Course Syllabus
Below is a syllabus template that includes WSU's required syllabus elements. Please complete all items highlighted in yellow.
Title of Course [HEALTH PHYSICS AND RADIATION SHIELDING]
Prefix and Number [CHEM 361]
Semester and Year [Fall 2026]
Number of Credit Hours [3]
Prerequisites [Concurrent enrollment in Chem 101 or Chem 105, or instructor permission]
Course Details
Day and Time: [tbd]
Meeting Location: [tbd]
Instructor Contact Information
Instructor Name: [tbd]
Instructor Contact Information: [office location, phone, email] [tbd]
Instructor Office Hours: [click here for best practices] [tbd]
TA Name: [tbd]
TA Contact Information: [office location, phone, email]: [tbd]
TA Office Hours: [click here for best practices] [tbd]
Course Description
Chemistry 361 is designed to advance students toward the WSU Learning Goals, especially Scientific Literacy, Critical and Creative Thinking, Quantitative Reasoning, Communication, and Information Literacy. This course will provide upper-level undergraduate students with the understanding of how ionizing radiation effects the environment and human body, with an emphasis on radiation safety. The objective is to introduce and understand the interactions of ionizing radiation with matter, then to use this framework to understand the approaches needed to work with radioactive materials safely.
Course Materials
Books: ["Physics for Radiation Protection" by Martin
(ISBN 978-3527406115) $150
Other Materials: []
Fees: []
|
Course Learning Outcomes (students will be able to:) |
Activities Supporting the Learning Outcomes | Assessment of the Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|
| [Understand how ionizing radiation interacts with matter] | Lectures 1 – 10, 17 – 19, 35 – 36 | Problem Sets, Midterm Exams, Reports on Health Physics Scenarios |
| [Identify sources of naturally occurring radioactive materials] | Lectures 14 – 16 | Problem Sets, Midterm Exams, Reports on Health Physics Scenarios |
| [Understand how shielding and distance can be used to reduce ] |
Lectures 17 – 22 |
Problem Sets, Midterm Exams, Reports on Health Physics Scenarios |
| Understand effects of ionizing radiation on the human body |
Lectures 23 – 29 |
Problem Sets, Midterm Exams, Reports on Health Physics Scenarios |
| Acquire and improve skills in the handling of real-world health physics scenarios• |
Lectures 37 - 41 |
Problem Sets, Midterm Exams, Reports on Health Physics Scenarios |
| Dates | Lesson Topic | Assignment | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Week 1 |
Atoms and Energy | Problem Set #1 |
Graded Assignment, Midterm Exam #1 |
| Week 2 8/31 - 9/2 |
Discoveries in Radiation Physics | Problem Set #2 |
Graded Assignment, Midterm Exam #1 |
| Week 3 9/7-9/11 |
Radioactive Transformations | Problem Set #3 |
Graded Assignment, Midterm Exam #1 |
| Week 4 9/14-9/18 |
Interactions | Problem Set #4 |
Graded Assignment, Midterm Exam #1 |
| Week 5 9/21 -9/25 |
Nuclear Fission and its Products | Problem Set #5 |
Graded Assignment, Midterm Exam #1 |
| Week 6 9/28-10/2 |
Naturally Occurring Radiation & Radioactivity | Problem Set #6 |
Graded Assignment, Midterm Exam #1 |
| Week 7 10/5 - 10/9 |
Interactions of Radiation with Matter, Exam #1 | Exam #1 | Midterm Exam #1 |
| Week 8 10/12-10/16 |
Radiation Shielding | Problem Set #7 |
Graded Assignment, Midterm Exam #2 |
| Week 9 10/19-10/23 |
Internal Radiation Dose | Problem Set #8 |
Graded Assignment, Midterm Exam #2 |
| Week 10 10/26-10/30 |
Internal Radiation Dose, Environmental Dispersion | Problem Set #9 |
Graded Assignment, Midterm Exam #2 |
| Week 11 11/2-11/6 |
Environmental Dispersion, Nuclear Criticality | Problem Set #10 |
Graded Assignment, Midterm Exam #2 |
| Week 12 11/9 - 11/13 |
Nuclear Criticality, Statistics in Radiation Physics | Problem Set #11 |
Graded Assignment, Midterm Exam #2 |
| Week 13 11/16 - 11/20 |
Neutrons, X-rays | Problem Set #12 |
Graded Assignment, Midterm Exam #2 |
| Week 14 11/30 - 12/4 |
Health Physics Scenarios, Exam #2 | Problem Set #13 |
Graded Assignment, Midterm Exam #2 |
| Week 15 12/7 - 12/11 |
Health Physics Scenarios | Problem Set #14 | Health Physics Scenarios Presentations |
Expectations for Student Effort
[Describe how much time students should expect to invest in the course each week. Graduate courses should state: "For each hour of lecture equivalent, students should expect to have a minimum of two hours of work outside of class." Note that Global campus courses will automatically include credit hour equivalents in the syllabus.]
As per WSU academic regulation 27, “Academic credit is a measure of the total minimum time commitment required of a typical student in a specific course. For the WSU semester system one semester credit is assigned for a minimum of 45 hours. Achievement of course goals may require more than the minimum time commitment.” This guideline includes time spent in class.
This guideline essentially states that a student can be reasonably expected to spend two hours outside of class on assignments for every one hour spent in class, or six hours per week outside of class for a three-credit course such as this. This is approximately the amount of time you should expect to spend on viewing pre-class videos, reading the textbook, and doing assigned problem-solving exercises.
]
Grading [add more lines if necessary]
| Type of Assignment (tests, papers, etc) | Points | Percent of Overall Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Problem Sets | 300 | 30 |
| Hands-on Exercises | 250 | 25 |
| Exams | 200 | 20 |
| Health Physics Scenarios | 250 | 25 |
| Grade | Points | Grade | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| A |
1000-920 |
C | 769.9-720 |
| A- | 919.9-900 | C- | 719.9-700 |
| B+ | 899.9-870 | D+ | 699.9-670 |
| B | 869.9-820 | D | 669.9-620 |
| B- | 819.9-800 | F | 619.9-0 |
| C+ | 799.9.-770 |
Attendance and Make-Up Policy
[Provide details on how attendance affects final course grades. Indicate whether and how missed exams, laboratory sessions, etc. can be made up. Sample attendance statement: “Students should make all reasonable efforts to attend all class meetings. However, in the event a student is unable to attend a class, it is the responsibility of the student to inform the instructor as soon as possible, explain the reason for the absence (and provide documentation, if appropriate), and make up class work missed within a reasonable amount of time, if allowed. Missing class meetings may result in reducing the overall grade in the class.” ]
[Attendance is mandatory in this course. Unexcused absences will not be allowed to be made up. If you plan to be absent from the laboratory because of unforeseen or foreseen circumstances you must notify the instructors in writing explaining your situation, prior to the event. You must also give a copy of the letter to the TA. In addition, you need to arrange to make up the missed laboratory.]
Academic Integrity Statement
You are responsible for reading WSU's Academic Integrity Policy, which is based on Washington State law. If you cheat in your work in this class you will:
-[Receive a failing grade for the course in accordance with WSU conduct policy found at http://www.conduct.wsu.edu/default.asp?PageID=343]
-Be reported to the Center for Community Standards
-Have the right to appeal my decision
-Not be able to drop the course of withdraw from the course until the appeals process is finished
If you have any questions about what you can and cannot do in this course, ask m
If you want to ask for a change in my decision about academic integrity, use the form at the Center for Community Standards website. You must submit this request within 21 calendar days of the decision.