About

The Anatomy graduate program provides students curricular training with a unique focus on human anatomy, health and disease, and the opportunity for concentrated research in a related discipline such as:

Biochemistry
Cancer biology
Cell biology
Embryology
Genetics
Immunology
Neuroscience
Pharmacology
Physiology
Structural biology
Virology

Students receive rigorous training that provides the skills and scholarship necessary to be educators in human anatomy and leaders in biomedical research. This program also provides training for other endeavors that benefit from a rigorous scientific background, including education, law, journalism, and public policy. A dual-title degree in Anatomy and Clinical and Translational Sciences expands the educational experience of students training in anatomical science to include training, via a unique curriculum and research focus, for career paths that involve clinical trials or clinical research programs.

The Anatomy graduate program is an interdepartmental program that engages faculty from 4 basic science and clinical science departments throughout Penn State University on multiple campuses. This broad-reaching program provides students a wide ranging understanding of multiple disciplines with specific expertise in a chosen area, and encourages interdisciplinary research that is the hallmark of biomedical sciences in the 21st century.

KNOW: Anatomy master's degree graduates will demonstrate a) a broad base of knowledge in the anatomical sciences including human gross anatomy, human microscopic anatomy (histology), and human development, b) a broad base of biological knowledge required to understand the molecular, cellular, and organismal processes related to biomedical sciences; c) a broad understanding of experimental approaches used to investigate biomedical problems; d) in-depth knowledge within their specific areas of research interests, and e) the highest standards of research ethics.
CREATE: Anatomy master's degree graduates will creatively synthesize theory and literature to generate questions, ideas, or hypotheses addressing current problems in human health and disease, and will devise critical experimental approaches to test these ideas and hypotheses.
APPLY: Anatomy master's degree graduates will perform hypothesis-driven, original research that addresses current problems in biomedical sciences - often related to their mentor's primary research.
COMMUNICATE: Anatomy master's degree graduates will perform independent and original research studies that address current problems in biomedical sciences leading to rigorous and reproducible experimental outcomes.
CRITICAL THINKING: Anatomy master's degree graduates will critically evaluate experimental approaches and results of their own research and the research of others.
PRACTICE: Anatomy master's degree graduates will conduct all activities in research practices and interactions with medical professionals with the highest level of ethics and integrity.
APPLY: Anatomy master's degree graduates will capitalize on their knowledge and research skills to obtain placement in professional schools, to continue their education in alternative careers, and/or to obtain careers in biomedical research or anatomical teaching.

Know: Anatomy graduates will demonstrate a) a broad base of knowledge in the anatomical sciences including human gross anatomy, human microscopic anatomy (histology), and human development, b) a broad base of biological knowledge required to understand the molecular, cellular, and organismal processes related to biomedical sciences; c) a broad understanding of experimental approaches used to investigate biomedical problems; d) in-depth knowledge within their specific areas of research interests, and e) the highest standards of research ethics.
Create: Anatomy graduates will synthesize material in the anatomical sciences to formulate didactic lectures, flipped-classrooms, problem-based learning modules, and team-based learning. Students will creatively organize material for classroom and laboratory (cadaver prosections) presentations. Graduates will creatively synthesize theory and literature to generate questions, ideas, or hypotheses addressing current problems in human health and disease, and will devise critical experimental approaches to test these ideas and hypotheses.
Apply: Anatomy graduates will demonstrate their anatomical knowledge by providing lectures to first and second year medical students and physician assistant students, as well as upper-class medical students and residents. Graduates will be involved in hands-on training of medical and PA students in cadaver-based laboratory settings including (i) assisting in preparation of laboratory and written examinations, (ii) identification of structures for laboratory practical exams, and (iii) preparing and grading written exams. Graduates will perform independent and original research studies that address current problems in biomedical sciences leading to rigorous and reproducible experimental outcomes.
Critical thinking: Anatomy graduates will be required to interpret a large body of knowledge and condense material to provide important components to medical and physician assistant students. In terms of research, graduates will critically evaluate experimental approaches and results of their own research and the research of others.
Communicate: Anatomy graduates will convey knowledge on the subjects of human gross anatomy, embryology and microscopic anatomy (histology) and neuroanatomy to a variety of audiences including undergraduate students (Brain Bee), medical students, physician assistant students, as well as to graduate medical students in residency programs at Penn State Hershey. In terms of research activities, graduates will convey ideas, experimental approaches, and results in clear, concise, well-organized papers, posters, proposals, oral presentations, and discussions.
Professional practice: Anatomy graduates will begin interactions with other professionals within 2 years of matriculation, as they are included in teams of faculty involved in medical education oversight and curriculum design and review. In terms of research, graduates will collaborate in a collegial and ethical manner with other professionals within their field or with diverse scientific backgrounds.
Career development: Anatomy graduates will pursue academic teaching positions at undergraduate school, graduate schools with allied health science centers, and professional medical universities with programs in a variety of medical health fields. Graduates will participate in, and attend, professional career seminars at the College of Medicine, Career Day activities, and maintain a yearly IDP (individual development plan). In many cases for university employment, both teaching and research expertise are required.

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Degree Requirements and Academic Credentials:
4-6 year Bachelor's Degree.
Official transcript; official certification of degree and date awarded; documents required in English only. Documents must be issued by the school with the official stamps and signature.

English Requirements

IELTSMin 6.5
TOEFLMin 80

Fee Information

Application Fee 75

How to Apply

Provide all information as it appears on your government-issued identification.

To create a unique account for you, and to match you to any existing academic or employment records you may already have at Penn State, we need to know some information about you. This information is confidential and not made available to other systems at Penn State unless required by an official business process. Examples of government-issued identification include a driver's license, state-issued photo identification card, passport, etc.

Anatomy

Anatomy

About

Master of Science (M.S.)

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Requirements

Entry Requirements

English Requirements

Fee Information

How to Apply

Anatomy

Pennsylvania State University