If I already have a Ph.D., is the Columbia School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) Medical Physics Program appropriate?
Ph.D. level physicists are eligible for the SEAS program. However, the curriculum is designed for students with little or no prior knowledge in radiation physics. Consequently, this program may not be optimal for traditional physicists. Since a minimum of 30 points is required for a Columbia master’s degree, this minimum must be earned by taking an appropriate set of courses in physics and medicine. An experimental physicist may find selecting such courses difficult. Additionally, much of the physics that arises in medical physics is not emphasized in traditional curricula and research; indeed, a large portion of medical physics is classical. Thus, it almost always is necessary to take the elementary radiation science courses in order to assure uniform and thorough coverage of these topics. Since experienced physicists will not find this material difficult, there is some risk of boredom.
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