Overview

The anatomical sciences are an essential portion of education for health science professional programs; however, recent studies have shown a decrease in anatomy educators qualified and trained to teach anatomy in the United States. The Anatomical Sciences Education Certificate in the Modern Human Anatomy Program provides formalized coursework and instruction, which ensures that students graduating from the Modern Human Anatomy program with the certificate have the level of competence necessary to become university instructors or community college professors.

The Certificate in Anatomical Sciences Education within the Master of Science in Modern Human Anatomy curriculum provides students with the pedagogical foundations, mentoring, and practice necessary to become effective educators in the anatomical sciences. While the certificate curriculum and the Modern Human Anatomy Master of Science (parent program) share a common 1st year curriculum, the curricular differences occur in the 18‐credit 2nd year required coursework.  Certificate students must follow a 2nd year curriculum dedicated to the study, practice, and scholarship of anatomical education, including an 8-credit capstone project with an educational component. This focused certificate curriculum provides a direct pathway for students to become educators at the community college, university, and professional school levels.

Admissions Requirements

The Certificate in Anatomical Sciences Education is offered only to degree-seeking students in the Master of Science in Modern Human Anatomy (MHA) program.  MHA students are required to apply to the certificate program.

Those interested in applying for the Certificate in Anatomical Sciences Education must complete the following requirements:

• Take and pass ANAT 6412 Foundations of Teaching (1) and at least 8 credits out of the following Fall semester courses: ANAT 6205 Imaging and Modeling (4), ANAT 6310 Neuroanatomy (4), ANAT 6321 Human Histology (4).
• Take and pass ANAT 6111 Human Gross Anatomy, and ANAT 6330 Human Embryology, in the Spring Semester. Please Note: decisions of admittance to the teaching certificate are usually made before the Spring Semester courses have been completed. Matriculation into the teaching certificate will be contingent on spring course performance.
• Complete the online application, which will be sent out by the Directors of the Certificate in Anatomical Sciences Education during the Spring Semester. The application consists of short essays detailing the student’s motivation for pursuing the certificate and how participation in the certificate will contribute to the student’s education and career goals.

Meeting the above requirements does not guarantee admission into the Teaching Certificate.

Certificate Requirements

Please note: Year 1 Summer, Year 2 Fall, and Year 2 Spring are flexible, and courses can be taken in many orders and combinations.

First Year

Second Year

Learning Objectives

The Anatomical Sciences Education Certificate trains graduate students to be capable and skilled educators who are successfully able to:

1) Understand and apply research‐based pedagogical theory in the anatomical sciences

a. Discuss and analyze research‐based pedagogy literature.
b. Understand frameworks for making curricular decisions.
c. Develop content‐based instructional materials using pedagogical theory.

2) Teach anatomical sciences at a professional level

a. Develop content‐based instructional and pedagogical skills.
b. Implement active learning techniques and investigate the impact of teaching for diversity in health science programs.
c. Apply pedagogical theories to practice in a professional program.

3) Develop professionally through structured mentorship by Academy of Medical Educators faculty

a. Incorporate faculty feedback in teaching methods.
b. Incorporate faculty feedback in educational materials.

Courses

Policies

Please refer to the Graduate School Policies page.

Contact Us

Chelsea Lohman, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology
Chair, Certificate in Anatomical Sciences Education
chelsea.lohman@cuanschutz.edu
303-724-0837

Jennifer Thurston, MPA
Academic Services Program Director
Jennifer.thurston@cuanschutz.edu
303-724-5902