Programs
Anatomy MS
On This Page
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 (such as allopathic or osteopathic medicine, dentistry or physical therapy) or transitioning to doctoral programs in anatomy or other biomedical disciplines.
The program, generally completed within two years, requires a minimum of 30 credit hours in anatomical courses (human gross anatomy, histology, and embryology) and biomedical classes along with multidisciplinary research that culminates in an oral defense of a written thesis.
Program Overview
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.
Learn More
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.
Each student will conduct original research under the supervision of a faculty member culminating in the oral defense of a written thesis.
Required Courses:
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)
The Anatomy MS Program must be completed in six semesters unless the student has received prior approval (due to extenuating circumstances) for an extended course of study.
In the first semester, master's degree students begin selecting the laboratory in which they will complete their MS thesis projects.
In general, the MS degree is awarded in May of the second year, allowing approximately 15 months of research.
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. Presentation in an open, public form is strongly encouraged.
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. Students must maintain a B average (3.0) or better in academic courses to be retained in the program.
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.
At the completion of the degree, the student will have satisfactorily:
Mastered knowledge that is unique to the field of human structure.
Mastered knowledge in human anatomy that is necessary to perform in a professional, academic or corporate setting.
Demonstrated competence in scientific research.
Demonstrated ability to read, write and evaluate scientific literature.
Demonstrated a work ethic that supports scholarship and promotes the highest standards of academic integrity.
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.
Other Fees
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. We are committed to enhancing students' experience and development.