Main Page | Recent changes | Edit this page | Page history Printable version | Disclaimers | Privacy policy

Not logged in Log in | Help

Qualifying Examinations

From Radiological Sciences

Radiological Sciences Qualifying Examinations

The track-specific qualifying examination committees, with the consent of and approval of the Radiological Sciences COGS, determine the content and format for the Doctoral Qualifying Examinations (referred to as the‘qualifying exam’ hereinafter). The committees are also responsible for the development of the examinations, and their administration and evaluation on an annual basis. The following summarizes the rules and procedures for the qualifiers.

Contents 1 Requirements for all Students: 2 The Qualifying Examination Process: 2.1 Therapy Physics Track 2.2 Imaging Physics Track 2.3 Medical Health Physics Track 2.4 Radiation Biology Track 2.5 Human Imaging Track 2.6 Neuroscience Imaging Track 3 Administering and Grading the Qualifier: 4 Admission to Candidacy

[edit] Requirements for all Students:

1- All students in good standing who have completed their required core coursework should take the qualifier on the date scheduled for their track and degree program.

2- Students who are on academic probation are not allowed to take the qualifier. These students are given one year in which to improve their GPA above the probationary level before they can sit for the qualifier.

3- Students have two chances to pass the qualifying exam. Those who fail on their first attempt must retake the qualifier the following year. Failure to pass the exam on the second attempt may result in dismissal from the graduate program.

4- Students with prior coursework or professional experience adequate to prepare them in their declared track may request permission from the Radiological Sciences COGS to take the qualifier prior to completion of the core coursework. Students taking the exam prior to completion of all required courses must take the course(s) eventually, even if they pass the qualifying exam prior to course completion, unless specifically waived from taking each course by the Radiological Sciences COGS.

[edit] The Qualifying Examination Process:

Each track has a different process for administering the qualifying exam. Some tracks have different processes for administering the qualifying exam between MS and PhD students. Students are encouraged to read the process descriptions, below, carefully to be sure they understand how the tests will be administered.

[edit] Therapy Physics Track

The 2012 Qualifying Examination will be administered on Friday, May 25th from 8AM-12PM at a location yet to be determined.

Ph.D. and M.S. Qualifying Exam: Multiple Choice questions. This exam tests the students on the ‘breadth’ of their understanding of the core courses in medical physics. The multiple choice questions with five options (one correct option) format has been chosen in order to help prepare the students for the ABR written exam. The students must answer approximately 150 questions in a single four hour session.

Test items will be comprehensive, addressing topics covered in the following courses:

• RADI 5005 Fundamentals of Radiation Dosimetry
• RADI 5011 Radiation and Nuclear Physics
• RADI 5015 Physics of Diagnostic Imaging I
• RADI 5020 Principles of Health Physics I
• RADI 6030 Physics of Radiotherapy

Passing score: Mean of 70% with no score on any section <50%.

[edit] Imaging Physics Track

The 2012 Qualifying Examination will be administered on Friday, May 25th from 8AM-12PM at a location yet to be determined.

M.S. Qualifying Exam: Multiple Choice questions. This exam tests the students on the ‘breadth’ of their understanding of the core courses in medical physics. The multiple choice questions with five options (one correct option) format has been chosen in order to help prepare the students for the ABR written exam. The students must answer approximately 150 questions in a single four hour session.

Test items will be comprehensive, addressing topics covered in the following courses:

• RADI 5015 Physics of Diagnostic Imaging I
• RADI 5005 Fundamentals of Radiation Dosimetry
• RADI 6024 Radiological Anatomy & Physiology
• RADI 6030 Physics of Radiotherapy
• RADI 5025 Basic Radiation Biology
• RADI 5020 Principles of Health Physics I

Passing score: Mean of 70%.

Ph.D. Qualifying Exam: This shall be an oral qualifying exam administered by a panel of 3-4 teaching faculty in the program. The exam panel will not include the student’s mentor. A listing of ten major categories for study will be developed. This exam will be given in January of the students' second year in the program.

[edit] Medical Health Physics Track

Part Ia: Common multiple choice questions (8 am to 8:50 am)

# of Questions	   Course	Title
     25           RADI 6024	Anatomy & Physiology
     15           RADI 5007    Statistics

Part Ib: Track-specific multiple choice questions (9 am to 12 pm)

# of Questions	   Course	Title
     35           RADI 5015    Diagnostic Imaging 1
     35           RADI 6030    Therapy 1
     20           RADI 5020    Health Physics
     20           RADI 5025    Radiation Biology
     15           RADI 6012    Physics of Nuclear Medicine

Part II: Essay-type questions (4 hours; 1 pm to 5 pm)

# of Questions	   Courses	Description
     6            RADI 5020    Health Physics 1
     2            RADI 5011    Radiation and Nuclear Physics

Passing score: Mean of 70%.

[edit] Radiation Biology Track

Part Ia: Common multiple choice questions (8 am to 8:50 am)

# of Questions	   Course	Title
     25           RADI 6024	Anatomy & Physiology
     15           RADI 5007    Statistics

Part Ib: Track-specific multiple choice questions (9 am to 12 pm)

# of Questions	   Course	Title
     20           RADI 5015    Diagnostic Imaging 1
     20           INTD 5006    Molecular Biology
     20           INTD 5005    Biochemistry
     35           RADI 5025    Radiation Biology
     20           RADI 5020    Health Physics

Part II: Essay-type questions (4 hours; 1 pm to 5 pm)

# of Questions	   Courses	Description
    4            RADI 5025    Radiation Biology
    2            RADI 5010    Medical Biophysics
    2            INTD 5007    Cellular Biology

Passing score: Mean of 70%.

[edit] Human Imaging Track

• Students shall develop a written research proposal either in ABR Holman Track or NIH F-award format.

• Each student shall give an oral defense of the research proposal before a panel of faculty members.

• Upon approval of the research proposal the student shall submit the proposal to either the ABR or the NIH.

• Students can schedule the qualifying exam anytime prior to six months after completing their final core course.

[edit] Neuroscience Imaging Track

The Neuroscience imaging track will have the following format for the qualifying exam:

The students will have an oral exam. There will be no written exams.

The oral exam consists of two parts (administered on the same day): 1. Grant proposal defense: During the spring semester of year 2, the students will write a F31 grant which will be submitted to the mentor and the thesis committee. This grant proposal should be defended publicly.

2. Course work review: In addition, the students will have an oral exam on the topics covered in the required courses that they have taken.

[edit] Administering and Grading the Qualifier:

1- The Chair of the Qualifying Exam Committee for each Track is responsible for collating and tabulating the final scores and presenting them to the Track Committee. The Track Committee will prepare formal recommendations for each student at the next Track Committee meeting.

2 - The tabulated results of the qualifying exam and/or the recommendations of the Exam Panel shall be presented by the Chair of the Track Committee, or a designated representative, at the next COGS meeting where a vote shall be taken on acceptance of the results.

3- Within a week after the COGS meeting, each student’s results will be communicated to him/her via e-mail.

4- Students wishing to change their specialty after passing the qualifying examination must retake the afternoon portions, Part II, of the examination in their newly declared specialty. Students wishing to take the next exam should notify the Chair of the Qualifying Examination Committee

[edit] Admission to Candidacy

The Qualifying Exam committee shall be responsible for evaluating each student's research potential and recommending, to COGS, whether or not the student has successfully completed the Qualifying Examination and recommending the student's admission to candidacy for the M.S. or Ph.D. degree.

After successfully completing the Qualifying Examination appropriate to his/her track, each student (with the aid of his/her advisor) shall establish a Thesis or Dissertation Advisory Committee. The composition of the Committee must be approved by the COGS. The Committee shall consist of at least three members from the Program faculty list. This committee shall provide guidance to the student as the dissertation proposal is developed and the thesis or dissertation project is undertaken. When the student has completed the Thesis or Dissertation document, the student shall schedule a Dissertation Defense at which Dissertation Advisory Committee shall decide whether the student has completed all of the requirements for earning the degree. The Dissertation Advisory Committee shall then make a formal recommendation to the COGS.

Edit this page | Discuss this page | Page history | What links here | Related changes Main Page | About Radiological Sciences | Recent changes |   This page has been accessed 12,745 times. This page was last modified 16:06, 13 March 2012.