PHD CLN ANAT - Clinical Anatomy (PhD)

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School of Graduate Studies in Health Sciences (School) ACADEMIC_LEVEL_GRADUATE

Program Title

Clinical Anatomy (PhD)

Default Credentials

PhD - Doctor of Philosophy

Program Description

The PhD degree program in Clinical Anatomy is aimed at training the next generation of educators and scholars in the field. The program is intended to train professionals to become master educators in anatomy, qualified to communicate anatomical knowledge to future personnel in the health professions. Students will learn the anatomical disciplines of human gross anatomy and developmental anatomy, histology (microanatomy), neuroanatomy, and will be trained in educational theory, pedagogical skills, and curricular development. Doctoral students who successfully pass their qualifying examinations after their first year of study will do a dissertation project either in the pedagogical methods of teaching anatomy, which may include the development of new methods, or in the clinical applications of anatomy. In addition, the program will train students to teach at the post-graduate level and to do research in clinical anatomy or in an area of health science education. During the first two years students will be exposed to basic anatomical content, education content, and educational research. Beginning their second year, students will take one teaching practicum each semester. In addition, students will perform research rotations with various faculty in which they will be introduced to educational research in anatomy, research in clinical anatomy, or both. These rotations are intended to aid students in choosing their advisors. Core anatomical and education courses can be taken in any order unless part of a sequence, but all of them have to be completed prior to the beginning of the second year so that the candidacy examination can be taken during the first summer of the program.

Learning Outcomes

Describe the normal structural components of the human body and relate normal function to each of the major organ systems.

Describe the microscopic organization of the human body and relate normal function to each of the major organs and tissue types

Describe the organization of the human nervous system and its role in normal function

Describe the basic development of the human body from fertilization until birth and identify how development affects all other aspects of human anatomy

Combine knowledge from all anatomical areas to evaluate basic clinical cases

Describe the basic aspects of different learning theories and to compare and contrast the major themes of each

Identify advantages and disadvantages of different pedagogical techniques and make recommendations for pedagogy in a variety of contexts

Design and implement an independent educational research project and effectively disseminate the results to an appropriate audience

Critique current anatomical and medical education research

Develop and implement educational lessons for a variety of audiences and contexts

Design a curriculum for a science course of interest that relies on modern teaching methods for the majority of activities

Describe the elements of objective-based backward curricular design (education) and implement the elements to create a curriculum

Contribute to the teaching mission of the department

to educate and train individuals to become educator scholars of the anatomical sciences

those who have the knowledge to use evidence-based practices to teach and also to publish educational research to help inform others about these best practices

To educate and train individuals to become educator scholars of the anatomical sciences

Those who have the knowledge to use evidence-based practices to teach and also to publish educational research to help inform others about these best practices

Admission Requirements

The program accepts students for fall enrollment.

Applicants will be evaluated based on the following:

Baccalaureate degree in a relevant scientific discipline
Transcripts from all previous colleges and universities attended
A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale
Three letters of recommendation
A personal statement

All application documents and the application fees must be received by the Office of Enrollment Management by June 1 for fall admission.

Prospective PhD students who wish to attend the Graduate School Spring Recruitment Day must have applications submitted by January 15.
Students wishing to be considered for a graduate stipend for the upcoming fall semester should apply for admission prior to April 1.

Degree Requirements

PROGRAM COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS: The Doctor of Philosophy degree is a research degree and is not conferred solely as a result of formal course work, no matter how superior and extensive. To receive the doctoral degree, the candidate must demonstrate evidence of proficiency and distinctive attainment in a special field, and a recognized ability for independent investigation as presented in a dissertation based upon original research.

QUALIFYING EXAMINATION AND ADMISSION TO CANDIDACY - The Qualifying Examination is given to graduate students in good academic standing upon completion of coursework and must be successfully completed for admission to candidacy for the doctor of philosophy degree.

DISSERTATION - The dissertation must show originality of thought and demonstrate the results of independent investigation. It should contribute to the advancement of knowledge, exhibit mastery of the subject literature, and be written with an acceptable degree of literary skill. The dissertation, written according to prescribed form, is prepared under the direction of the candidate's advisor and must be approved by the candidate's Dissertation Advisory Committee and the dean of the Graduate School. This approval must be obtained and all other requirements completed by the date given in the official academic calendar. Guidelines outlining the prescribed form for a student's written dissertation can be found on the SGSHS website (UMMC login required).

DISSERTATION DEFENSE - The dissertation defense is conducted by the candidate's Advisory Committee and consists of a public presentation and defense of the dissertation.

REQUIRED COURSEWORK - All students must pass ID 709 (Responsible Conduct in Research). In addition, all graduate students must successfully pass ID 714 (Professional Skills).

PUBLICATION REQUIREMENT - Students receiving the PhD degree are required to have the results of their research accepted for publication prior to awarding of the degree. This manuscript must meet the publication requirement, i.e., the student must be listed as the sole first author on at least one publication in a national or international peer-reviewed journal.

PLAN OF STUDY

Year 1 - Fall
ANAT 711	Gross Anatomy	6
ID 767	Fundamental Histology and Cell Biology	3
ANAT 722	Methods in Educational Research	2
ANAT 742	Learning in the Health Sciences	3
		14
Year 1 - Spring
ANAT 715	Neurobiology	4
ANAT 717	Clinical Anatomy Research Rotations	3
ANAT 743	Pedagogy in the Health Sciences	3
ID 709	Responsible Conduct in Research	1
ANAT 716	Developmental Anatomy	2
		13
Year 2 - Summer
ANAT 717	Clinical Anatomy Research Rotations	1
		1
Year 2 - Fall
ANAT 744	Health Sciences Curriculum Development	3
ANAT 745	Clinical Anatomy Research Project	3
ID 740	Statistical Methods in Research I	3
	*Teaching Practicum course	2+
		11+
Year 2 - Spring
ANAT 745	Clinical Anatomy Research Project	3
	*Teaching Practicum Course	2+
	**Elective	1+
		6+
Year 3+ - Summer
ANAT 717	Clinical Anatomy Research Rotations	1
	*Teaching Practicum Course	2+
		3+
Year 3+ - Fall
ANAT 798	Dissertation and Dissertation Research	1
	*Teaching Practicum Course	2+
		3+
Year 3+ - Spring
ANAT 760 or ANAT 798	Dissertation Research Proposal or Dissertation and Dissertation Research	1
ID 714	Professional Skills	1
	*Teaching Practicum Course	2+
		4+
Year 4+ - Summer
ANAT 798	Dissertation and Dissertation Research	1
	*Teaching Practicum Course	2+
		3+
Teaching Practicum Courses
ANAT 730	Teaching Practicum in Gross Anatomy	6
ANAT 731	Teaching Practicum in Histology and Cell Biology	1-3
ANAT 733	Teaching Practicum in Neurobiology	3
ANAT 734	Teaching Practicum in Graduate Anatomy	2
* Teaching practicum courses are selected from the list above. Semester hours depend on the practicum selected. ** Electives are selected with the guidance of the program director or the student's advisor.

For more information about this program, contact:

Timothy Dasinger, PhD
Email: tdasinger@umc.edu
Phone: (601) 495-6088