Internet Master of Health Physics

[Eli Port <port@northwestern.edu>]

I am writing to ask for comments from managers and

professionals who recruit and hire Health Physicists and who are

encountering the current shortage of academically trained HPs,

particularly those with a Masters Degree.  Northwestern University,

http://www.northwestern.edu

, is planning an internet Professional Master of

Health Physics program.  We are asking you to express your needs for

a program that will prepare your recruits and give your employees an

opportunity to earn a masters degree in Health Physics.


For most students, the program will require two years to complete. 

Students will be able to log on to lectures at times that are convenient

for them without leaving their jobs.  The program will be tailored

to meet the needs of working Health Physicists and prepare them for ABHP

certification.  All courses will be contemporary and taught in the

term in which the course is offered by a recognized leader in the

subject.  Herman Cember and I are on the proposed faculty. 



This contemporary live approach makes the courses fresh and responsive to

current events and will provide the students with an expert with whom

they will be able to discuss each subject. This program will continue

Northwestern's long standing tradition in Health Physics and will take

into account the current needs in our country. 


The tentative curriculum is:  


Introduction to Health Physics, 

Regulations and Compliance, 

Case Studies in Health Physics, 

Radiation Biology, 

Dosimetry, and 

Health Physics Instrumentation Laboratory.  This course must

be taken live and will require one week on campus.


One or both of the following: 

Industrial Hygiene and Environmental Control, or 

Public Health Engineering. 


One of the following: 

Environmental Management, 

Project Leadership, or 

Technical Writing.


A minimum of one of the following: 

Meteorology and Hydrology, 

Transport Processes in Porous Media, 

Environmental Impact Evaluation, or 

Community Air Pollution. 


For students deficient in statistics, one of the following must also be

taken:

Introduction to Statistics, 

Probability, 

Statistics I, 

Statistics II, or 

Statistical Methods for Quality Improvement.


Will these courses provide the educational content your employees will

need?  If you could add courses, what would you add?


Associate Dean Joseph Walsh has a number of questions that must be

answered before a final commitment will be made to start the

program.  One of my tasks is to work with Dean Walsh to determine

the national need for degreed Health Physicists and how an internet

program at Northwestern can best meet these needs.  The program must

satisfy the high standards of both Northwestern University and the Health

Physics community.


Please send your comments on the need for a high quality program to serve

working HPs to Dean Walsh,

jwalsh@northwestern.edu

or to me,

port@northwestern.edu. 

If you have any questions, please call me at 847-965-1999.  Your

input is appreciated.


Thanks


Eli




Eli A. Port

Adjunct Professor

Civil & Environmental Engineering

Robert R. McCormick School of 

Engineering and Applied  Science

847-965-1999

<mailto:port@northwestern.edu>