Master of Science in Clinical Anatomy

Degree

Master of Science in Clinical Anatomy
College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM)
Department of Biomedical Sciences

Accreditation

É«ÏãÊÓƵ is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), whose mission is to establish and maintain high standards of education through the doctoral level. Accreditation by NECHE signifies that É«ÏãÊÓƵ meets or exceeds those high standards.

Program Description

The M.S. in Clinical Anatomy program offers post-baccalaureate training in the anatomical sciences, a fundamental cornerstone for understanding health and disease. This program will provide students with an in-depth understanding of human anatomy and medical physiology, and the skills to apply this knowledge to teach or work in medical fields. This program has two (2) concentrations. All students completing the program will be knowledgeable in detailed human anatomy, embryology, histology, clinical imaging, and physiology. Completion of the first year courses will provide students with a strong foundation for medical school. The second year courses, depending upon the concentration completed, students will gain additional knowledge and skills to teach these topics to professional students, or to successfully engage in research. 

Curricular Requirements

Program Required CoursesCredits
CAN 501 – Medical Embryology 10.5
CAN 505 – Medical Histology 11
CAN 510 – Medical Imaging 11
CAN 515 – Medical Gross Anatomy 16
CAN 520 – Medical Physiology 13
CAN 550 – Medical Embryology 20.5
CAN 555 – Medical Histology 21
CAN 560 – Medical Imaging 21
CAN 565 – Medical Gross Anatomy 26
CAN 570 – Medical Physiology 23
Select One (1) Clinical Anatomy Concentration below17.5–20.5
Minimum Total Required Credits40.5–43.5

Concentrations

Research Concentration

Research Concentration Required CoursesCredits
CAN 600 – Medical Neuroscience2.5
GPH 716 – Biostatistics3
RCA 500 – Research 11
RCA 550 – Research 21
RCA 600 – Teach in Gross Anatomy Lab 1RT2
RCA 605 – Research 33
RCA 650 – Teach in Gross Anatomy Lab 2RT2
RCA 655 – Research 46
Total Credits20.5

Teaching Concentration

Teaching Concentration Required CoursesCredits
CAN 600 – Medical Neuroscience2.5
GPH 716 – Biostatistics3
TCA 600 – Teaching in Anatomy Lab 14
TCA 650 – Teaching in Anatomy Lab 24
TCA 655 – Interprof Teaching in Anatomy4
Total Credits17.5

Academic and Technical Standards

Students pursuing a Master of Clinical Anatomy degree (either the two (2)-year teaching concentration or two (2)-year research concentration) will need to maintain an overall GPA of a B and must pass each course sequentially with a 70% pass minimum.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

  • Demonstrate an advanced understanding of human anatomy, embryology, histology, and physiology with special emphasis on knowledge relevant to health professionals.
  • Describe advanced anatomical knowledge as it relates to clinical imaging studies including fluoroscopy, radiology, CT scans, MRI, venous and arterial studies, cardiac studies, etc. 
  • Demonstrate interpersonal/interprofessional skills (such as student-staff and peer-peer communication), peer-active teamwork, and collaborative leadership, thereby fostering, identifying, and practicing the professional behavior(s) expected within the healthcare setting. 
  • Identify relevant landmarks and anatomical structures in the living and cadaveric body.
  • Identify selected normal anatomical structures and features on medical images, including X-ray, CT scans, and MRI.
  • Define and describe the normal structure and biomechanical function of the musculo-skeletal-fascial system.
  • Discuss and integrate a fundamental understanding of structure-function relationships for each area of the body and its relationship to the physical exam.
  • Discuss and integrate a fundamental understanding of physiology as it relates to the various organs and structures of the body.

Upon completion of the Teaching concentration, graduates will be able to:

  • Exhibit expertise in teaching gross dissection/prosection and assessing learning among health profession students and health professionals

Upon completion of the Research concentration, graduates will be able to:

  • Develop skills in hypothesis formulation, experimental design/methods, data/statistical analysis, and dissemination of results through participation in research
  • Perform research and communicate research outcomes through various biomedical communication strategies, including but not limited to peer-reviewed publications, posters, and presentations

Transfer Credit

Transfer Credit

Transfer credits are rarely awarded to students who transfer from another program.

Advanced Standing

No advanced standing available

Experiential Learning

No credit will be awarded for experiential learning

Admissions

Application

The É«ÏãÊÓƵMaster of Science in Clinical Anatomy program participates in the . All applicants are required to apply online through this service.

Degree Requirement

  • Completion of a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. regionally accredited institution, or international equivalent, prior to matriculation.
  • All applicants are required to submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Official transcripts should be sent directly to Please refer to the application for additional information and instructions.

GPA Requirements

A minimum cumulative and science GPA of 2.8 at the time of application is highly recommended (inclusive of all coursework taken with no forgiveness for retakes).

prerequisite coursework requirements

Course SubjectCourse CreditsCourse Details
General Biology I and II8 semester or 12 quarter creditsLabs required
General Chemistry I and II8 semester or 12 quarter creditsLabs required
Physics I4 semester or 6-8 quarter creditsLab required
Behavioral Science6 semester or 9 quarter creditsView the list of acceptable course types to fulfill the Behavioral Science prerequisite requirement (PDF)
English/Humanities6 semester or 9 quarter creditsView the list of acceptable course types to fulfill the English/Humanities prerequisite requirement (PDF)

additional recommended courses

  • Anatomy
  • Physiology
  • Cell/Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Math/Statistics
  • Biochemistry

other prerequisite coursework considerations

  • Pass/Fail courses are acceptable for prerequisite courses taken in Spring 2020 only.
  • All prerequisite courses must be successfully completed with a grade of C or better (C- grades are not acceptable).
  • Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) test credit can be accepted towards prerequisite requirements. To apply AP or IB test credits towards prerequisite requirements, the credits must be broken down by subject on the undergraduate transcript. An official letter from the University Registrar, including subject breakdown, is also acceptable.
  • Prerequisite courses may be in-progress or planned at the time of application. However, all courses must be successfully completed with an official transcript submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions & Recruitment prior to matriculation.
  • All planned or in-progress coursework should be listed on the GradCAS application at the time of application submission.
  • Online courses offered through and online courses from other regionally accredited U.S. colleges or universities may be acceptable.

letters of recommendation

  • Three (3) letters of recommendation are required - submitted via GradCAS.
  • At least one (1) recommendation must come from a science professor/faculty researcher. The admissions committee seeks recommendation letters that outline a holistic description of the applicant, including information on student engagement, interpersonal skills, character, and professionalism.
  • Evaluation letters from are acceptable, as long as the letter is sent directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions & Recruitment by the letter writer.
  • Successful applicants have recommendation letters submitted that characterize and reflect their most recent academic, clinical, and community engagement experiences.
  • Letters from friends or family members are not acceptable.

cv or resume

All applicants should upload a current CV or resume to their application in GradCAS.

personal statement

Please refer to the GradCAS application for additional information and instructions.

interviews

Interviews are a required part of the application process. Qualified applicants will be invited to interview. All interviews are conducted by invitation only.

É«ÏãÊÓƵ reserves the right to adjust interview dates, modalities, and processes as needed. Applicants will be notified immediately if changes to the format or timing of interviews occur at any point during the application cycle.

international applicants

International applicants and those with foreign degrees and coursework are required to obtain an official credential evaluation by , confirming degree and grade/course equivalency to that of a U.S. bachelor’s degree. Please submit the WESI ICAP course-by-course evaluation with grades. The completed credential evaluation should be sent directly to GradCAS.

International applicants should refer to the International Admissions section of the É«ÏãÊÓƵ website for additional information and instructions.

Standardized Tests

English-Language Proficiency Tests:

  • Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate written and spoken fluency through the successful completion of an English language proficiency test, such as the or the .
  • Official score reports are required and must be submitted as a part of a complete application.
  • Applicants should refer to the Graduate Requirements section of the É«ÏãÊÓƵ English Language Proficiency page for specific information and minimum score requirements.

other requirements

Prior to matriculation, accepted and deposited students will be required to complete the following compliance requirements:

  • Completion of a physical examination with proof of up-to-date immunization status. Please refer to É«ÏãÊÓƵ’s Student Health Center for detailed information.
  • Satisfactory completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen prior to matriculation, as well as periodically throughout the program (as required by É«ÏãÊÓƵ and clinical training sites).
  • All students must have the ability to meet all Academic and Technical Standards of the É«ÏãÊÓƵ College of Osteopathic Medicine.

All materials submitted as part of the application become the property of É«ÏãÊÓƵ and will not be returned or released to anyone, including the applicant. This policy includes letters or recommendation, primary and secondary applications, personal statements, transcripts, and other supporting materials.

policy exceptions

Policies are established to ensure fair and consistent admissions practice for all applicants to the university and its programs.

All information presented in this summary are subject to change per professional accreditation requirements, changes in curriculum and/or other institutional standards, and clinical affiliation requirements.

Exceptions to existing admissions policies are rare and made only when it is deemed necessary and appropriate to maintain fair and consistent practice for all candidates, not individual candidates.

Financial Information

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees for subsequent years may vary. Other expenses include books and housing. For more information regarding tuition and fees, please consult the Financial Information section of this catalog.

Continued Enrollment

After two (2) academic years, a student who has completed all coursework except their thesis will be required to pay for a minimum of three (3) Thesis credit hours plus mandatory fees each semester to remain in the program. 

Other Expenses

Housing is arranged by and financed at the expense of the student. Currently, there is no on-campus housing available for graduate students.

Financial Aid

Detailed information and applications are available on request from the Financial Aid Office. Call (207) 602-2342 or by visiting the Financial Aid website.

Notice and Responsibilities Regarding this Catalog

This catalog outlines the academic programs, degree criteria, policies, and events of the É«ÏãÊÓƵfor the 2024–2025 academic year and serves as the official guide for academic and program requirements for students enrolling at the University during the Summer of 2024, Fall 2024, and Spring 2025 semesters.

The information provided is accurate as of its publication date on April 26, 2024.
The É«ÏãÊÓƵreserves the right to modify its programs, calendar, or academic schedule as deemed necessary or beneficial. This includes alterations to course content, class rescheduling, cancellations, or any other academic adjustments. Changes will be communicated as promptly as possible.

While students may receive guidance from academic advisors or program directors, they remain responsible for fulfilling the requirements outlined in the catalog relevant to their enrollment year and for staying informed about any updates to policies, provisions, or requirements.