Medical Physics Graduate Courses
M.Sc Course Requirements

The first two semesters for the M.Sc program require that the student complete all of the courses listed in the First Term, Second Term and Spring Session Tables below. Credit will be given for equivalent courses already completed. At the completion of these courses the student will then undergo research for an MSc thesis.
First Term (Fall) M.Sc Courses
Course # | Credits | Course Name |
---|---|---|
Oncol 550 | 3 | Medical Radiation Physics |
Oncol 558 | 2 | Health Physics |
Oncol 560 | 2 | Technology in Radiation Oncology |
Oncol 562 | 3 | The Theory of Medical Imaging |
Oncol 600 | 2 | Graduate Medical Physics Seminar |
BME 564 | 3 | Fundamentals of Magnetic Resonance Imaging |
Second Term (Winter) M.Sc Courses
Course # | Credits | Course Name |
---|---|---|
Oncol 552 | 3 | Fundamentals of Applied Dosimetry |
Oncol 564 | 3 | The Physics of Nuclear Medicine |
Oncol 566 | 3 | Radiation Biophysics |
Oncol 568 | 3 | The Physics of Diagnostic Radiology |
Oncol 600 | 2 | Graduate Medical Physics Seminar |
Spring Session M.Sc Courses
Course # | Credits | Course Name |
---|---|---|
Oncol 554 | 2 | Laboratory in Medical Radiation Physics |
Oncol 556 | 2 | Laboratory in Imaging |
Additional Requirements
As a Department of Oncology Medical Physics Graduate student, you are also responsible for:
- Completing at least 8 hours of mandatory ethics and academic integrity training
- Registering and completing BME 320 or 321 any time during the program
- Students admitted on or after September 1, 2016 must submit an individualized Professional Development plan within the first 12 months for master's students and within the first 18 months for doctoral students.
- Completing 8 hours of professional development before the defense for Masters students and by the end of year 3 for PhD students.
Additional Elective Courses (to be completed by the finish of the program)
Course # | Credits | Course Name |
---|---|---|
BME 320 | 3 | Human Anatomy and Physiology: Cells and Tissue |
BME 321 | 3 | Human Anatomy and Physiology: Systems |
PhD Course Requirements
The PhD course requirements are:
- Take all the courses required for the M.Sc program listed above. Students transferring from a different program or University will be given credit for equivalent courses which have already been taken.
- Take one or two additional courses based on research interests and
in discussions with the candidate's supervisor and the leader of the
Medical Physics program. Students who wish to complete a PhD specializing in:
- Magnetic Resonance Physics should take:
- Oncology 690 and 691
- Radiological-Nuclear Imaging Physics should take:
- Oncology 692
- Radiotherapeutic Physics should take:
- Oncology 693
- Magnetic Resonance Physics should take:
First Term (Fall) Ph.D Courses
Course # | Credits | Course Name |
---|---|---|
Oncol 690 | 3 | Biomedical Magnetic Resonance Methods & Applications |
Second Term (Winter) Ph.D Courses
Course # | Credits | Course Name |
---|---|---|
Oncol 691 | 3 | Advanced Magnetic Resonance Physics |
Oncol 692 | 3 | Advanced Radiological and Nuclear Imaging Physics |
Oncol 693 | 3 | Advanced Radiotherapeutic Physics |
Course Descriptions
ONCOL 550 Medical Radiation Physics
Fundamentals of radiation physics, production and
properties of ionizing radiation and their
interactions with matter and tissue. Interactions
of photons and of charged particles with matter.
Concepts of radiation dosimetry (theoretical and
experimental, cavity theory and ionization
chambers).
First term, 3 credits (3 lecture hr/wk, 13
wks)
Consent of Department required.
Instructors:
G. Menon
and J. Yun
ONCOL 552 Fundamentals of Applied Dosimetry
Theory and practical techniques of external beam
radiotherapy and brachytherapy. Topics include
single and multiple external beams, scatter
analysis, inhomogeneity corrections, fundamentals
of brachytherapy, and brachytherapy dosimetry
systems.
Second term, 3 credits (3 lecture hr/wk, 13
wks).
Prerequisite: ONCOL 550.
Instructor(s): M.
MacKenzie, G. Menon and
B
Warkentin.
ONCOL 554 Laboratory in Medical Radiation Physics
Practical aspects of medical physics as applied to
radiation therapy. Exposure to the operation of
various therapy units and dose measuring devices.
Application of techniques to measure physical
parameters of radiation beams. Introduction to
radiation treatment planning with techniques for
specific tumor sites.
Spring session, 2 credits (4 lab hr/wk)
Prerequisite: ONCOL 550. Corequisite: ONCOL
552.
Instructors: M. Larocque,
S. Connors,
H.
Warkentin, M.
MacKenzie, C. Field,
S.
Steciw, B.
Warkentin and G. Menon
ONCOL 556 Laboratory in Imaging
Provides clinical and practical experience with
diagnostic imaging equipment, to adequately provide
consultative support required of a clinical medical
physicist in imaging. Perform calibration and
quality assurance procedures on medical imaging
modalities.
Spring session, 2 credits (4 lab hr/wk)
Prerequisites: ONCOL 550 and 562. Corequisites:
ONCOL 568 and 564.
Instructors: B. Long,
H.-S. Jans,
K. Wachowicz and
A. Yahya
ONCOL 558 Health Physics
Sources of radiation, basic dosimetry, and hazards
of ionizing radiation. Basics of radiation safety.
Techniques for the detection, use, and safe
handling of radiation sources. Radiation safety
codes, laws and regulations.
First term, 2 credits (2 lecture hr/wk, 13
wks)
Consent of Department required.
Instructor: D. Robinson.
ONCOL 560 Technology in Radiation Oncology
Explore the use of computers and electronics in the
diagnosis, tumour and normal tissue localization,
treatment planning, treatment delivery, and treatment
verification as applied to cancer patients. Computing
tools for the Medical Physicist.
First term, 2 credits (2 lecture hr/wk, 13 wks)
Consent of Department required.
Instructors:N. De Zanche, and
L. Baldwin.
ONCOL 562 Theory of Medical Imaging
A system theory approach to the production,
analysis, processing and reconstruction of medical
images. An extensive use of Fourier techniques is
used to describe the processes involved with
conventional radiographic detectors, digital and
computed radiography. Review and application of
image processing techniques used in diagnostic and
therapeutic medicine.
First term, 3 credits (3 lecture hr/wk, 13
wks)
Consent of Department required.
Instructor: S. Steciw,
H.-S. Jans, and
K. Wachowicz
ONCOL 564 Physics of Nuclear Medicine
Discussion of the fundamental physics of
radioactivity, the use of unsealed sources in
medical diagnosis and treatment. Unsealed source
dosimetry, nuclear measurement instrumentation,
spectrometry. Design and function of gamma cameras,
single photon emission tomography, and positron
emission tomography.
Second term, 3 credits (3 lecture hr/wk, 13
wks)
Prerequisites: ONCOL 550 and 562.
Instructor: T. Riauka and
H.S. Jans.
ONCOL 566 Radiation Biophysics
Theories and models of cell survival, survival
curve and its significance, modification of
radiation response. Radiobiology of normal and
neoplastic tissue systems. Late effects of
radiation on normal tissue and radiation
carcinogenesis, genetic effects of ionizing
radiation.
First term, 3 credits (3 lecture hr/wk, 13
wks)
Consent of Department required.
Instructor:
D. Murray and B. Warkentin
ONCOL 568 Physics of Diagnostic Radiology
Rigorous development of the physics of x-ray
production, interaction and detection in diagnostic
radiology, including mammography. In-depth analysis
of analog and digital systems in radiography and
fluoroscopy is given. The description and design of
computed tomographic systems as well as the
associated reconstruction algorithms from single to
multislice helical systems are studied.
Second term, 3 credits (3 lecture hr/wk, 13
wks)
Prerequisites: ONCOL 550, 562.
Instructors: S. Rathee,
S. Steciw,
A. Yahya and
H.-S. Jans
ONCOL 600 Graduate Medical Physics Seminar
Weekly seminars given by faculty on topics of
interest to the medical physics community that are
not formally included with the other didactic
courses. Includes medical statistics,
anatomy/physiology for medical physics,
site-specific cancer, experience in clinic, inverse
treatment planning optimization, photodynamic
therapy, proton and neutron therapy, and image
fusion.
Both terms, 2 credits (1 seminar hr/wk)
No prerequisite.
Organized by S. Rathee
ONCOL 690 Biomedical Magnetic Resonance Methods and Applications
Advanced course on modern magnetic resonance
techniques including in-depth description of
hardware; advanced imaging sequences and image
reconstruction methods; methodologies for in-vivo
magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
First term, 3 credits (3 lecture hr/wk, 13 wks)
Prerequisite: BME 564, Oncol 600 and consent of Instructor
Organized by N. De Zanche,
K. Wachowicz and
A. Yahya
ONCOL 691 Advanced Magnetic Resonance Physics
Guided reading course with preparation and delivery of
teaching lectures on a current topic of Magnetic Resonance
research in conjunction with ONCOL 692 and ONCOL 693 presentations.
Second term, 3 credit (3 hr/wk, 13 wks)
Prerequisite: BME 564, Oncol 600, Oncol 690 and consent of Instructor.
Organized by N. De Zanche,
K. Wachowicz,
A. Yahya and
B.G. Fallone
ONCOL 692 Advanced Radiological and Nuclear Imaging Physics
Guided reading course in advanced ultrasound, fluoroscopy, X-Ray CT,
or nuclear imaging with preparation and presentation of teaching lectures
in conjunction with ONCOL 691 and ONCOL 693 presentations.
Second term, 3 credits (3 hr/wk, 13 wks)
Prerequisite: Oncol 562, 564, 568, 600 and consent of Instructor.
Organized by
B.G. Fallone,
T. Riauka,
S. Rathee and
D. Robinson.
ONCOL 693 Advanced Radiotherapeutic Physics
Guided reading course with preparation and delivery of teaching lectures
in novel radiotherapeutic techniques, advanced radiation techniques and
delivery in conjunction with ONCOL 692 and ONCOL 693 presentations.
Second term, 3 credits (3 hr/wk, 13 wks)
Prerequisite: Oncol 550, 552, 600 and consent of Instructor.
Organized by
B.G. Fallone,
S. Rathee and
D. Robinson.
BME 320 Human Anatomy and Physiology: Cells and Tissue
First term, 3 credits (3 lecture hr/wk, 13wks)
See the desciption of this course on the Department of Biomedical Engineering website:
BME 320
BME 321 Human Anatomy and Physiology: Systems
Second term, 3 credits (3 lecture hr/wk, 13wks)
See the desciption of this course on the Department of Biomedical Engineering website:
BME 321
BME 564 Fundamentals of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, MRI
First term, 3 credits (3 lecture hr/wk, 13wks)
See the desciption of this course on the Department of Biomedical Engineering website:
BME 564