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Medical Physics

GSBS Medical Physics Program

Year 1, Fall Semester 

Hours

GS02-1052 

Imaging Science 

2

GS02-1093 

Introduction to Medical Physics I: Basic Interactions 

3

GS02-1202 

Electronics for Medical Physicists 

2

GS02-1731 

Medical Physics Seminar 

1

GS21-1051 

The Ethical Dimensions of the Biomedical Sciences 

1

 

Total 

9

 

Year 1, Spring Semester 

Hours

GS02-1103 

Introduction to Medical Physics II: Medical Imaging 

3

GS02-1113 

Introduction to Medical Physics III: Therapy 

3

GS02-1053 

Radiation Detection, Instrumentation and Data Analysis 

3

GS02-1731 

Medical Physics Seminar 

1

 

Total 

10

Deadline for Forming the Advisory Committee

Year 1, Summer Semester 

Hours

GS02-1213

 Therapy Medical Physics II

3

GS02-1223

 Diagnostic Medical Physics II

3

GS00-1520 

Research in Biomedical Sciences 

0-2

 

Electives 

0-2

 

Total 

6-8

 Goal for Petitioning to Candidacy for the M.S. Degree

Year 2, Fall Semester 

Hours

GS02-1193 

Introduction to Medical Physics IV: Nuclear Medicine 

3

GS00-1910 

Thesis for Master of Science 

3

GS02-1072 

Statistics for Medical Physicists 

2

GS02-1063 

Fundamental Anatomy, Physiology and Biology for Medical Physics I 

3

GS02-1731 

Medical Physics Seminar 

1

 

Total 

12

 

Year 2, Spring Semester 

Hours

GS02-1073 

Fundamental Anatomy, Physiology and Biology for Medical Physics II 

3

GS00-1910 

Thesis for Master of Science (after candidacy is approved) 

3-6

 

Electives 

0-3

 

Total 

9

 

Year 2, Summer Semester 

Hours

GS02-1133 

Introduction to Radiation Protection 

3

GS00-1910 

Thesis for Master of Science 

0-3

 

Electives 

0-3

 

Total 

6

 

Year 3, Fall  Semester 

Hours

GS00-1910 

Thesis for Master of Science 

9

 

Total 

9

 

Year 3, Spring  Semester 

Hours

GS00-1910 

Thesis for Master of Science 

9

 

Total 

9

  • SMS Academic Plan

    Year 1, Fall Semester 

    Hours

    GS02-1052 

    Imaging Science 

    2

    GS02-1093 

    Introduction to Medical Physics I: Basic Interactions 

    3

    GS02-1202 

    Electronics for Medical Physicists 

    2

    GS02-1731 

    Medical Physics Seminar 

    1

    GS21-1051 

    The Ethical Dimensions of the Biomedical Sciences 

    1

     

    Total 

    9

     

    Year 1, Spring Semester 

    Hours

    GS02-1103 

    Introduction to Medical Physics II: Medical Imaging 

    3

    GS02-1113 

    Introduction to Medical Physics III: Therapy 

    3

    GS02-1053 

    Radiation Detection, Instrumentation and Data Analysis 

    3

    GS02-1731 

    Medical Physics Seminar 

    1

     

    Total 

    10

    Deadline for Forming the Advisory Committee

    Year 1, Summer Semester 

    Hours

    GS02-1213

     Therapy Medical Physics II

    3

    GS02-1223

     Diagnostic Medical Physics II

    3

    GS00-1520 

    Research in Biomedical Sciences 

    0-2

     

    Electives 

    0-2

     

    Total 

    6-8

     Goal for Petitioning to Candidacy for the M.S. Degree

    Year 2, Fall Semester 

    Hours

    GS02-1193 

    Introduction to Medical Physics IV: Nuclear Medicine 

    3

    GS00-1910 

    Thesis for Master of Science 

    3

    GS02-1072 

    Statistics for Medical Physicists 

    2

    GS02-1063 

    Fundamental Anatomy, Physiology and Biology for Medical Physics I 

    3

    GS02-1731 

    Medical Physics Seminar 

    1

     

    Total 

    12

     

    Year 2, Spring Semester 

    Hours

    GS02-1073 

    Fundamental Anatomy, Physiology and Biology for Medical Physics II 

    3

    GS00-1910 

    Thesis for Master of Science (after candidacy is approved) 

    3-6

     

    Electives 

    0-3

     

    Total 

    9

     

    Year 2, Summer Semester 

    Hours

    GS02-1133 

    Introduction to Radiation Protection 

    3

    GS00-1910 

    Thesis for Master of Science 

    0-3

     

    Electives 

    0-3

     

    Total 

    6

     

    Year 3, Fall  Semester 

    Hours

    GS00-1910 

    Thesis for Master of Science 

    9

     

    Total 

    9

     

    Year 3, Spring  Semester 

    Hours

    GS00-1910 

    Thesis for Master of Science 

    9

     

    Total 

    9

  • PhD Academic Plan (MS BYPASS OPTION)

    Year 1, Fall Semester 

    Hours 

    GS00-1514 

    Tutorial Research Experience 1 

    2 

    GS02-1093 

    Introduction to Medical Physics I: Basic Interactions 

    3 

    GS02-1202 

    Electronics for Medical Physicists 

    2 

    GS02-1052 

    Imaging Science 

    2 

    GS02-1731 

    Medical Physics Seminar 

    1 

    GS21-1051 

    The Ethical Dimensions of the Biomedical Sciences 

    1 

     

    Total 

    11 

     

    Year 1, Spring Semester 

    Hours 

    GS00-1514 

    Tutorial Research Experience 2 

    2 

    GS02-1103 

    Introduction to Medical Physics II: Medical Imaging 

    3 

    GS02-1113 

    Introduction to Medical Physics III: Therapy 

    3 

    GS02-1053 

    Radiation Detection, Instrumentation and Data Analysis 

    3 

    GS02-1731 

    Medical Physics Seminar 

    1 

     

    Total 

    12 

    Goal for Forming the Advisory Committee

    Year 1, Summer Semester 

    Hours 

    GS00-1514 

    Tutorial Research Experience 3 

    2 

    GS02-1213 

    Therapy Medical Physics II 

    3 

    GS02-1223 

    Diagnostic Medical Physics II 

    3 

     

    Total 

    8 

    Deadline for Forming the Advisory Committee

    Year 2, Fall Semester 

    Hours 

    GS02-1072 

    Statistics for Medical Physicists 

    2 

    GS00-1520 

    Research in Biomedical Sciences 

    1-3 

    GS02-1193 

    Introduction to Medical Physics IV: Physics of Nuclear Medicine 

    3 

    GS02-1063 

    Fundamental Anatomy, Physiology and Biology for Medical Physics I 

    3 

    GS02-1731 

    Medical Physics Seminar 

    1 

     

    Total 

    10-12 

     

    Year 2, Spring Semester 

    Hours 

    GS02-1073 

    Fundamental Anatomy, Physiology and Biology for Medical Physics II 

    3 

     

    Electives 

    0-3 

    GS00-1520 

    Research in Biomedical Sciences 

    1-4 

    GS21-1152 

    Scientific Writing 

    2 

     

    Total 

    9 

     

    Year 2, Summer Semester 

    Hours

    GS02-1133 

    Introduction to Radiation Protection 

    3 

    GS00-1520 

    Research in Biomedical Sciences 

    1-3 

     

    Elective, Special Project or Research 

    0-2 

     

    Total 

    6 


    Deadline for Scheduling of the Ph.D. Oral Candidacy Examination

    Year 3, Fall Semester 

    Hours

    GS00-1520 

    Research in Biomedical Sciences (until candidacy is approved) 

    9 

    Deadline for Advancing to Ph.D. Candidacy

    Year 3, Spring Semester 

    Hours

    GS00-1920 

    Dissertation for Doctor of Philosophy (after candidacy is approved) 

    9 

     

    Year 3, Summer Semester 

    Hours

    GS00-1920 

    Dissertation for Doctor of Philosophy 

    1-6

     

    Elective 

    X

     

    Year 4, Fall Semester 

    Hours

    GS00-1920 

    Dissertation for Doctor of Philosophy 

    9

     

    Year 4, Spring Semester 

    Hours

    GS00-1920 

    Dissertation for Doctor of Philosophy 

    9

     

    Year 4, Summer Semester 

    Hours

    GS00-1920 

    Dissertation for Doctor of Philosophy 

    6

     

    Year 5, Fall Semester 

    Hours

    GS00-1920 

    Dissertation for Doctor of Philosophy 

    9

     

    Year 5, Spring Semester 

    Hours

    GS00-1920 

    Dissertation for Doctor of Philosophy 

    9

     

    Year 5, Summer Semester 

    Hours

    GS00-1920 

    Dissertation for Doctor of Philosophy 

    1-6

    Goal for Defending the Ph.D. Dissertation and Graduating

  • Graduate Certificate in Medical Physics

    Required Courses Hours
    GS02-1093 Introduction to Medical Physics I: Basic Interactions 3
    GS02-1103 Introduction to Medical Physics II: Medical Imaging Physics 3
    GS02-1113 Introduction to Medical Physics III: Therapy Physics 3
    GS02-1193 Introduction to Medical Physics IV: Nuclear Medicine Physics 3
    GS02-1213 Therapy Medical Physics II 3
    GS02-1223 Diagnostic Medical Physics II 3
    GS02-1053 Radiation Detection, Instrumentation and Data Analysis 3
    GS02-1133 Introduction to Radiation Protection 3
    GS02-1063 Fundamental Anatomy, Physiology and Biology for Medical Physics I 3
    GS02-1073 Fundamental Anatomy, Physiology and Biology for Medical Physics II 3

      

    Year 1, Fall Semester 

    Hours

    GS02-1093 

    Introduction to Medical Physics I: Basic Interactions 

    3

     

    Total 

    3

     

    Year 1, Spring Semester 

    Hours

    GS02-1103 

    Introduction to Medical Physics II: Medical Imaging 

    3

    GS02-1113 

    Introduction to Medical Physics III: Therapy 

    3

    GS02-1053 

    Radiation Detection, Instrumentation and Data Analysis 

    3

     

    Total 

    9

     

    Year 1, Summer Semester 

    Hours

    GS02-1213 

    Therapy Medical Physics II 

    3

    GS02-1223

    Diagnostic Medical Physics II 

    3

     

    Total 

    6

     

    Year 2, Fall Semester 

    Hours

    GS02-1193 

    Introduction to Medical Physics IV: Nuclear Medicine 

    3

    GS02-1063 

    Fundamental Anatomy, Physiology and Biology for Medical Physics I 

    3

     

    Total 

    6

     

    Year 2, Spring Semester 

    Hours

    GS02-1073 

    Fundamental Anatomy, Physiology and Biology for Medical Physics II 

    3

     

    Total 

    3

     

    Year 2, Summer Semester 

    Hours

    GS02-1133 

    Introduction to Radiation Protection 

    3

     

    Total 

    3

     

    Program Total 

    30

  • PhD Candidacy Exam

    Students in the Medical Physics (MP) Program are required to take an on-topic candidacy exam in which the research proposal is based on the student's intended dissertation project.  

    The Medical Physics Candidacy Exam Committee (MPCEC) is a four-member committee of faculty members with research specialties in imaging and therapy physics who are charged with ensuring consistency among candidacy exams and representation of both program specialties. All PhD Examination Committees must include one member of the MPCEC from each specialty. These faculty do not count as examiners from outside the student's major discipline.

    The MP on-topic format follows the GSBS on-topic exam format with the additional specifications below. Note that the overall duration of the examination is three hours.

    • On-Topic Research Proposal

    Students must develop a Significant Aims page, including a clear and scientifically significant hypothesis that is to be tested through 2-4 Specific Aims. The Specific Aims page should be reviewed and approved by the Advisory Committee before it is submitted to the GSBS Academic Standards Committee as part of the Petition for the PhD Candidacy Examination. The student's Mentor and Advisory Committee may help guide development of the hypothesis and aims but must ensure that the proposal contains original material that is developed by the student. The student will independently prepare a six-page proposal in the style of an NIH R21 that will include the following sections:

    • Abstract (350 words or less)
    • Specific Aims (one page)
    • Research Strategy (six pages)
      • Significance
      • Innovation
      • Approach
    • References Cited

    Preliminary data are not required for this proposal, but may be included if available. Students can also generate model figures to illustrate prior or expected results or include properly referenced data from other published work. The six-page proposal must be given to members of the Examining Committee at least four weeks prior to the exam.

    • Depth of Knowledge

    The depth component of the candidacy exam will be assessed through a one-hour oral examination following the presentation of the student's proposed work (also of one hour's duration). It will be incumbent upon the Examining Committee to test the student's depth of knowledge on his/her proposed research topic, including the rationale for the research project, background, technical approaches, experimental strategies, interpretation of results, pitfalls, feasibility, and significance; as well as the extent to which the student has developed his/her own ideas.

    • Breadth of Knowledge

    The student's knowledge and understanding of subject areas in the Medical Physics curriculum (diagnostic imaging, therapeutic, nuclear, and medical health physics) will be assessed through an oral examination. also approximately one hour in length, following the completion of the depth component. It is expected that students will exhibit reasonable understanding and competency across the field, with sufficient knowledge to find a solution or develop a rational approach to answering questions posed by the examiners..

    • Scientific Writing

    Scientific Writing (GS21 1152) is now a required course in the Medical Physics curriculum. Students must take this course prior to the candidacy exam and develop an off-topic research proposal as part of the course.

    • Overall Assessment

    A student's performance on breadth and depth components will be graded separately as pass/fail. Students must pass both components, but only the component(s) deemed unacceptable by the PhD Examining Committee will be subject to re-examination.

  • Course Descriptions

    GS02-1011: Radiation-Induced Late Effects and Survivorship Journal Club

    GS02-1012: The Physics of Positron Emission Tomography

    GS02-1022: Special Radiation Treatment Procedures

    GS02-1032: Principles of Magnetic Resonance Imaging

    GS02-1052: Imaging Science 

    GS02-1053: Radiation Detection, Instrumentation, and Data Analysis

    GS02-1062: Introduction to Clinical Medical Physics

    GS02-1063: Fundamental Anatomy, Physiology and Biology for Medical Physics I 

    GS02-1072: Statistics for Medical Physicists 

    GS02-1073: Fundamental Anatomy, Physiology and Biology for Medical Physics II 

    GS02-1083: Biological and Biophysical Principles of Molecular Imaging (formerly GS02-1014) 

    GS02-1093: Introduction to Medical Physics I: Basic Interactions

    GS02-1104: Introduction to Medical Physics II: Medical Imaging

    GS02-1114: Introduction to Medical Physics III: Therapy

    GS02-1133: Introduction to Radiation Protection

    GS02-1154: Introductory Radiation Therapy Physics Rotation

    GS02-1174: Introductory Diagnostic Imaging Rotation

    GS02-1194: Introduction to Medical Physics IV: The Physics of Nuclear Medicine

    GS02-1202: Electronics for Medical Physicists

    GS02-1731: Medical Physics Seminar (Fall/Spring)

    GS00-1910: Thesis for Master of Science

    GS00-1920: Dissertation for Doctor of Philosophy

    GS21-1051: The Ethical Dimensions of the Biomedical Sciences

    GS21-1152: Scientific Writing 

    GS00-1514: Tutorial Research Experience

    GS00-1530: Special Project Research

  • Course Schedules

Course Descriptions

  • Diagnostic Medical Physics II
    Course Detail

    GS02 1223 (3 credits)
    Summer Session

    This course provides graduate students with a foundation in the fundamental physics, principles of image formation & reconstruction, instrumentation, safety, and quality assurance of ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging.

  • Dissertation for Doctor of Philosophy
    Course Detail

    GS00 1920 (Variable (1-9) credits)
    All Semesters

    This course is for students who have passed the Ph.D. oral candidacy examination. Enrollment for a minimum of one semester required for Ph.D. degree.

  • Electronics for Medical Physicists
    Course Detail

    GS02 1202 (2 credits)
    Fall

    This course emphasizes the analog and digital electronics associated with scientific instrumentation, particularly as related to medical physics. Topics include analog DC and AC circuits and circuit analysis, transformers, and basic semiconductor devices such as diodes, transistors, and operational amplifiers; electrical safety; the use of filters and voltage regulators; digital logic, digital circuits, and the interface between analog and digital domains; and an overview of the electrical characteristics of systems that are used in the practice of medical physics.

  • Fundamental Anatomy, Physiology, and Biology for Medical Physics I
    Course Detail

    GS02 1063 (3 credits)
    Fall

    This is Part I of a two-part course that covers the fundamental biological principles that are essential for medical physicists, presenting them in an integrated progression from the molecular level to the organismal level. This course may also be of interest for graduate students of biophysics, radiation biology, and biomedical engineering. Beginning with a review of basic biochemistry, the course proceeds through molecular biology then cellular biology and physiology. Applications of these principles to radiation biology are covered, then the course moves to cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, tumor growth and development, and radiation carcinogenesis. The course concludes with the language of anatomy then tissues and their response to radiation.

  • Fundamental Anatomy, Physiology, and Biology for Medical Physics II
    Course Detail

    GS02 1073 (3 credits)
    Spring

    This is Part II of a two-part course that covers the fundamental biological principles that are essential for medical physicists, presenting them in an integrated progression from the molecular level to the organismal level. This course may also be of interest for graduate students of biophysics, radiation biology, and biomedical engineering.  Part II builds on the concepts from Part I of the course, and focuses on systems biology, including anatomy, physiology, and oncology, with special focus on the use of radiotherapy to treat cancer.  This course has a unique focus on radiologic anatomy, and students will learn to identify normal anatomic structures in medical images acquired using radiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. Molecular and functional imaging and cancer biology are also introduced in this course.

  • Imaging Science
    Course Detail

    GS02 1052 (2 credits)
    Fall

    This course provides a concise and coherent review of some commonly-encountered topics in applied mathematics, with a particular emphasis on their applications and relevance to medical imaging.  The course covers and is equally divided into two major sections: 1. optimization methods and algorithms, 2. Fourier and wavelet transforms.

  • Introduction to Medical Physics I: Basic Interactions
    Course Detail

    GS02 1093 (3 credits)
    Fall

    This semester covers the basic interactions of ionizing radiation important in medicine.  Topics include production of radiation, photo, charged particle, and neutron interactions, cavity theory, radiation interactions with solids. 

  • Introduction to Medical Physics IV: The Physics of Nuclear Medicine
    Course Detail

    GS02 1193 (3 credits)
    Fall

    This course introduces graduate students to the basic science and instrumentation of nuclear medicine and magnetic resonance imaging.  It presents scientific principles underlying quantitative radionuclide organ imaging methods for dosimetry and treatment planning.

  • Introduction to Radiation Protection
    Course Detail

    GS02 1133 (3 credits)
    Summer Session

    The science of radiation protection including terminology, biological effects, shielding dose limits, and dose measurement will be studied.  The role of state and federal enforcement agencies will be discussed.  The application of radiation protective concepts in a medical environment will include room design, isotope handling, instrumentation calibration, and room surveys.

  • Medical Physics Seminar
    Course Detail

    GS02 1731 (1 credits)
    Spring and Fall

    In the Fall term (Course Director, Laurence Court, PhD), students present talks on selected topics in general medical physics, therapy, and medical imaging.  The objectives are to acquaint students with a wide range of medical physics topics and to develop public speaking skills. 

    In the Spring term (Course Directors, Mary Martel, PhD and Pollard-Larkin, PhD),  students will learn the fundamentals of Medical Physics leadership, professionalism and ethics.  The objectives are to familiarize the students with several professional and ethical concerns within the field, develop an understanding of how to create a robust Radiation Oncology safety culture and quality assurance program and provide them with lectures from subject area experts on each topic.

  • Principles of Magnetic Resonance Imaging
    Course Detail

    GS02 1032 (2 credits)
    Summer Session

    The goal of this course is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the physics involved in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and prepare the students to carry out research or practice medical physics in this area.  The topics include basic spin physics, contrast mechanisms, hardware, data acquisition, image reconstruction, and artifact recognition.  Emphasis will be placed on practical issues encountered in research and clinical applications.

  • Proton Therapy Physics
    Course Detail

    GS02 1132 (2 credits)
    Fall

    The proton therapy physics course will provide students knowledge about proton beam dose deposition in different media, radiobiology of proton beams, clinical proton beam generation and delivery, commissioning proton therapy delivery systems, quality assurance, simulation and treatment planning for proton therapy, uncertainties in proton beam therapy, clinical indications for proton therapy, image guidance for proton therapy, treatment delivery and clinical outcome. In addition to lectures, practical hands-on sessions will be held for dosimetric measurements, beam calibration, quality assurance checks and treatment planning for different disease sites.

  • Radiation Detection, Instrumentation, and Data Analysis
    Course Detail

    GS02 1053 (3 credits)
    Spring

    This course encompasses a study of the characteristics and applications of charged particle, photon, and neutron detectors.  Modular analog and digital electronics required for signal processing and data recording will be used.  Techniques of data analysis and error propagation of counting statistics will be introduced.  The course will include two lectures and one laboratory exercise weekly.  The applications of radiation detectors in radiotherapy, health physics, nuclear medicine, and radiobiology will be emphasized.

  • Radiation-Induced Late Effects and Survivorship Journal Club
    Course Detail

    GS02 1011 (1 credits)
    Spring

    Students will meet weekly to present and discuss a contemporary publication on the subject of late effects, cancer survivorship, and dosimetry following medical radiation exposures. Publications may include scientific articles, books, reports, review papers, etc. The late effects of interest to the participants of this course are radiation-induced second cancers, infertility, organ dysfunction, cardiovascular effects, lung damage, pregnancy and neonatal outcomes, cognitive deficit, auditory impairment, dental abnormalities, diabetes, other chronic disease, and other long-term radiogenic effects and public health concerns. Medical radiation exposures include those related to radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging. Radiation dosimetry, late effects, and survivorship publications will be based on radiological measurements, analytic calculations, Monte Carlo calculations, predictive risk models, epidemiological data, and any related studies. The presentation outline comprises 25 minutes of prepared slides and 25 minutes of discussion. Each student will be required to present at least once during the semester and will be expected to actively participate in the discussion period. A minimum of 80% attendance is required for a passing grade. Students and faculty will not present their own work. This course is intended for Medical Physics students but is open to students from other programs with instructor consent.

  • Special Project: Research
    Course Detail

    GS00 1530 (Variable (1-4) credits)
    All Semesters

    Short-term research project intended to expose students to a research area or set of laboratory techniques. 

  • Statistics for Medical Physicists
    Course Detail

    GS02 1072 (2 credits)
    Summer Session

    This course is a one-semester overview of statistical concepts in biomedical and imaging studies. The material is intended to provide an introduction to applied methods of biostatistics that are prevalent in an engineering curriculum but are now increasingly encountered in medical physics literature and various areas of medical physics research, including non-model-based solutions to one sample and two sample problems. Students will gain experience in general understanding of the underlying statistical principles, the general approach to data analysis and interpretation of appropriate statistical methods

  • Supervised Clinical Experience in Radiation Therapy Physics
    Course Detail

    GS02 1021 (1 credits)
    Summer Session

    The Supervised Clinical Experience in Radiation Therapy Physics course is an elective course intended for students to be exposed to the practical working environment of a radiation oncology clinic. The time commitment for this elective is 4 hours a week with no didactic portion. Students will have 2 options: (1) a general supervised clinical experience whereby the student will rotate one morning every week with each site-specific physicist from the Department of Radiation Physics at MD Anderson Cancer Center, or (2) a student/mentor-led experience that focuses on one specific treatment procedure. Students pursuing the second option will submit a proposal to be approved by the course director before the start of the course (to ensure that it is consistent in effort and scope to the general experience) and a report of their experiences at the end of the course.

  • Therapy Medical Physics II
    Course Detail

    GS02 1213 (3 credits)
    Summer Session

    This course will cover concepts and applications in “modern” radiation therapy physics. It will start with an introduction to model based planning with CT and followed with rigorous treatment of convolution based-algorithms, Monte Carlo, and deterministic algorithms. This will include further discussion of heterogeneity corrections and limitations in commercially implemented algorithms utilized in treatment planning systems. This will be followed by discussion on modern radiation therapy planning and delivery approaches including IMRT, VMAT, stereotactic, and image-guided RT principles. Proton radiation therapy will be covered in detail. The final section of the class will cover advanced RT topics including MR in RT, patient specific QA, artificial intelligence/automation applications, biological based treatment planning, and FLASH. Auditing this course is permitted with instructor's consent. 

  • Thesis for Master of Science
    Course Detail

    GS00 1910 (Variable (1-9) credits)
    All Semesters

    To fulfill the requirements for the M.S. degree, students who have successfully petitioned for M.S. candidacy must register for a minimum of 6 credit hours in this course. These credit hours must be completed in one or more semesters after the M.S. candidacy petition has been approved.