Programs and Modules

Medical Biophysics offers:

Four-Year BSc Honors or BMSc Honors

The primary goal of the Medical Biophysics Honors Specialization modules is to develop and strengthen the student's ability to apply mathematical and physical principles in the study of biological phenomena. The focus of most of the modules relates to medical sciences. Example theme areas include: blood flow biomechanics in large blood vessels and in the microcirculation; medical imaging principles and applications in image guided surgery; survival in physical extremes; radiobiology, radiation therapy and tumor metastasis; orthopedic and artificial joint biomechanics.
Students completing either an Honors Specialization in Medical Biophysics (Medical Science Concentration) or Medical Biophysics (Clinical Physics Concentration) will graduate with a BMSc (Honors) degree. Students completing an Honors Specialization in Medical Biophysics (Physical Science Concentration) will graduate with a BSc (Honors) degree.

Biological Sciences Concentration

This module was recently introduced to train students with sufficient biology background to pursue graduate studies in the biology of diseases such as cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, using various imaging techniques.

In the Biological Sciences Concentration, the Honors Specialization is relatively fixed, with few options to choose from within the 9.5 courses for the module and includes includes core courses required for the Bachelor of Medical Sciences degree.

Medical Sciences Concentration

In addition to Medical Biophysics courses, this module includes a range of courses from computer science to physiology and biochemistry, providing a strong background to pursue graduate studies in disease diagnosis and therapy using a quantitative approach.

In the Medical Sciences Concentration, the Honors Specialization is relatively fixed, with few options to choose from within the 9.5 courses for the module and includes core courses required for the Bachelor of Medical Sciences degree.

Physical Sciences Concentration

This module provides a broad range of courses to choose from. It is well suited for students interested in developing their physics, mathematics or computing skills for biomedical applications.

The Honors Specialization - Physical Sciences concentration has more flexibility and leads to a Bachelor of Science degree. 1.5 of the courses can be chosen from a much wider range of options.

Clinical Physics Concentration

This module prepares students for taking CAMPEP accredited programs necessary for Medical Physicist residency.

The Honors Specialization - Clinical Physics concentration has been designed for students seeking a career in clinical physics (diagnostic radiology, nuclear medicine, radiation oncology etc.). It includes courses that qualify students for entry into our CAMPEP accredited graduate programs. In this Specialization, 2.5 courses are options, and for the Minor, 3 courses can be chosen from options.

Medical Biophysics and Biochemistry Concentration - New!

This module leads to an Honors Bachelor of Medical Sciences (BMSc) degree.

The Honors Specialization in Medical Biophysics and Biochemistry is being introduced to equip students with the knowledge necessary to understand the quantitative aspects of molecular and cellular systems, including the interactions between DNA, RNA and proteins, and the physical laws that govern these interactions. The students will learn scientific principles and experimental techniques, including the application of imaging systems, used to understand and quantify these interactions to answer biological problems at the cell and molecular levels.

Major and Minor in Medical Biophysics

The Major and Minor in Medical Biophysics provide general exposure to essential elements of medical biophysics. Students may combine a Major or Minor with another discipline that is either related or unrelated to medical biophysics (e.g. economics, statistics).

Major in Medical Biophysics

A degree containing this module normally requires 4 years for completion. When combined with one of the following Majors, this module leads to a Bachelor of Medical Sciences (BMSc) degree: Biochemistry, Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences (IMS) or Medical Sciences (see note below), Medical Cell Biology, Microbiology and Immunology, Pharmacology or Physiology. See Bachelor Of Medical Sciences (BMSc) Program

for more information.

Specialization in Medical Biophysics

This module leads to a Bachelor of Medical Sciences (BMSc) degree. See Bachelor Of Medical Sciences (BMSc) Program for more information.

Minor in Medical Biophysics

Minor in Medical Biophysics

The modules in Medical Biophysics allow students to combine studies in a related discipline such as applied mathematics or medical science, or with an outside field such as economics or statistics. Students in the Honors Specialization modules complete a research project course in Year 4 and apply the skills they have learned in the context of planning and designing an actual research project. For the greatest concentration of biophysics there are four Honors Specialization Modules:

Module HSP SPZ Major Minor
Honors Specialization in Medical Biophysics
(Medical Science Concentration)
*
Honors Specialization in Medical Biophysics
(Clinical Physics Concentration)
*
Honors Specialization in Medical Biophysics
(Physical Science Concentration)
Honors Specialization in Medical Biophysics
(Biological Science Concentration)
Honors Specialization in Medical Biophysics and Biochemistry
Medical Biophysics *
* May only be completed within a BMSc degree.

The pathway into these modules can be through:

  • Medical and biological sciences, leading to the BMSc honors degree;
  • Or, through physical sciences such as physics or chemistry, for an honors BSc.

The Honors Specialization Modules include:

  • The third year Medical Biophysics 3970Z lab course where students do individual Six-Week research projects and
  • The signature fourth year course Medical Biophysics 4970, a research laboratory course in which each student works on his or her own project that they have helped to plan. Medical Biophysics 4971 is similar but in a clinical research setting.

For students contemplating graduate training, the 4970 and 4971 courses provide a window into that career path, and for some students the work from the project has led to publications with the student as one of the publishing authors. Graduating students often go on to professional programs like Medical Physics, Dentistry, Medicine or Physical Therapy, to graduate research training toward the MSc or PhD degree, or to work as laboratory researchers in industry or university departments. Again, welcome to our courses and modules in Medical Biophysics.

Concurrent Degrees

The Department of Medical Biophysics also offers concurrent degrees in: