Radiation Pop Culture Project
UAB Radiation Pop Culture Project
From the creation of Godzilla that hit the theatres in the 1950's - to the nuclear holocaust of the made-for-television movie "The Day After" in the 1980's - to the shenanigans of Homer Simpson in the 1990's (through today!) - to the song "Radioactive" by Imagine Dragons in the 2010's - the topic of radiation has permeated pop culture. The depiction of radiation - whether realistic, fantastic, or somewhere in between - has captured the fascination of audiences from day one.
We are certainly not an exception to this rule. Come to think of it - we are probably more susceptible to this because of our field. We went so far as to create the UAB Radiation Pop Culture Project. This is a Hulk-sized reference bank dedicated to tracking and monitoring pop culture references to radiation. We have around 1,000 references so far.
Radiation Pop Culture Project Reference Bank Form
UAB Radiation Pop Culture Project
Our interest lies in the science of radiation and how it is depicted - or maybe more importantly - how it is perceived. And while we have a strong start - we need you to help.
We Need You
As you can imagine, it is impossible for a team our size to know or find all pop culture references. We welcome your additions of things we missed to our list of references. And we welcome your updates or additional input to those we have already captured.
To submit your information to our database committee for review, simply fill out the form below. One quick note: TV shows should be entered as seasons to prevent overweight when compared to movies and books.
UAB Radiation Pop Culture Reference Bank Submission Form
Accreditation
UAB Health Physics Accreditation
The Master of Science (MS) in Health Physics program is seeking accreditation by the Applied & Natural Science Accreditation Commission (ANSAC) of Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), http://www.abet.org.
ACADEMIC YEAR 2022-2023 ACADEMIC YEAR 2023-2024
To be successful in the professional realm, graduates will employ responsible teamwork, clear communication skills, effective project management capabilities, professional
attitudes, and a clear understanding of the ethical issues faced by our profession. Graduates will
engage in life-long learning and professional development, as demonstrated by participation in
technical seminars, professional conferences and symposiums, discipline-specific training, and
advancement in the professional certification process.
In their careers, graduates will integrate their technical knowledge, applied
skills, and professional judgment to design and evaluate radiological systems considering safety,
reliability, security, economics, and societal impact.
Graduates will contribute to the growth of their professional and scientific field, will provide for their own development and will contribute to the expansion and development of their
colleagues. They will do so while engaging the radiation safety and broader community in an
inclusive and equitable manner.
Graduates will employ their broad technical knowledge in their careers. Graduates will
identify, formulate, analyze, and solve radiological problems by applying fundamental and
advanced scientific and technical knowledge coupled with applied skills. Breadth also includes a
continuing awareness of contemporary issues, influences, and trends needed to understand the
impact of radiological issues in global and societal contexts.
Research
UAB Health Physics Research
With over 40 million nuclear medicine procedures per year and growing, radiation safety is vital to the success of medical treatments. UAB Health Physics researchers work closely with UAB’s hospital and radiation safety program to solve modern problems confronting radiation safety in the hospital. Both of UABs MHP program directors are extremely passionate about health physics and the environment. UAB was recently recommended for funding of it’s D2ROPS grant with the NRC to study in detail regulatory inconsistincies between states and federal regulations. Drs Wilson and Caffrey also regularly study dose implications from natural and man-made radiation in the environment. It is vital that the risks of radiation are communicated well to everyone! Recent projects from UAB studied how pop culture retains persistent misconceptions about radiation that likely influence the general publics fears and radiphobia. UAB also works hard to study how radiation safety training can be optimized in the post-covid world. Few area’s of radiation are as still poorly understood as low-dose and low-dose rate radiation damage in humans. UAB aims to be a center in which experts turn to in order to solve once and for all, the linear no-threshold model uncertainty. Lasers, 5G, and microwaves are all included within an area of radiation called non-ionizing. This radiation does not have sufficient power to ionize atoms however can still be a very real radiation safety hazard.
Health Physics in Medicine
Environmental Health Physics
Community Health Physics
Low-Dose Impacts
Non-Ionizing Health Physics
Health Physics
Please click on a link below to open a PDF version of the program handbook that corresponds with the chosen year.
2024 - 2025 Student Handbook
2023 - 2024 Student Handbook
2022 - 2023 Student Handbook
2022 - 2023 Research Handbook
2021 - 2022 Student Handbook
2020 - 2021 Student Handbook
2019 - 2020 Student Handbook
2018 - 2019 Student Handbook
2017 - 2018 Student Handbook
2016 - 2017 Student Handbook
Students in the MS in Health Physics program have an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the health physics industry through supervised practices. This allows students to work alongside professionals already in the industry and practice what they have learned in the classroom in a supervised setting.
Supervised Practice Locations
In addition to the sites listed below, new sites are added regularly. Student suggestions and ideas for alternative sites for completing the practicum requirement are always considered!
- UAB Advanced Imaging Center - Birmingham, AL
- UAB Office of Radiation Safety - Birmingham, AL
- O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center - Birmingham, AL
- Alabama Department of Public Health, Office of Radiation Control - Montgomery, AL
- Huntsville Hospital Radiation Safety - Huntsville, AL
- NASA Marshall and Kennedy Space Flight Centers - Huntsville, AL
- Versant - Various
- West Physics - Various
- National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements - Virtual/Hybrid
- Centers for Disease Control - Atlanta, GA
- Nuclear Regulatory Commission - Birmingham, AL
- Environmental Protection Agency - Virtual/Hybrid
- Y-12 National Security Complex - Oak Ridge, TN
- Savannah River National Laboratory
- Idaho National Lab- Idaho Falls, ID
- BWXT
- Niowave
- Yale University and New Haven Hospital System - New Haven, CT
- Missouri University Research Reactor - Columbia, MO
- MedStar Georgetown University Hospital - Washington, DC
- Mayo Clinic - Jacksonville, FL
- Wellstar Cobb Hospital Cancer Center
- HCA Florida Capital Hospital - Tallahassee, FL
- Westinghouse - Various
- Pantex Nuclear Weapons Facility - Various
- H3 Environmental, LLC - Albuquerque, NM
Application Deadlines:
March 1 – First Consideration and Funding Deadline
April 30 – International Student Admission
August 1 – Final Admission if Space Available
Application Fees:
- Domestic applicants and green card holders: $50
- International applicants: $60
Instructions for Completing the Application
Prospective students may apply at any time during the year; however, students begin program courses in either the fall or spring semester. Applications are submitted online through the UAB Graduate School. All admissions documents (test scores, transcripts, immigration documents, WES, etc.) must be sent to the UAB Graduate School.
Official transcripts from each institution where college credit was received can be mailed to:
UAB Graduate School
LHL G03, 1720 2nd Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35294-0013
Transcripts can be submitted electronically by choosing University of Alabama at Birmingham - Graduate Admission or using the email
Example for Completing Application:
- For which of the following are you applying? Master’s Degree
- Intended program of study: Health Physics
- Concentration: Not Applicable – Selected program does not offer concentrations
- Term: Fall 201X
Requirements
-
Preferred Prerequisites
- Calculus-based General Physics I - 4 hours
- Calculus-based General Physics II - 4 hours
OR
- Algebra-based General Physics I - 4 hours
- Algebra-based General Physics II - 4 hours
- Calculus - 3 hours
-
Application Requirements
Health Physics students must have a BA or BS degree from a regionally accredited institution and meet all UAB graduate school requirements and be accepted to the graduate program.
-
International Requirements
International Students must submit a transcript evaluation from World Education Services, Educational Credential Evaluators, or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc.
The Graduate School now monitors English proficiency to make sure applicants meet our minimum scores which are listed below. Please feel free to include them on your website.
- IELTS – 6.5
- TOEFL – 80
- PTEA – 53
Other requirements include a financial affidavit of support and immigration documentation (if currently residing in the United States).
Application Review Process
After an application window has been opened, applications are reviewed at program deadlines. An interview with the Program Director will be scheduled for qualified applicants.
Additional Information
Learn more about tuition and fees on the UAB Admissions website.
*If you have a pacemaker, stent and/or other metallic implants you may not be eligible for the MRI practicum in the UAB Advanced Imaging Center PET/MR area - the strong magnetic field may result in harm to you.
Students in the Health Physics program complete specific courses according to a planned and structured program of study. Students fulfill program degree requirements in a logical scope and sequence process. The sequence is intended to facilitate the success in the overall degree requirements.
Click here for a printable PDF of our curriculum.
*Preferred prerequisite courses include calculus-based general physics I and II or algebra-based general physics I and II and calculus.
The curriculum is subject to change. Visit the Graduate Catalog to see the current curriculum and course descriptions.
The posted curriculum is current for students who began the program with the Fall 2020 semester. A revised curriculum for students that will begin the program in the Fall 2021 semester is pending. Please
-
First Year - Fall Term
Plans I (Thesis) and II (Non-Thesis)
- MHP 602 - Radiation Physics (3 hours)
- MHP 610 - Radiation Detection & Measurement with Lab (4 hours)
- MHP 650 - Research Methods (3 hours)
- CDS 505 - Professional Development (1 hour)
-
First Year - Spring Term
Plans I (Thesis) and II (Non-Thesis)
- MHP 620 - Principles of Dosimetry (3 hours)
- MHP 621 - Nonionizing Radiation or Elective (3 hours)
- MHP 653 - Research Methodology & Publication Analysis (2 hours)
- MHP 645 - Radiation Shielding & Protection (3 hours)
-
First Year - Summer Term
Plan I (Thesis)
- MHP 651 - Advanced Radiation Biology (3 hours)
- MHP 657 - Monte Carlo Techniques for Health Physicists or Elective (1 hour)
- MHP 699 - Thesis Research (6 hours)
- MHP 691 - Supervised Practice (6 hours)
Total Credit Hours: 16
Plan II (Non-Thesis)- MHP 651 - Advanced Radiation Biology (3 hours)
- MHP 657 - Monte Carlo Techniques for Health Physicists or Elective (1 hour)
- MHP 698 - Non-Thesis Research (6 hours)
- MHP 691 - Supervised Practice (6 hours)
Total Credit Hours: 15
-
Second Year - Fall Term
Plans I (Thesis) and II (Non-Thesis)
- MHP 655 - Contemporary Health Physics (3 hours)
- MHP 611 - Physics of Diagnostic Imaging (3 hours)
- MHP 654 - Laser Safety & Protection or Elective (3 hours)
- MHP 691 - Supervised Practice (6 hours)
Students of the Health Physics program have access to many facilities through UAB, UAB Health System and partnerships with other facilities.
Radiation Lab
UAB has a state-of-the-art, recently renovated lab that offers students one-of-a-kind didactic and practicum training. Some of the features of this lab include:
- Many types of Geiger counters – used to train our students on their use for quickly determining if ionizing radiation is present.
- SAM 940 – students practice how to accurately use portable radiation identification systems like this.
- 12 NaI gamma spectroscopy systems – allow the students to see the energy spectrum of different radioisotopes.
Other UAB Facilities
Other UAB facilities include:
- UAB Advanced Imaging Center access – offers students one of a kind practicum training on the medical cyclotron, one of the most powerful cyclotrons in an academic medical center in the United States.
- Learning Resource Center access – here students have common areas, study areas and break out rooms, and food options.
Off-Campus Facilities
Off-campus facilities include a radiopharmaceutical production facility and the Alabama Department of Public Health, Office of Radiation Control.
Upon successful completion of the Master of Science in Health Physics degree, you will be prepared for a career as a health physicist, radiation safety officer, or an environmental health & safety specialist. All of these professions are in high demand both in the United States and globally.
According to the 2014 survey data collected by the Health Physics Society, a certified health physicist with a master’s degree earns an average salary of $131,440, which is almost four times the national average wage of all occupations, and twice the average of salary of occupations with the same educational level, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
All students are required to complete a research thesis or project for the MS degree, and all are given opportunities for gaining applied work experience through supervised practicums.
UAB is one of the most diverse campuses in the nation. Our courses in professional development, take advantage of that fact and, give you the opportunity to interact with a diversity of professions, nationalities, and personalities. Therefore, upon successful completion of the program, you will be able to demonstrate attributes desirable of health professionals such as dependability, ability to interact effectively with others, and professionalism. Your career starts in any place where radiation is used including universities, research institutes, hospitals, nuclear power plants, government entities, the military, among other industrial uses of radiation.
For more information on career opportunities, check the Health Physics Society website to see all of the different areas of health physics practice and research.