Changes in Medical Physics and Radiation Sciences

The Board of Governors has approved a plan to close the Department of Medical Physics and Applied Radiation Sciences, transferring students, faculty and staff to other areas within the University.

Student demand for the undergraduate Honours Medical Physics program has been fairly low for the past decade or so. Approximately 30 students are enrolled across the program’s four years.

“The Faculty of Science faces financial challenges and we need to ensure that our limited resources are used to the benefit of the most students,” says Dean Robert Baker. “With Senate and Board of Governor’s approval, this course of action helps meet this objective.”

The Medical Radiation Sciences program, jointly offered with Mohawk College, will continue to be offered. Students currently in Medical Physics undergraduate program will continue and complete their studies. As well a report on renewing the way that the discipline of Medical Physics is offered at McMaster is expected soon. Graduate programs will be offered as an interdisciplinary program; the Faculty currently has three other interdisciplinary programs governed under a similar structure. Research activities underway will not be interrupted with faculty members joining existing units and retaining their current research spaces

The plan to close the department was recommended by the Faculty of Science Academic Planning Committee, which began its work in 2013. The Planning committee consulted widely to develop the Plan and the dean has been consulting with stakeholders including faculty members and students to work on minimizing the impacts of a closure, which will take effect December 31, 2015. No job losses are anticipated.