Pioneering radiation scientists discovered many exciting uses of radiation. The earliest were imaging
techniques to "look inside" of things.
Today these applications range from examination of materials
such as welds for flaws to a myriad of medical diagnostic tools. Later applications employed radiation
emitted from radioactive materials for tracers, archeological dating, forensics and process controls.
Perhaps most exciting are the many medical therapeutic applications for treating cancers.
At Texas A&M, the study of health physics leads to a degree in radiological health engineering,
administered through the Department of Nuclear Engineering.
As a student in this course of study,
begin with a strong background in fundamental engineering principles.
You'll study radiation safety
issues associated with peaceful nuclear applications. You'll learn to understand the biological effects
radiation, dosimetry, environmental effects, risk assessment, and design of radiation facilities and
instruments.
Graduates find stimulating employment opportunities in a wide range of environments that include
hospitals, state and federal government, nuclear power plants, universities, the military and national
and international research centers. The need for health physicists in all of these situations means
graduates have a wide variety of interesting, challenging and rewarding career opportunities.
Radiological health engineering encompasses many activities concerned with the use of radiation
both industrial and medical applications. The common thread is maximizing the benefits while
protecting people from any undesirable effects. This requires understanding both the radiation
and its biological impacts.
