INTRODUCTION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF OUR GRADUATE PROGRAM 

Degrees Offered: 

Ph.D. in Anatomy  (PhD students click here for the PhD Checklist)
M.S. in Anatomy 
Ph.D./M.D. (Combined Degree Program, School of Medicine) 

The Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology offers programs of study leading to the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Anatomy, and to the Master of Science in Anatomy. The Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology also participates in the Combined Degree Program (Ph.D./M.D.) of the School of Medicine. 
The M.S. degree is offered only as a terminal degree. Admission to this program is limited and restricted (Please see below). 

The Ph.D. program emphasizes training in research, with the principal aim of preparing students to pursue careers in biomedical research as independent investigators. 

Training to teach the anatomical subdisciplines (i.e. gross anatomy, histology, neuroanatomy) is an important component of the doctoral degree track. Graduates from the Ph.D. program will be prepared to follow careers that emphasize research, or that combine research and teaching. 

If you are interested in pursuing a research Ph.D. degree in Anatomy & Cell Biology, please apply through the Indiana University School of Medicine BioMedical Gateway (IBMG) Program. In this program, you will take your first year of courses and laboratory rotations with all of the entering graduate students here at the IU School of Medicine, and have the opportunity to enter any of the PhD laboratories, including those in Anatomy & Cell Biology.

If you are interested in graduate work primarily to teach in the field of Anatomy & Cell Biology, please contact Dr. Williams, the Director of Graduate Studies, directly.

Brief description of the Ph.D. track: Students enter the program early in July. Most students will enter with a plan to work in a specific laboratory, and students are encouraged to begin working in the lab immediately. If appropriate, the Graduate Studies Committee will assist new students in choosing one or more additional laboratories in which to do a rotation. During the first year, students take the major anatomy core courses (i.e. gross anatomy, histology, cell biology, and/or neurobiology) plus foundation courses of a minor discipline (such as physiology, biochemistry, etc). Students also work in the laboratory during the first year, and establish an Advisory Committee, headed by the Research Advisor. This committee aids the student in preparation for the Qualifying Examination (given at the end of the second year), which typically includes the writing and presentation of a Thesis Research Proposal (extramural grant format). The Qualifying Examination has two aims: 1> to assess the student's competency in the Anatomical subdisciplines and chosen minor, and 2> to determine if the student is prepared to begin thesis research. Upon passing the Qualifying Examination, the student is admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. The student's Committee advises the student throughout the conduct and completion of the doctoral research project, including the writing and defense of a Dissertation.

PREREQUISITES FOR ADMISSION

Applicants must have a bachelor of arts degree (or equivalent), and a minimum Grade Point Average of 3.0 (B) overall (4.0 scale), and a 3.0 GPA in science courses. The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General Test is required. Applicants with a weak science background, but an otherwise strong application, may be requested to take the GRE Advanced Biology examination. 

It is recommended that applicants have a strong science background, with an undergraduate major in the biological sciences, chemistry, physics or engineering. It is recommended that the applicant already have completed courses in cell biology, developmental biology, molecular biology, general and organic chemistry, physics and calculus. Performance in these courses will be assessed as a factor in the application review process. In addition, bench research experience and a publication record in the sciences will likely have a strong positive influence on Graduate Committee deliberations. Applicants must be prepared to correct deficiencies during the first year of graduate study. 

M.S. Program: In addition to the above criteria, admission to the program for the Master of Science degree requires sponsorship by a Department of Anatomy member of the Graduate Faculty. Persons who may be interested in pursuing admission to the M.S. program, but who do not have a faculty sponsor, should contact the Director of the Anatomy Graduate Program, Dr. James C. Williams, Jr. 

APPLICATION AND ADMISSION

Application is made using the online application. Applicants must fill out the Personal Statement.

Three letters of recommendation are required; these can be done through the online system, or sent directly to the Department at the following addres:

Graduate Admissions,
Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology
Indiana University School of Medicine 
635 Barnhill Drive, MS-5035
Indianapolis, IN 46202-5120 

Transcripts should also be sent directly to the Department.

GRE scores should be sent to the school (institution number 1325, department code 0201), as should TOEFL (if required).

Application deadlines are related to stipend and fellowship funding opportunities. For an applicant to be guaranteed a Department of Anatomy stipend, the application file must be completed by January 15. Generally, applicants will be notified regarding their admission status before April 15th.

FINANCIAL AID

Financial aid is available to qualified Ph.D. applicants, on a competitive basis, in the form of Departmental Stipends and Fee Scholarship (fee remission) Awards. 

Each graduate student enrolled in the Ph.D. program will receive full stipend (US$18,000/yr) plus fee scholarship support for the duration of his/her studies provided that the student maintains outstanding academic performance and is progressing in a timely manner. 

To be eligible for stipend support, the student must be a full time student and therefore must maintain a minimum of 8 credit hours per fall and spring semesters. 

Stipends are paid over a 12 month period (July 1 to June 30), and, for first year students, are prorated based on date of residence in the department. 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PH.D. IN ANATOMY

A total of 90 credit hours is required, with 32 hours in courses other than research. 

Anatomy & Cell Biology core courses are required, including at least three of the following: 
D850 (8 credits) Gross Anatomy 
D851 (4 credits) Histology 
G818 (3 credits) Integrative Cell Biology
D852 (5 credits) Neurobiology 

Seminar in Anatomy & Cell Biology is required yearly (1 credit each year): 
D861 (1 credit) Seminar

And a course in statistics is required: 
Q650 (3 credits) Biostatistics (or equivalent) 

Minor: Students must satisfy the requirements for a minor (usually 12 credit hours) in one of the following academic departments; Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Medical & Molecular Genetics, Microbiology & Immunology, Pathology, Pharmacology & Toxicology, Physiology & Biophysics, or in the Life Sciences multidisciplinary minor. A minor in statistics is also available. Medical Neurobiology, an interdepartmental program, is available as a minor, however all courses offered in this program must be taken from outside the department of Anatomy & Cell Biology. 

TEACHING REQUIREMENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES 

All students are required to assist once in one of our Gross Anatomy courses. For most students, this will occur during second semester of the second year. If, however, a student wishes to gain additional teaching experience in any of the anatomical subdisciplines, participation in the course may be arranged. 

TO APPLY FOR ADMISSION...

Click here to fill out the IUSM application on-line 

Application to the IUSM graduate school is completed through the on-line form above. However, it is recommended that applicants also contact our departmental graduate program director, Dr. James Williams, when they are interested in applying, so that they can begin communicating with research faculty right away (for the purpose of declaring a laboratory in which to work upon acceptance).

To contact Dr. Williams, send an email to williams@anatomy.iupui.edu

Or, if you do not have a reliable email address, you can also write to him at the following address:

Dr. James C. Williams, Jr.
Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology
Indiana University School of Medicine 
635 Barnhill Drive, MS-5035
Indianapolis, IN 46202-5120