) do not need special permission.  Any from other departments require permission of the student’s Faculty Advisor.   Enrollment in any given elective is subject to completion of any prerequisite requirements.

    The following provides a list of some example electives that may be pertinent to students in the Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Physics program:
  • BME 544 Biomedical Instrumentation (Spring)
  • BME 570 Mathematics of Imaging Science (Fall)
  • Phys 435 Nuclear and Radiochemistry Lab (Spring)
  • BME 594 Ultrasound Imaging (Fall)
  • ESE 5933 Theoretical Imaging Science (Fall)
  • ESE 5934 Practicum in Imaging Science (Spring)
  • CSE 417t  Introduction to Machine Learning (Spring)
  • CSE 427s  Cloud Computing and Bid Data Applications (Spring)
  • CSE 514A Data Mining (Spring/Fall)
  • CSE 559A Computer Vision (Fall)