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Health Physics (Radiation Protection) Graduate Program

School of Health Sciences

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Open House

A virtual Open House for the Health Physics Graduate Program will be held in October. The date and time will be announced on this page soon. This is an opportunity to ask questions and connect with faculty and current students. To receive updates and reserve your spot, please complete the Qualtrics RSVP form. Please watch the pre-recorded information session before attending.

Health physics — or the science of radiation protection — is the profession devoted to protecting people and their environment from potential radiation hazards while making it possible to enjoy the beneficial uses of radiation. The use of radiation in medicine, industry and research offers countless benefits. To ensure that radiation and radioactive materials are used safely, nuclear facilities and research laboratories employ personnel who understand the many types of radiation hazards and how to prevent unnecessary exposure and control them.

Specialized education and training are a prerequisite for becoming a professional health physicist. To qualify for professional status, a health physicist needs at least a bachelor’s degree in science, engineering or health science with specialized courses in physics, mathematics, chemistry, nuclear engineering, radiation biology, radiological health and occupational health. A graduate degree in health physics is required for many professional-level positions, including radiation safety officer positions and those involving health physics research or teaching. With a shortage of health physicists, graduates of this program are in high demand.

Interested in undergraduate education for health physics? Check out our undergraduate radiological health sciences program.

Program Highlights

  • Opportunities to engage in cutting-edge research in instrumentation development and nuclear security risk assessment.
  • Excellent internship and job opportunities with nearly 100% placement.
  • One of the United States’ oldest health physics programs.
  • Meet and learn from your peers by joining the Student Branch of the Health Physics Society.

Potential Careers

  • Industrial and applied health physicists
  • Environmental health physicists
  • Health physics researchers
  • Health physics regulators
  • Health physics educators
  • Medical health physicists
  • Radiation safety officers

Concentrations

MS Thesis Plan of Study MS Non-Thesis Plan of Study PhD Plan of Study

Program Quick Facts

Degree Type:
Master’s, Doctoral

Program Length:
Master’s: 1-2 years
PhD: 3-5 years

Location:
West Lafayette, IN

Department/School:
School of Health Sciences

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Research

Research is an important component of the health physics graduate program. To advance discovery in instrumentation development and nuclear security risk assessment, you will have opportunities to work alongside award-winning faculty across a variety of focus areas. These areas include radiation waste management, radiation exposure and more.

health physics research

Research Opportunities

  • Radiation shielding and dosimetry
  • Radiation waste treatment and management
  • Radiation biology
  • Environmental radiation and biological effects of low-dose radiation exposure

Research Areas

Research Facilities

  • Life Science MRI facility
  • The Birck Nanotechnology Center
  • The Bindley Bioscience Center
  • The Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering
  • Purdue’s Center for the Environment

Faculty

Graduate Student Directory

Admissions/Requirements

Applications submitted prior to December 1 will be considered for fellowships and awards.

View Admissions Criteria

Jason Cannon

Jason T. Harris | Program Director

For questions regarding the health physics graduate program, please contact Jason Harris at jtharris@purdue.edu or our graduate coordinator, Karen Walker, at kwalker@purdue.edu.

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