Welcome
to the UNLV Department of Health Physics and Diagnostic Sciences!!
Our Department offers undergraduate academic programs in the areas of Comprehensive Medical Imaging, Health Physics, and Nuclear Medicine. Graduate programs are offered in Health Physics (M.S.) and Radiochemistry (Ph.D.). Each of these programs is taught
by nationally-renown
faculty that are committed to ensure that our graduates are prepared
to be successful in their chosen area of specialty.What is Health Physics?
Health physics is the profession dedicated to the protection of the individual, the population, and the environment from the potentially harmful effects of radiation. It incorporates the principles and technical skills from many disciplines: physics, chemistry, biochemistry, biology, mathematics, ecology, toxicology, and industrial hygiene.
What is Nuclear Medicine?
Nuclear Medicine is the medical specialty that utilizes the nuclear properties of radioactive and stable nuclides to make diagnostic evaluations of the anatomic and/or physiologic conditions of the body and to provide therapy with unsealed radioactive sources.
What is Comprehensive Medical Imaging?
The Comprehensive Medical Imaging program at UNLV is an innovative academic program designed to educate students in a foundation of mathematics and the sciences applicable to the interdisciplinary and applied science of diagnostic imaging. The program currently offers theoretical and clinical course work in the advanced level modalities of Computed Tomography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Ultrasound.
What is Radiochemistry?
Radiochemistry is the discipline dedicated to the study of the chemical and physical properties of radioactive substances. Radiochemists utilize both the radioactive and chemical characteristics of elements and compounds to address technical needs in many areas, including the speciation and behavior of contaminants in the environment, radioactive waste treatment and disposal, and the beneficial uses of radioactive materials throughout the medical profession. The field demands that professionals in this area have a thorough understanding of both the theoretical and applied aspects of radiochemistry that are well founded in basic sciences and mathematics.
Learning Objectives
Find out more about the degrees we offer, the learning objectives, 4-year course plans, and possible careers by going to our Degree Programs link.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Department of Health Physics is to provide a high-quality educational experience for undergraduate and graduate students in the areas of radiation science, diagnostic medical imaging and therapeutic radiological physics.
The educational experience is accomplished through rigorous classroom instruction aided by computer and multi-media instruction, practical laboratory/clinical experiences, and student mentoring.
The products of this experience are radiation protection or allied health professionals capable of critical thinking, devoted to a lifetime of learning, committed to the ethical standards of their profession, and highly sought after by employers.
Accreditation
The M.S. in Health Physics Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Educational Programs (CAMPEP) and the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). The Nuclear Medicine and Radiology programs are accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Nuclear Medicine (JRCNMT) and the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT), respectively.
