Master of Science in Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology

1 Year On Campus Masters Program

Indiana University Bloomington

Program Overview

The Master of Science in Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology at Indiana University School of Medicine offers specialized training through research, education and pre-professional pathways. The program develops a strong understanding of human anatomy, cellular functions and physiological systems, preparing students for biomedical research, anatomy education or further professional studies in medicine and healthcare.

Curriculum Structure

The department offers different master's tracks, each requiring 30 credit hours. The following outlines the one-year Clinical Anatomy and Physiology MS pathway.

Year 1 – Fall:

Students build foundational knowledge through ANAT-D 502 – Basic Histology and PHSL-F 503 – Human Physiology, alongside education coursework such as EDUC-J 500 – Instruction in the Context of Curriculum or EDUC-P 540 – Learning and Cognition in Education.

Year 1 – Spring:

Students advance their understanding through ANAT-D 501 – Gross Anatomy, ANAT-D 527 – Neuroanatomy, and ANAT-D 853 – Human Developmental Anatomy. Electives allow further exploration of subjects such as immunology, endocrinology and molecular biology.

Year 1 – Summer:

Students complete ANAT-D 878 – Anatomy Teaching Practicum, gaining supervised teaching experience in gross anatomy, histology and neuroscience.

Focus Areas: Human anatomy, cell biology, physiology, histology, neuroanatomy, embryology, musculoskeletal biology, renal biology, anatomical education, biomedical research.

Learning Outcomes: Understand human anatomical structures and physiological systems, explain cellular and tissue functions, interpret biomedical research, develop anatomy teaching skills, apply scientific knowledge to healthcare education, communicate complex biological concepts effectively.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation): No specific professional accreditation is listed for the master's program.

Reputation (Research & Employability): The department offers research and educational training supported by faculty expertise in neuroscience, musculoskeletal biology, renal biology and anatomical education. Program-specific employability statistics and rankings are not published.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The programmes combine advanced biomedical coursework with practical learning opportunities tailored to each pathway. The Education Track emphasises supervised anatomy teaching, while the Pre-Professional Track strengthens clinical science knowledge and offers an optional supervised research experience.

Human Anatomy and Dissection: Through ANAT-D 501 – Human Gross Anatomy, students study the structure and organisation of the human body using regional anatomy and cadaveric dissection. This develops a detailed understanding of anatomical structures and their functional relationships.
Histology and Microscopy: ANAT-D 502 – Basic Histology introduces microscopic examination of human tissues using optical and virtual microscopy, supported by team-based learning activities.
Neuroanatomy and Developmental Anatomy: Courses such as ANAT-D 527 – Neuroanatomy and ANAT-D 853 – Human Developmental Anatomy help students understand the nervous system, human development and structural changes associated with health and disease.
Anatomy Teaching Practicum: Education Track students complete ANAT-D 878 – Anatomy Teaching Practicum, which provides supervised teaching experience in gross anatomy, histology and neuroscience. Students receive feedback and critical evaluation of their teaching activities.
Optional Supervised Research: Pre-Professional Track students may select a four-credit supervised research experience, allowing them to gain exposure to research methods and biomedical investigation.
Physiology Simulation: Relevant physiology coursework can include simulation-based learning through PHSL-F 504 – Human Physiology Simulation Lab, covering cardiovascular, respiratory, neural, muscular, renal, endocrine and other physiological systems.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The two master's pathways support different academic and professional directions. The Clinical Anatomy and Physiology Education Track is suited to graduates interested in teaching anatomy and physiology, while the Pre-Professional Track is intended for students strengthening their academic preparation before applying to professional healthcare programmes. Both provide advanced knowledge of human structure and function that can support further study and specialised career development.

Potential career roles – Education Track:

Anatomy Instructor: Teach human anatomy to undergraduate, medical and allied health students.
Physiology Educator: Deliver instruction on human physiological systems and their relationship to health and disease.
Anatomy Laboratory Instructor: Support practical anatomy sessions, laboratory demonstrations and student learning activities.
Biomedical Science Educator: Teach foundational biomedical subjects in academic and healthcare education settings.

Further professional pathways – Pre-Professional Track:

Medical School Applicant: Progress towards an M.D. programme after meeting the relevant admission requirements.
Osteopathic Medicine Applicant: Prepare for applications to D.O. programmes.
Dental School Applicant: Pursue further education through a D.D.S. or D.M.D. programme.
Physician Assistant Applicant: Apply to professional physician assistant programmes, subject to their individual prerequisites.

Professional progression: The department also offers doctoral study opportunities in Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology, including pathways focused on biomedical research and anatomy education. Students interested in academic research or advanced teaching careers may explore these options, subject to doctoral admission requirements.

Employment outcomes: Programme-specific graduate employment rates, salary figures and employer-placement statistics are not published in the official materials reviewed.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates of the Education Track may pursue doctoral study in Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology, Anatomy Education or related biomedical education fields. Pre-Professional Track graduates may apply to M.D., D.O., dental or physician assistant programmes, depending on their academic record and the admission requirements of each professional school. Students interested in biomedical research may also consider graduate research pathways in Cell Biology, Physiology, Neuroscience, Molecular Biology or related disciplines.