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.