Master’s in Anatomy & Neurobiology
The M.S. degree in Anatomy and Neurobiology is a rigorous two-year program incorporating coursework in anatomical and neurobiological principles. In addition, the degree has a strong focus on producing outstanding educators through a combination of lecturing and one-on-one mentoring. The program also requires the acquisition of scholarly and scientific expertise through the generation of a Master’s level thesis. The program for the M.S. degree consists of the equivalent of one year of foundational course work and at least one year of directly supervised research work. Candidates are required to complete 32 credits at the graduate level. Course selection for the M.S. program is done in consultation with your academic advisor. By the end of their first year of study, Master’s students will normally be expected to have chosen an adviser from among the faculty of the Department, and to spend the first summer occupied with scientific research. This faculty member will then advise the student on which courses should be taken in the second year of their training.The research work carried out, and the results obtained, will be presented as a thesis atthe end of the M.S. program. This should be comparable in design and content to a full-length article in a scientific journal. The M.S. program has a maximum time limit of three years after first registration for the M.S. degree.
Required Courses for the M.S. Degree:
Course | Credits | Code |
---|---|---|
Exptl. Design & Statistical Methods
OR Elementary Biostatistics |
2cr | AN704 MS700 |
Professional Skills | 2cr | AN715 |
Human Gross Anatomy | 6cr | AN719 |
Neuroanatomy Through Clinical Cases | 4cr | AN725 |
Graduate Histology | 4cr | AN726 |
Research Colloquium (Journal Club)* | 2cr | AN801 AN802 |
Vesalius 1: Teaching in the Biomedical Sciences | 2cr | AN806 |
Vesalius 2: Teaching Apprenticeship (fulfilled by Teaching Fellow assignments) | 2cr | AN809 |
Vesalius 3: Teaching practicum in the biomedical sciences | 2cr | AN805 |
One Departmental Elective Course (see list below) | 2-4 | List Below |
Elective Options for Master’s Students:
Course | Credits | Code |
---|---|---|
COURSES TYPICALLY OFFERED IN THE FALL: | ||
Cellular Organization of Tissues | 4cr | AN722 |
Fundamentals of Cell & Molecular Neurobiology | 4cr | AN777 |
Systems Neurobiology | 4cr | AN810 |
Scientific Writing | 2cr | |
Human Anatomy and Osteology | 4cr | FA712 |
Advanced Human Osteology | 4cr | FA806 |
Forensic Biology | 3cr | FS702 |
Forensic Pathology | 3cr | FS712 |
Molecular Biology of Forensic DNA | 3cr | FS720 |
Biomedical Imaging Foundations | 4cr | IM600 |
COURSES TYPICALLY OFFERED IN THE SPRING: | ||
Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (even years) | 2cr | AN702 |
Neurobiology of Aging (odd years) | 2cr | AN707 |
Advanced Clinical Anatomy | 2cr | AN708 |
Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience | 4cr | AN716 |
Methods in Neuroscience | 4cr | AN718 |
Advanced Neuroanatomy (even years) | 2/4cr | AN724 | Graduate Histology | 4cr | AN726 |
Neurobiology of Visual System (on demand*) | 2cr | AN807 |
Cognitive Neuroscience | 4cr | AN811 |
Dynamic Modeling (on demand*) | 2cr | AN820 |
Methods of Functional Imaging of the Brain | 2cr | IM630 |
Molecular Basis of Neurologic Disease | 2cr | MS783 |
Requirements for the Master’s Vesalius Module:
All Master’s degree students are required to complete the Vesalius Module. Students must have successfully completed the two following prerequisite courses to pursue the Vesalius Module.
The Module consists of three courses/components. The program begins with a course on the development of teaching skills in the biomedical sciences. This is followed by a teaching apprenticeship (40 hours service as a Teaching Fellow in one or more of the medical or graduate required courses, above), and concludes with a Mentored Teaching Project that involves the development of a didactic lesson or exercise under the direct mentorship of experienced and award-winning faculty.
Vesalius Module Components:
Course | Credits | Code |
---|---|---|
Vesalius 1: Teaching in the Biomedical Sceinces | 2cr | AN806 |
Vesalius 2: Teaching Apprenticeship | 2cr | AN809 |
Vesalius 3: Mentored Teaching Project (Practicum) | 2cr | AN805 |
Vesalius Module Prerequisites:
Course | Credits | Code |
---|---|---|
Human Gross Anatomy | 6cr | AN719 |
Neuroanatomy Through Clinical Cases | 4cr | AN725 |
Year 1
FALL:
Human Gross Anatomy
6cr AN 719
Neuroanatomy Through Clinical Cases
4 cr AN 725
Research Colloquium (Journal Club)
2 cr AN 801
SPRING:
Vesalius 1: Teaching in the Biomedical Sciences
2 cr AN 806
Professional skills for Students in the Biomedical Sciences
2 cr AN715
Graduate Histology
4 cr AN726
Elective(s)
2-4 cr
Year 2
FALL & SPRING
Vesalius 2: Teaching Apprenticeship
2 cr AN809
Vesalius 3: Teaching Practicum
2 cr AN805
Approved Statistical Course
2-3 cr List Above
Research
Variable
Electives as desired (see list above)
Variable
Grades
To receive graduation credit in any course taken as part of the graduate degree program, students must receive a “B-” grade of better. A grade of “C+” or lower is considered a failure. If there is a failure in one of the Basic Departmental Required Courses or Core Track Required Courses then this course will need to be remediated (refer to the Bulletin of the Division of Graduate Medical Sciences, under the Academic Policies and Procedures). If a grade of “C+” or lowers occurs in eight credit hours or more a student will be automatically terminated.
When the work of a course has not been completed within the semester of registration, the grade of “I” (incomplete) may be used. A grade of “I” can only be given if a student is doing passing work at the time they step out of the curriculum. This automatically becomes a permanent grade of “I” (unsatisfactory work) if the course work is not completed within the following academic year. Permanent grades of “I” are interpreted as failures.
Teaching
Teaching is an essential part of our M.S. Degree program. M.S. candidates are required to complete 40 hours of teaching under the rubric of the Structured Practicum (AN805). This requirement is typically fulfilled during the first Spring or the second year of study. Each year the student will be given the opportunity to request his/her top teaching assignment choices. The GEC will then review all requests and, in consultation with Course Directors, will determine teaching assistant assignments based on student seniority, student choice and other matters that impact student course work/ thesis writing. The GEC will make every effort to match a student with his/her preferred teaching assignment. The GEC makes the final decision regarding teaching assignments. The following Departmental courses are commonly requested for graduate student teaching assignments. As shown, each course has a specific number of hours allocated to it.
Students may opt to teach in other courses, and may express their preference to the GEC. Prior to this request, students should have spoken with the Course Director of their chosen course to assess availability/feasibility.
Learning Outcomes
The goals of the Master’s in Anatomy & Neurobiology (Vesalius) Program are to provide trainees with the knowledge base and skills to become proficient in basic biomedical research and to develop outstanding pedagogic skills. Successful completion of these goals enables our students to pursue further studies in the biomedical sciences including teaching, research, and health care. At the conclusion of the program students will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of Gross Anatomy, Neuroscience, Statistics, and other graduate level elective anatomical and neuroscience topics through successful completion of our core curriculum.
- Demonstrate proficiency in pedagogical skills in the context of the Teaching in Biomedical Sciences course and through teaching fellowships in core medical and graduate student courses (as listed above).
- Demonstrate an understanding of pedagogical theory through the development of a mentored Vesalius teaching practicum, which involves the development of a didactic lesson or exercise under the direct mentorship of department faculty.
- Demonstrate proficiency in scientific data acquisition and analysis through mentored research in one of the department’s research labs.
- Describe and interpret scientific findings of their laboratory research study through the development of a written, publication-quality thesis.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the professional skills (including an ability to read and interpret scientific literature) required of biomedical scientists and educators.