Careers
An advanced degree is required for most career paths in radiation protection, and earning your radiation health physics master's degree will put you in prime position to establish a foothold in the industry. The Health Physics Society projects a shortage of radiation safety professionals for radiation related organizations including federal, state and local environmental protection agencies; medical care facilities; nuclear reactor sites; national laboratories; and private consulting.
U.S. Department of Energy director Heather Bell is earning her health physics degree online to support her role in advising embassy leaders on nuclear security. Watch the video & read more »
Career paths
- Environmental health physicists
- Health physics educators
- Industrial and applied health physicists
- Radiation safety officers
- Health physics regulators
Responsibilities for radiation health physicists
Navy lieutenant Colby Mangini earned his Master of Health Physics degree online from Oregon State while serving as a nuclear power instructor in South Carolina. It was an experience he still raves about. Read more »
- Ensure beneficial uses of radiation and radioactive materials
- Study the effects of radiation on the environment
- Measure radioactivity in water, soil and air
- Ensure the safe use of medical/dental diagnostic equipment
- Design radiation detection equipment
- Develop software to estimate radiation dose from source exposure
- Calculate safe, effective doses of radiation for cancer patients
- Provide radiation protection training
Important dates
See our academic calendar for our full quarter term schedule.
Degree details
* Oregon State University is on a quarter-term system. There are four quarters each year and classes are 11 weeks long. This program's 45 quarter credits are equal to 30 semester credits.
† Cost per credit is calculated using tuition per credit for the current academic year. It does not include associated fees, course materials, textbook expenses, and other expenses related to courses.
‡ An intensive, one-week on-site laboratory class is required during the summer at OSU's main campus. You can complete all other courses 100% online.
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