Program Overview

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Medical Illustration Master of Fine Arts Degree

Overview

The Medical Illustration Master of Fine Arts Degree is a two-year graduate program that combines training in human anatomy, biomedical sciences, and digital media to prepare students for careers as medical illustrators. The program emphasizes visual problem-solving and real-world experience through collaborations with medical researchers and observations of live surgery.

Why Pursue an MFA in Medical Illustration at RIT

• Perform complete cadaver dissections in RIT's Cadaver Lab.
• RIT's MFA program is one of five accredited graduate programs for medical illustration in North America by CAAHEP.

What is a Medical Illustrator?

A medical illustrator is a professional artist with advanced education in the biomedical sciences, cutting-edge digital media, and the principles of visual communication. Medical illustrators translate complex scientific information into visual images that support medical education, science research, patient care, advertising, and litigation.

RIT's Medical Illustration Degree

This program emphasizes visual problem-solving to determine the best approach to communicate a difficult concept. Students gain real-world experience by collaborating with medical researchers and observing live surgery in operating rooms. The program culminates with the production of a thesis project, which requires extensive background research and an original body of artwork on a complex medical topic.

Becoming a Medical Illustrator

Successful medical illustrators must possess exceptional illustration skills and artistic ability while also having in-depth knowledge of the biological sciences to fully understand and effectively communicate complex medical information.

Medical Illustrator Jobs

Graduates of RIT's medical illustration degree find employment with hospitals, medical schools, research centers, museums, medical publishers, advertising agencies, web design firms, animation studios, law firms, and a variety of other creative agencies.

Curriculum

First Year

• ILLM-601: Human Gross Anatomy
• ILLM-602: Anatomic Studies
• ILLM-603: 3D Modeling of Biomedical Forms
• ILLM-606: 3D Animation of Biomedical Forms
• ILLM-607: Computer Applications in Medical Illustration
• ILLM-608: Scientific Visualization
• ILLM-890: Thesis
• MEDS-615: Medical Pathophysiology
• MEDS-630: Human Immunology

Second Year

• ILLM-612: Surgical Illustration
• ILLM-615: Interactive Media I
• ILLM-616: Interactive Media II
• ILLM-617: Portfolio and Business Practices
• ILLM-890: Thesis
• MEDS-620: Histology and Histopathology

Studio Electives

• HCIN-610: Foundations of Human-Computer Interaction
• HCIN-620: Information and Interaction Design
• HCIN-660: Fundamentals of Instructional Technology
• ILLM-618: Eye Ear and Nose Prosthetics
• ILLM-627: Advanced Digital Technology for Medical Instruction
• ILLM-628: Medical and Scientific Animation
• ILLM-689: Special Topics
• ILLM-799: Independent Study

Admissions and Financial Aid

• Application Deadline: February 1 priority deadline, rolling thereafter
• Prerequisites: One year of general or introductory biology, and a minimum of three advanced biology courses
• Entrance Exam Requirements: None
• English Language Test Scores: TOEFL, IELTS, PTE Academic
• Cost and Financial Aid: Graduate tuition varies by degree, the number of credits taken per semester, and delivery method

Accreditation

RIT's MFA in medical illustration is one of five accredited graduate programs for medical illustration in North America accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).

Faculty

• Glen Hintz, Associate Professor
• James Perkins, Department Head of Medical Sciences, Health and Management
• Craig Foster, Assistant Professor

Facilities

• Anatomy and Physiology Lab
• Cadaver Lab

Related News

• James Perkins receives prestigious Brödel Award at AMI Conference
• Medical Illustration Podcast - RIT program faculty interview
• Comics go to College

Contact

• Admissions Contact: Delaney Ball, Assistant Director, Office of Graduate and Part-Time Enrollment Services
• Program Contact: James Perkins, Program Director of Graduate Medical Illustration, Department of Medical Sciences, Health, and Management