Careers
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 »
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.
Career paths
- Environmental health physicists
- Health physics educators
- Industrial and applied health physicists
- Radiation safety officers
- Health physics regulators
Responsibilities for radiation health physicists
- 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. Some courses may require proctored exams in your local area.
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