Shaping the Future of Medicine
Begin your dynamic career in anatomy at 51°µÍø. This flexible program offers three pathways that support a diversity of career goals:
- Teaching: The Teaching track positions you to teach others through their own anatomy education. Medical schools need anatomy educators, and you’ll be prepared to enter the workforce and make a difference.
- Research: The Research track can lead to lab work in higher education or pharmaceutical/biotechnology sectors. Your work published in peer-reviewed manuscripts will be invaluable to the medical field.
- Medical School: The one-year Clinical Anatomy graduate certificate program amplifies your resume for admission to medical school. You’ll have successfully completed one year of anatomy education within our College of Osteopathic Medicine’s D.O. program, side-by-side with current medical students.
Complete our form to download an info sheet on 51°µÍø’s Clinical Anatomy program, and to sign up to receive more details on the curriculum and admissions process.
Why 51°µÍø for your Master of Science in Clinical Anatomy
- The Clinical Anatomy program is taught within the 51°µÍø College of Osteopathic Medicine — Maine’s only medical school and New England’s only osteopathic medical school— so you will work alongside students within the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program, guided by skilled medical school faculty.
- Our faculty will provide you with in-depth, individualized advising and mentorship.
- 51°µÍø is home to the only donor anatomy lab in southern Maine, which means this program and curriculum are truly singular within the region.
- Students on the research track will have the opportunity to participate in biomedical research within a team of 51°µÍø faculty and students, solving real-world problems.
- Students on the educational track will gain teaching skills and knowledge from current anatomy faculty and pedagogy leaders.
- You benefit by attending a comprehensive health sciences university that is nationally recognized for excellence in preparing students for collaborative, interprofessional, team-based care. Draw on the expertise of faculty members from our colleges of medicine, health professions, dental medicine, and our College of Arts and Sciences, and reap the rewards of training alongside future providers in other health professions.
What will you study? Clinical Anatomy program Curriculum Overview
The Clinical Anatomy master’s degree program incorporates existing curriculum within the College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM), as well as newly developed learning experiences to prepare you for a rewarding career in research or medical school education. Year One curriculum for the two M.S. degree tracks and the certificate are essentially the same for the first year.
Year One
In year one, you will study under medical school faculty and with students from the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree program.
The first-year curriculum includes courses in the following topics:
- Medical Donor Anatomy, where students develop an understanding of human structure and function at the gross anatomical level.
- Medical Physiology, which introduces medical science knowledge, particularly physiology and pathophysiology.
- Medical Embryology, which includes the study of the early development of human cells, tissues, and organs.
- Medical Histology, which covers the study of microscopic anatomy and function of cells and tissues that make up the organ systems.
- Medical Imaging, which empowers students to study human anatomy via imaging modalities such as radiography, ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and fluoroscopy.
Year Two
The second year of training, including experiential and didactic content, prepares you for the career track of your choice.
- As an M.S. candidate in the two-year research track program, you will work with 51°µÍø faculty to complete a research project, with exposure to teaching in the anatomy labs across 51°µÍø and COM. This track will prepare you for a career in academia, industry, or healthcare with a strong foundation in anatomical sciences.
- M.S. candidates in the two-year teaching track program will participate in teaching, assessing, and course development for the medical anatomy course as well as other health professions courses. Upon graduation, you will be prepared for a career instructing the next generation of physicians by teaching undergraduate, health professions, and medical students.
As part of our interprofessional learning philosophy, you will be able to use your newly acquired skills to help students prepare for medical school.
Curriculum
| Program Required Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| CAN 501 – Medical Embryology 1 | 0.5 |
| CAN 505 – Medical Histology 1 | 1 |
| CAN 510 – Medical Imaging 1 | 1 |
| CAN 515 – Medical Gross Anatomy 1 | 6 |
| CAN 520 – Medical Physiology 1 | 3 |
| CAN 550 – Medical Embryology 2 | 0.5 |
| CAN 555 – Medical Histology 2 | 1 |
| CAN 560 – Medical Imaging 2 | 1 |
| CAN 565 – Medical Gross Anatomy 2 | 6 |
| CAN 570 – Medical Physiology 2 | 3 |
| Select One (1) Clinical Anatomy Concentration below | 17.5–20.5 |
| Minimum Total Required Credits | 40.5–43.5 |
|---|
Potential Career Paths for Clinical Anatomy degree grads
Completion of the two-year M.S. in Clinical Anatomy can lead directly to positions in the medical field.
- The Research track can lead to lab work in higher education or pharmaceutical/biotechnology sectors. Your work published in peer-reviewed manuscripts will be invaluable to the medical field.
- The Teaching track positions you to teach others through their own anatomy education. Medical schools need anatomy educators, and you’ll be prepared to enter the workforce and make a difference.
- The one-year Clinical Anatomy Certificate amplifies your resume for admission to medical school. You’ll have successfully completed one year of anatomy education within our College of Osteopathic Medicine’s D.O. program, side-by-side with current medical students.
Clinical Anatomy Degree Facilities
Donor Anatomy Lab
The M.S. in Clinical Anatomy program is centered around 51°µÍø’s Donor Anatomy Lab — the only lab of its kind in southern Maine. Here, you will learn to develop an understanding of human structure and function at the gross anatomical level. This state-of-the-art facility has five pods with cutting-edge equipment. While in the donor lab, you will have the opportunity to prepare and demonstrate demo dissections (prosections), assist medical students in dissections, create and deliver didactics, and assist in student assessment and grading (under the guidance of the faculty).
Pickus Center for Biomedical Research
The Pickus Center for Biomedical Research is a state-of-the-art biomedical research building that houses research teams of 51°µÍø faculty and students.
The 22,000 sq. ft. structure enables you to engage in important research as part of your curriculum, build upon the strong base of research at 51°µÍø COM, and create opportunities for collaborative research. The center includes multiple laboratories, 12 faculty offices, two conference rooms, and a lab tech office suite.
Center for Pain Research
The Center for Pain Research supports a vibrant and collaborative neuroscience research program at 51°µÍø. The goal of the center is to increase the scientific understanding of the neurobiology of chronic pain, facilitating the discovery and development of novel therapies. M.S. in Clinical Anatomy (research track) candidates will have the opportunity to participate in research projects in the center.
Hands-On Learning Outcomes
The M.S. in Clinical Anatomy program will prepare you with hands-on lab experience as well as teaching and learning opportunities with medical and other health professions students. Upon completion of the program, you will have an advanced:
- Understanding of human anatomy, embryology, histology, and physiology with special emphasis on knowledge relevant to health professionals.
- Anatomical knowledge as it relates to clinica