Classes for Becoming a Health Physicist
The field of health physics aims to protect people from radiation hazards, so the role of a health physicist is to research how radiation interacts in the environment. Students aspiring to work in this specialized field can earn a degree in health physics to prepare them for their careers. Health physicists can work in a range of disciplines, from education to environmental protection to government regulation.
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Radiation Classes
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Since health physicists aim to protect people and the environment from radiation hazards, health physics programs include many classes that focus on radiation. At Colorado State University, the class Radiation Public Health discusses the philosophy and science behind radiation protection regulation. The Radiation Science class at Georgetown University focuses on the basics of radiation, including atomic and nuclear structure, X-rays and sources of radiation. Other radiation-related courses include Nonionizing Radiation Protection and Science and Policy of Radiation Protection Practice.
Nuclear Weapons Classes
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Some health physicists will work in fields where they study the effects that radiation in nuclear weapons can have on people and the environment. As a result, health physics programs include courses that focus on this topic as well. Georgetown University's Introduction to Nuclear Nonproliferation exposes students to nuclear weapons types, the history of nuclear nonproliferation and legal issues surrounding nuclear weapons. Other courses focus on nuclear physics and nuclear fuel cycles.
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Environmental Health Classes
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Health physicists must know how the environment will respond to radiation and how to protect the environment from any of radiation's negative effects. Therefore, health physics students must understand environmental health. Courses like Environmental Health Physics at Georgetown University look at ways to respond to radiation accidents and administer clean-up while minimizing damage to the environment. Some students might even sign up for an internship with course credit that teaches them ways to protect the environment from radiation.
Science Classes
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Every health physics program has a strong science foundation, meaning that health physicists should expect to take a number of science courses as part of their curriculum. Courses like modern physics, radiochemistry and radiobiology are common classes in a health physics program. Other science-related classes in health physics programs include radiation biology, radiological physics and freshwater ecology.
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