Program Overview

Anatomy MS Program Overview

The MS program in Anatomy at Penn State College of Medicine is a research-oriented degree with an emphasis in preparing students for further professional education or transitioning to doctoral programs in anatomy or other biomedical disciplines.

Program Details

The program, generally completed within two years, requires a minimum of 30 credit hours in anatomical courses and biomedical classes along with multidisciplinary research that culminates in an oral defense of a written thesis.

Curriculum and Coursework

In addition to the traditional areas of study including gross anatomy, histology, human embryology, and neuroanatomy, the curriculum will include core courses in cell biology, systems biology, biochemistry, and physiology.

• ANAT 503 Human Gross Anatomy
• ANAT 512 Human Embryology
• ANAT 505 Microscopic Anatomy I
• ANAT 506 Microscopic Anatomy II
• Human Structure Cadaveric Laboratory
• ANAT 590 Colloquium
• ANAT 600 Laboratory Research (6 credits; normally taken during last semester)
• Biomedical Ethics (1 credit)
• Electives (3 to 6 credits)

Research

In the first semester, master's degree students begin selecting the laboratory in which they will complete their MS thesis projects.

• Thesis projects for MS students generally have faculty input in the design and implementation, and may be more descriptive in nature than a doctoral project.
• Each student must successfully complete a laboratory-based, hypothesis-driven research project which includes a written thesis and successful presentation of the work to their committee.

Academic Requirements

To be awarded an MS degree in Anatomy, the student must successfully:

• Earn a total of 30 credit hours, of which at least 18 must be in 500- and 600-level courses.
• Complete the ethics course.
• Obtain 6 credits for thesis research in year 2.
• Complete an original research project, and orally defend a written thesis describing the experimental design, results, and significance of the work.

Tuition

Students in the Anatomy MS program pay the standard Penn State University graduate student tuition.

• Financial aid is generally not offered for a master's degree student.
• Students are responsible for the costs of books (approx. $400 per year), activity fees, thesis fees, and medical insurance, which is required for all students.

Student Support

Dedicated offices support your health and well-being, while services such as a health sciences library assist in your learning journey.

• Academic Resources
• Student Life
• Campus Resources
• Health Advancement and Community Engagement

Program Goals

The goal of the Anatomy MS Program at Penn State College of Medicine is to educate and prepare individuals for advanced professional degrees in human structure, or for accelerated entry into professions related to medical science and biomedical research.

• The Master of Science in Anatomy is an academic degree awarded for the satisfactory completion of a program of study that includes both didactic coursework and original research.
• It is expected that a student will expend a minimum of two academic years of study in a full-time capacity to complete this degree.