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Medical Illustration MFA

http://www.rit.edu/healthsciences/graduate-programs/medical-illustration/

Program overview

The MFA program in medical illustration enables students to exhibit critical and creative thinking and problem solving through the accurate translation of medical and scientific concepts into effective visual support for instruction or advertisement. Students utilize effective research techniques and demonstrate efficient use of time and resources during concept and development of projects to satisfy course assignments. Entrance requirements include one year of biology and three of the following areas of study: histology, embryology, immunology, genetics, pathology, or cellular physiology.

Curriculum

Semester conversion
Effective fall 2013, RIT will convert its academic calendar from quarters to semesters. Each program and its associated courses have been sent to the New York State Department of Education for approval of the semester plan. For reference, the following charts illustrate the typical course sequence for this program in both quarters and semesters. Students should consult their academic advisers with questions regarding planning and course selection.

Medical illustration, MFA degree, typical course sequence (quarters)

Course Qtr. Cr. Hrs.
First Year
2020-781 Medical Illustration Topics I 3
2020-784 Medical Illustration Topics II 3
2020-731 Human Gross Anatomy I 4
2020-732 Human Gross Anatomy II 4
2014-701 Survey: Computer Graphics 2
2020-782 Medical Illustration Graphics 3
2020-783 Anatomical Studies 3
Choose one of the following: 3
   2020-753    Medical Legal Illustration  
   2020-767    Molecular Illustration  
2020-890 Medical Illustration Thesis 1
  Science Elective 4
  Humanities 8
  Open/Studio Electives 12
Second Year
2020-785 Surgical Procedures 3
2020-780 Surgical Procedures II 3
2020-751 Computer Animation and Interactivity I 3
2020-890 Medical Illustration Thesis 13
  Open/Studio Electives 18
Total Quarter Credit Hours 90

Medical illustration, MFA degree, typical course sequence (semesters), effective fall 2013

Course Sem. Cr. Hrs.
First Year
ILLM-601 Human Gross Anatomy 6
ILLM-602 Anatomic Studies 3
ILLM-603 3D Modeling of Biomedical Forms 3
Choose one of the following Academic Studies Electives: 3
   HCIN-660    Fundamentals of Instructional Technology  
   HCIN-610    Foundations of Human Computer Interactivity  
   VCDE-711    Design Theory and Methods  
ILLM-606 3D Animation of Biomedical Forms 3
ILLM-607 Computer Applications in Medical Illustration 3
ILLM-608 Scientific Visualization 3
ILLM-890 Thesis 1
  Studio Elective 3
  Science Elective 3
Second Year
ILLM-615 Interactive Media I 3
ILLM-612 Surgical Illustration 3
  Studio Electives 6
ILLM-616 Interactive Media II 3
ILLM-617 Portfolio and Business Practices 3
ILLM-890 Thesis 9
  Graduate Elective 3
Total Semester Credit Hours 61

Admission requirements

To be considered for admission to the MFA in medical illustration, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:

  • Hold a baccalaureate degree in a field of the arts, sciences, or education from a regionally accredited college (The undergraduate degree should include 75 quarter credit hours (50 semester hours) in studio courses,
  • Demonstrate, through the quality of the undergraduate record and creative production, a genuine, professional potential,
  • Submit official transcripts (in English) of all previously completed undergraduate and graduate course work, and
  • Complete a graduate application.
  • International students, whose native language is not English, must submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language. Minimum scores of 550 (paper-based) or 80 (Internet-based) are required. Scores from the International English Language Testing System may be submitted in place of the TOEFL. A minimum score of 6.5 is required. Those applicants coming from countries where the baccalaureate degree is not awarded for programs in the practice of art may be admitted to graduate study if the diploma or certificate received approximates the standards of the BFA, BA, or BS degrees, and if their academic records and portfolios indicate an ability to meet graduate standards.