MS in Anatomy & Neurobiology–Vesalius Program

Changes to this program will take effect in the 2024/2025 academic year.

The Master of Science in Anatomy & Neurobiology–Vesalius Program is a two-year, 32-unit program (comprised of 26 required course units and up to 6 additional elective and/or research units). This master’s degree includes the Vesalius Module, which is comprised of three main components:

1. Graduate courses in the biomedical sciences.
2. Advanced teaching courses coupled with a one-on-one mentored teaching experience (the Vesalius Module).
3. Primary biomedical research resulting in a written thesis.

The first year is devoted to establishing an advanced understanding of the biomedical sciences and neurosciences. Students take Gross Anatomy, Neuroanatomy, and Journal Club in the first term. In the second term of the first year, students continue with biomedical science courses, taking Histology and other courses from a wide selection of electives and seminar courses. In addition, students take Professional Skills and Teaching in the Biomedical Sciences, a special graduate course designed to expose the student to the theory and practice of education in the biomedical sciences.

During the second year, students put theory into practice. The environment of the classroom that the students experienced firsthand in their initial year serves as the platform upon which they apply the techniques and principles to become effective educators. They work closely with faculty to refine their teaching techniques in small groups and large lectures. The second year is also spent conducting a research project. This work, mentored by a faculty member, teaches the student how to perform primary biomedical research and culminates in a written independent research thesis. An approved statistics course must also be taken in the first or second year.

The MS in Anatomy & Neurobiology is a rigorous, time-consuming program, focused on producing excellent biomedical researchers and educators. Therefore, part-time enrollment is discouraged and never allowed in the first term. Matriculation is only available in the fall term.

Learning Outcomes

The goals of the MS 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 healthcare. 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.
• 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, research-based thesis.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the professional skills (including an ability to read and interpret scientific literature) required of biomedical scientists and educators.

Required Courses (26 units)

• GMS AN 704/MS 700 Experimental Design & Statistical Methods (2 units)
• GMS AN 715 Professional Skills (2 units)
• GMS AN 719 Human Gross Anatomy (6 units)
• GMS AN 725 Neuroanatomy Through Clinical Cases (4 units)
• GMS AN 726 Graduate Histology (4 units)
• GMS AN 801/802 Research Colloquium in Anatomy & Neurobiology (Journal Club) (2 units)
• GMS AN 805 Vesalius III: Teaching Practicum in the Biomedical Sciences (2 units)
• GMS AN 806 Vesalius I: Foundations in Teaching in the Biomedical Sciences (2 units)
• GMS AN 809 Vesalius II: Applied Teaching in the Biomedical Sciences (2 units)
• At least one departmental elective course (see list below) (var units)

Elective Courses

Take at least one departmental elective course:

• GMS AN 702 Learning and Memory (2 units)
• GMS AN 707 Neurobiology of Aging (odd years) (2 units)
• GMS AN 708 Advanced Clinical Anatomy (2 units)
• GMS AN 716 Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience (even years) (4 units)
• GMS AN 718 Methods in Neuroscience (4 units)
• GMS AN 722 Cells, Organs, and Tissues (Histology) (4 units)
• GMS AN 724 Advanced Neuroanatomy (even years) (2–4 units)
• GMS AN 727 Human Embryology (2 units)
• GMS AN 777 Fundamentals of Cell & Molecular Neurobiology (4 units)
• GMS AN 807 Neurobiology of the Visual System (on demand) (2 units)
• GMS AN 810 Systems Neurobiology (4 units)
• GMS AN 811 Cognitive Neuroscience (4 units)
• GMS AN 815 Scientific Writing (2 units)
• GMS AN 820 Dynamic Modeling (2 units)
• GMS FA 712 Human Anatomy and Osteology (4 units)
• GMS FA 806 Advanced Human Osteology (4 units)
• GMS FS 702 Forensic Biology (3 units)
• GMS FS 712 Forensic Pathology (3 units)
• GMS FS 720 Molecular Biology of Forensic DNA (3 units)
• GMS IM 600 Biomedical Imaging Foundations (4 units)
• GMS IM 630 Methods of Functional Imaging of the Brain (2 units)
• GMS MS 783 Molecular Basis of Neurologic Disease (2 units)

Students may also register for research units (up to 4 units):

• GMS AN 901 Anatomy Research (var units)
• GMS AN 902 Anatomy Research (var units)

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 following two prerequisite courses to pursue the Vesalius Module:

• GMS AN 719 Human Gross Anatomy (6 units)
• GMS AN 725 Neuroanatomy Through Clinical Cases (4 units)

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 (GMS AN 809 Vesalius II—40 hours service as a Teaching Fellow in one or more of the medical, dental, or graduate courses taught by departmental faculty), and concludes with a Mentored Teaching Project (GMS AN 805 Vesalius III) that involves the development of a didactic lesson or exercise under the direct mentorship of experienced and award-winning faculty.

• GMS AN 806 Vesalius I: Foundations in Teaching in the Biomedical Sciences (2 units)
• GMS AN 809 Vesalius II: Applied Teaching in the Biomedical Sciences (2 units)
• GMS AN 805 Vesalius III: Teaching Practicum in the Biomedical Sciences (2 units)

Typical Curriculum for Master of Science in Anatomy & Neurobiology Students

Year 1: Fall

• GMS AN 719 Human Gross Anatomy (6 units)
• GMS AN 725 Neuroanatomy Through Clinical Cases (4 units)
• GMS AN 801 Research Colloquium in Anatomy & Neurobiology (Journal Club) (2 units)

Year 1: Spring

• GMS AN 715 Professional Skills for Students in the Biomedical Sciences (2 units)
• GMS AN 726 Graduate Histology (4 units)
• GMS AN 806 Vesalius I: Foundations in Teaching in the Biomedical Sciences (2 units)
• Elective from list above (var units)

Year 2: Fall–Spring

During Year 2, students must take:

• GMS AN 704 OR MS 700 Experimental Design & Statistical Methods (2 units)
• GMS AN 809 Vesalius II: Applied Teaching in the Biomedical Sciences (2 units)
• GMS AN 805 Vesalius III: Teaching Practicum in the Biomedical Sciences (2 units)
• Electives and/or Research, as desired, from list above (var units)