Human anatomy deals with the process of how parts of the human body interact with each other. Human anatomy degrees, on the other hand, teaches how the human body brings together a multitude of organs to operate and function.
Different levels of educational programs in human anatomy are available in universities and colleges across the United States. You can choose a program that suits your requirements, depending on your previous education and future career plans.
Human Anatomy Programs
At the undergraduate level, students interested in human anatomy can go for a pre-medical degree or a degree in biology, physical therapy or occupational therapy. These subjects will form a strong basis for higher education that happens to be a requirement for this field. Most often, focused programs on anatomical sciences are offered at graduate level.
Masters in Human Anatomy
A masters degree in human anatomy would typically take around two years to complete and would be focused on research. The first year is usually allotted for coursework, covering all the fundamental topics of human anatomy, along with the selection of a research advisor. During the second year, students typically focus on their research and thesis. The coursework might also include practical assignments and laboratory training. There will also be some elective courses in the program.
Some of the courses taught in masters in human anatomy are:
-
Gross anatomy
-
Histology
-
Microscopic anatomy
-
Embryology
-
Dental gross and microscopic anatomy
-
Neuroanatomy
Eligibility for admission into a master’s program in anatomical sciences will require students to possess at least a bachelor’s degree in biology or chemistry. In addition, every university has its own criteria in terms of GPA and GRE scores that students must meet to be admitted.
PhD in Human Anatomy
A doctoral degree in human anatomy gives students an advance look into human anatomy. All students are expected to work on publishable research and teach anatomy courses to undergraduate and medical students. The first year of classes helps students develop a solid foundation, whereas later, they will be required to focus on research and teaching activities.
The courses offered at this level will be highly advanced in nature, and will require students to have some level of prior understanding of the subject. Some of the courses in this program may include:
-
Advanced neurobiology
-
Visual neuroscience
-
Evolutionary autonomy
-
Vertebrate evolution
-
Research topics
To be eligible for admission, students will need to have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a relevant field, GRE scores and letters of recommendation. Typically, a doctorate degree would take you around five years to complete.
Human Anatomy Online Course
Online degrees in anatomy do exist, however they are rare. Only a handful of universities in the United States offer this degree online, and that too, up to the graduate level only. Due to the nature of this field, involving practical procedures such as dissections and microscopic observations of cells and tissue, this degree cannot be entirely in an online format. The program in this field would therefore be typically found in a hybrid format, where in addition to online coursework, students will gain hands-on experience in various aspects of human anatomy.
Keep in mind that no PhD degree programs in human anatomy are currently offered online. Some colleges might offer a few of their courses online, but an entire doctorate degree in human anatomy is not available in the United States yet.
If students are looking to gain human anatomy knowledge online, there are other options available. They could go for online allied health programs in:
-
Medical assisting
-
Physical therapy assisting
-
Surgical technology
-
Respiratory care
-
Diagnostic medical imaging
Students could also opt for an online graduate certificate in anatomy and physiology. This certification could help students get into a medical, nursing school or other health care training programs. This certificate is usually offered in complementary alternative medicine programs (CAM) and provides students the opportunity to receive advanced training in function and composition of the human body. Successful candidates must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university, along with recommendations.
It would typically take students a year or less to complete a certificate in anatomy and physiology. And usually, no practical work is required, making the program an entirely online option. Realtime online classes and lectures are conducted for added learning opportunities.
Careers in Human Anatomy
The first thing you need to think about when planning a career in human anatomy is what skills have you gained? By the time you graduate with a major in human anatomy, you'd have laboratory skills in a practical, hands-on work environment. You should also have strong research skills, along with the ability to analyze and interpret complex data.
The next thing you should think about is the jobs that you can do. You can work in different capacities in a variety of professions, from pharmacology and forensic science to scientific research and writing. Most human anatomy graduates end up going into physiotherapy related occupations. Exercise physiology is another popular career path, where you'd be responsible for investigating ways to improve human performance.
Besides these, you could also look into medical science careers. You could find employment in cardiology, audiology, speech and language therapy and neurophysiology. Pharmaceutical firms and biotechnology industries are also potential employers for human anatomy majors.
Another major employer are universities and colleges, specifically their research departments. Careers in biomedical research and postsecondary academia are fairly common. Teaching jobs require you to have a thorough understanding of human anatomy and its physiology, nutrition, evolution, development and biology on a cellular or molecular level.
7 Strange Facts about the Human Anatomy
-
The average person in their lifetime produces enough saliva to fill two swimming pools.
-
Your red blood cells do a complete circuit of your body in 60 seconds
-
The eye muscles contract nearly 100,000 times a day – this is equivalent to a 50 mile hike
-
During your lifetime, you shed around 40lbs of skin
-
Everyone has a completely unique smell, except twins
-
It’s nearly impossible to tickle yourself
-
It takes around 30 minutes for your body to produce enough heat to boil half a gallon of water