The road to an anatomy degree is long, but don't let that turn you off.
You won't spend all your time in a lecture hall. For the most part, this type
of graduate work involves a research project in which students get personally
involved.
"If you're lucky, you would have thought up and designed the experiment
yourself," says Nathaniel McMullen. He is a professor of cell biology and
anatomy at the University of Arizona. "And if you are a passionate and curious
person, and you enjoy exploring the intricacies of nature, this isn't work,
it's fun."
Bachelor's degrees in anatomy are hard to come by. Most students
start with a degree in biology with some training in biochemistry, then do
graduate work in anatomy.
McMullen says some students earn their bachelor's degree in ecology,
biochemistry or psychology before entering the advanced program.
To apply to a graduate program, students must also take the Graduate
Record Exam (GRE). That's an exam similar to what students must take to
apply to law school or medical school.
There are a number of universities in the U.S. that offer master's and
doctoral-level degrees in anatomy.
To get ready for an advanced degree like this, make sure you have a strong
background in the sciences. Take classes in biology, chemistry and physics.
"Read anything and everything about the world around you," says McMullen.
"If you're already interested in the biological sciences as a career, see
if you can get a summer job working in a lab."
The main costs are tuition and books. "The cost of books would certainly
be several hundred dollars," McMullen says. "The good news, however, is that students
in many programs usually receive a tuition waiver and a stipend [financial
support] during their course of study."
Links
Occupational Outlook Handbook
For more information related to this field of study, see: Physical
Therapists
American Association of Anatomists
Lots of great resources for anatomy students
Normal Anatomy Images
Fascinating photographs of the insides of humans