Program Overview

Certificate in Anatomical Sciences Education

The Certificate in Anatomical Sciences Education within the Master of Science in Modern Human Anatomy curriculum provides students with the pedagogical foundations, mentoring, and practice necessary to become effective educators in the anatomical sciences. This certificate offers a career-specific degree path, access to faculty within the Academy of Medical Educators, mentorship from School of Medicine scholars, and inclusion in an intellectual community of peers.

Program Overview

The certificate builds on foundational scientific coursework, explores pedagogical theory, provides opportunities to practice, and culminates in a teaching portfolio. Students will benefit from receiving a documented specialization displayed on their transcripts to leverage for post-graduation job placement.

Courses Required for Certificate

• ANAT 6490, Advanced Teaching in the Anatomical Sciences

  This course offers a hands-on, supervised experience as an anatomical sciences educator. Readings and discussions will enhance understanding of educational pedagogy. Students will apply these skills as they develop and deliver lecture and lab content in a classroom setting. Due to the intensive mentoring and training required for this course, the class size each semester is limited to four students.
  • Course Directors: Varies According to Semester
  • Units: 3
  • Semester: Fall, Spring

• ANAT 6911, Advanced Teaching Practicum

  Hands-on teaching course in which students apply pedagogical theories to practice in a professional program as a teaching assistant, lecturer, or other instructional position.
  • Course Director: Variable
  • Units: 3
  • Semester: Summer, Fall, Spring

• ANAT 6950, MSMHA Capstone Project (Educational Scholarship Component)

  The 8-credit capstone project is a scholarly and/or research-based pursuit of knowledge and content development in the area of anatomical sciences, modern imaging and modeling technologies, and educational science completed as part of the MS in Modern Human Anatomy. Certificate-seeking students will work with the Certificate Director to ensure that their capstone projects contain an educational scholarship component and meet the requirements of the certificate.

• 4 Credits of Approved Electives

  4 credits of electives (approved by the Certificate Director) with any combination of options below:
  • 3 or 4 credit course from the list of approved electives
  • 1 additional ANAT 6911 credit in a different course
  • 1-4 credits of independent study Approved electives are included on the Certificate Checklist.

Requirements to Apply

Those interested in applying for the Certificate in Anatomical Sciences Education must complete the following requirements:

• Take and pass ANAT 6412 Foundations of Teaching (1) and at least 8 credits out of the following Fall semester courses: ANAT 6205 Imaging and Modeling (4), ANAT 6310 Neuroanatomy (4), ANAT 6321 Human Histology (4).
• Take and pass ANAT 6111, Human Gross Anatomy, and ANAT 6330, Human Embryology, in the Spring Semester. Please note that decisions of admittance to the teaching certificate are usually made before the Spring Semester courses have been completed. Matriculation into the teaching certificate will be contingent on spring course performance.
• Complete the online application, which will be sent out by the Directors of the Certificate in Anatomical Sciences Education during the Spring Semester. Multiple factors are considered throughout the application/decision process, including the applicant's career and professional goals, current academic standing (including GPA & academic probation), progress through the 1st year curriculum (including remediations & expected graduation date), and professionalism (i.e., ability to give & receive constructive feedback, work in a team environment, etc.).

Additional Information

• No additional credits are required to earn the Certificate in Anatomical Sciences Education, as the coursework is embedded in the Master of Science curriculum. Students who earn the certificate are able to graduate on the same timeline as non-certificate students.
• The certificate is not only for people who want to be teachers; nearly half of the students who earn a Certificate in Anatomical Sciences Education are admitted to professional schools and wish to become clinical educators.