Health Physics B.S.

CSU’s online bachelor’s degree in Health Physics empowers you to build a rewarding career in radiation safety and protection. This program equips you with specialized knowledge and practical skills to safeguard people and the environment from harmful radiation exposure while enabling society to benefit safely from its applications.

Designed with your success in mind, this flexible and comprehensive program combines foundational sciences with industry-relevant training, preparing you for in-demand roles in health physics. Whether you’re looking to advance your career or enter a growing field, this degree provides the tools to make an impact.

Real-world learning and internships

This degree emphasizes hands-on experience, offering opportunities for professional internships that allow you to apply your knowledge in real-world settings. Completing internships for academic credit enhances your practical skills and helps build a foundation for a successful career in radiation safety.

Learn from industry experts

Courses are taught by world-class faculty, including two Certified Health Physicists (CHPs) with extensive expertise in radiation protection. Faculty members are active researchers and respected professionals in the health physics field, with strong connections to the Health Physics Society and other industry leaders. These connections offer valuable networking opportunities and support for internships, helping you build a solid professional network.

Flexible, innovative learning format

Our asynchronous online format allows you to complete coursework at your own pace, making this program a great fit for working professionals. This flexibility ensures you can advance your education without disrupting your professional and personal commitments. Our program had a strong history of collaboration with active-duty students, especially Nuclear Navy personnel.

A growing field with high demand

Health physics professionals play an essential role in ensuring radiation safety across various industries. Graduates of the Health Physics B.S. program, including those leveraging Navy Nuclear Program credit, are well-prepared to enter this expanding field. Their skills are highly valued and critical to public safety and environmental protection.

Potential careers in health physics

With a degree in Health Physics, including through our online degree programs tailored for Navy Nuclear personnel, you’ll be equipped for a range of rewarding career paths, such as:

• Radiation Protection Manager
• Radiation Protection Lead
• Dosimetry Lead
• Additional roles in radiation safety and health physics

These careers offer strong job security and competitive starting salaries, with industry-experienced graduates often earning around $100,000 annually.

Pathway to advanced studies

CSU’s Health Physics program offers an online pathway to graduate studies through the 4+1 option, allowing students to begin graduate-level coursework during their bachelor’s program, which requires on-campus classes for the graduate portion. This setup enables students to complete their master’s in health physics in as little as nine months after finishing their bachelor’s, positioning them for advanced roles and leadership positions in the field while ensuring comprehensive, hands-on learning at the graduate level.

Freshman

• BZ 101 – Humans and Other Animals (3 cr.)
• CHEM 107 – Fundamentals of Chemistry (4 cr.)
• CHEM 108 – Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory (1 cr.)
• CO 150 – College Composition (3 cr.)
• MATH 160 – Calculus for Physical Scientists I (4 cr.)
• MATH 161 – Calculus for Physical Scientists II (4 cr.)
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (AUCC 1C) (3 cr.)
• Social and Behavioral Sciences (AUCC 3C) (3 cr.)

Electives (4 cr.)

Total Credits: 29

Sophomore

• PH 121 – General Physics I (5 cr.)
• PH 122 – General Physics II (5 cr.)
• PHIL 110 – Logic and Critical Thinking (3 cr.)
• Arts and Humanities (AUCC 3B) (3 cr.)
• Historical Perspectives (AUCC 3D) (3 cr.)

Electives (7 cr.)

Junior

• BMS 300 – Principles of Human Physiology (4 cr.)
• ERHS 310 – Basic Radiological Physics and Dosimetry I (3 cr.)
• ERHS 312 – Basic Radiological Physics and Dosimetry II (3 cr.)
• ERHS 450 – Introduction to Radiation Biology (3 cr.)
• STAT 301 – Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods (3 cr.)


• CO 300 – Writing Arguments (4 cr.)
OR
• CO 301B – Writing in the Disciplines: Sciences (3 cr.)

Program electives - Select a minimum of 15 credits from the following:

• BC 351 – Principles of Biochemistry (4 cr.)
• BMS 320 – Virtual Laboratory in Physiology (2 cr.)
• BUS 150 – Business Computing Concepts and Applications (3 cr.)
• BUS 205 – Legal and Ethical Issues in Business (3 cr.)
• BZ 120 – Principles of Plant Biology (4 cr.)
• CHEM 245 – Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry (4 cr.)
• ERHS 313 – Nuclear Instruments and Measurement Lab (1 cr.)
• ERHS 332 – Principles of Epidemiology (3 cr.)
• ERHS 515 – Non-Ionizing Radiation Safety (2 cr.)
• ERHS 556 – Monte Carlo Methods in Health Physics (3 cr.)
• ERHS 570 – Radioecology (2 cr.)
• JTC 300 – Strategic Writing and Communication (3 cr.)
• JTC 301 – Corporate and Professional Communication (3 cr.)
• LB 300 – Specialized Professional Writing (2 cr.)
• LIFE 220 – Fundamentals of Ecology (3 cr.)
• MGT 305 – Fundamentals of Management (3 cr.)
• MIP 300 – General Microbiology (3 cr.)
• PSY 253 – Human Factors and Engineering Psychology (3 cr.)
• SPCM 200 – Public Speaking (3 cr.)
• WR 204 – Sustainable Watersheds (3 cr.)

Total Credits: 34

Senior

• ERHS 311 – Basic Nuclear Measurements and Instruments (1 cr.)
• ERHS 400 – Radiation Safety (3 cr.)
• ERHS 461 – Introduction to Radiation Public Health (3 cr.)
• ERHS 488 – Internship--Health Physics (7-10 cr.)

Electives (14-17 cr.)

Total Credits: 31

Program Total Credits: 120

Alexander Brandl

Education:

• Ph.D. - Physics, University of New Mexico, 2002
• M.S. - Physics, University of New Mexico, 1999
• B.S. - Physics and Mathematics, University of New Mexico, 1996

Dr. Brandl's research interests include: Radiation physics, Operational health physics, Computer simulation of radiation fields, Shielding, Detector efficiencies, Radionuclide transport, Environmental and workplace monitoring, and Internal dosimetry.

Thomas Johnson

Education:

• Ph.D. - Health Physics, Purdue University, 1997
• M.S. - Environmental Health Engineering, Northwestern University, 1993
• M.B.A. - Operations Management and Finance, University of Illinois, 1991
• B.S. - Industrial Technology, Southern Illinois University, 1989

Dr. Johnson’s research lab is focused on movement of radionuclides in the environment and laser safety. He has worked with ionizing and non-ionizing radiation for over 20 years. Dr. Johnson worked as an ELT on the USS Cavalla (SSN-684), in consulting, at coal and at nuclear power plants.

Del Leary

Education:

• Ph.D. - Medical Physics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, 2013
• M.S. - Physics , Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada, 2001
• B.S. - Physics, The University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Maitoba, Canada, 1998

Dr. Leary is our Medical Physicist working in the Radiation Oncology department at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. His research interests are mainly in developing radiosensitizers to help improve the dose discrimination between tumor and normal tissue. He also enjoys research topics in novel therapeutic beam design and image guided radiation therapy.

Ralf Sudowe

Education:

• Ph.D. - Nuclear Chemistry, Philipps-Universitat Marburg, Marburg, Germany, 1999
• M.S. - Chemistry, Philipps-Univeritat Marburg, Marburg, Germany, 1995

Dr. Sudowe has extensive experience in the area of nuclear and radiochemistry, in particular in the development of radioanalytical separations for actinide and transactinide elements as well as fission products. His research focuses on the development and optimization of radioanalytical methods for environmental monitoring, nuclear forensics and safeguards as well as emergency response. In addition he studies the chemical and nuclear properties of transactinide elements and is involved in target preparation and cross section measurements for stockpile stewardship science. Sudowe is a member of the American Chemical Society, the American Nuclear Society and the Health Physics Society.

Questions? Call (970) 491-7468 or email terrance.dickens@colostate.edu.

Planning to transfer credits from another college or university? Please review our FAQ page, then complete a Tentative Transfer Evaluation Form to see how your prior credits may transfer.