Master of Science in Medical Illustration

Medical illustration is an interdisciplinary field—a creative combination of the visual arts, the health sciences, education, and communications. Historically, its roots were fully evident by the Renaissance, as seen in the work of research anatomists and educators such as Andreas Vesalius and in the artwork of the great figurative artists such as Leonardo DaVinci. Today, medical illustration involves the conceptualization, planning, design, production, implementation and evaluation of visual solutions for complex communication and education problems in the life and health sciences. Medical illustration incorporates various media and techniques—from 2D artwork to 3D animation, from anatomical drawing to instructional games, and from molecular modeling to medical sculpture. Medical Illustrators are specially trained artist-scientists who produce visual solutions for complex communication or education issues in the health care industry. In short, medical illustrators visualize better health.

Entry into this unique field requires a talent for the graphic arts and visual storytelling as well as an affinity for science.

The Medical Illustration graduate program is housed in the Dept. of Medical Illustration, College of Allied Health Sciences. It is one of only four such accredited graduate programs in the country. The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).

Program Contact

Admissions Information

Please see the Office of Admissions website for specific admissions information:

Progression & Graduation Requirements

• Students must earn a grade of “C” or higher in all courses taken to remain in the program.
• Students must complete 63 hours of curriculum coursework as well as pass the departmental comprehensive exam to graduate from the program.

Program Information

• Program Length: 21 Months
• CIP Code: 51.2703
• Program Code: MSIL_MILL
• Major Code: MILL

Click here for a term by term view.

Degree Requirements: 63 Hours

• ANAT 8050 - Graduate Histology (5 Credit Hours)
• MILL 6650 - Medical Illustration Techniques IA (3 Credit Hours)
• MILL 6651 - Medical Illustration Techniques I B (3 Credit Hours)
• MILL 6670 - Electronic Media I (3 Credit Hours)
• MILL 6671 - Electronic Media II (3 Credit Hours)
• MILL 6780 - Surgical Techniques (2 Credit Hours)
• MILL 7010 - Human Gross Anatomy for Medical Illustration, Part I (4 Credit Hours)
• MILL 7011 - Human Gross Anatomy for Medical Illustration, Part II (3 Credit Hours)
• MILL 7040 - Neuroanatomy for Medical Illustration (4 Credit Hours)
• MILL 7650 - Surgical Observation and Sketching I (3 Credit Hours)
• MILL 7651 - Surgical Observation and Sketching II (1 Credit Hour)
• MILL 7660 - Medical Illustration Techniques IIA (3 Credit Hours)
• MILL 7661 - Medical Illustration Techniques IIB (3 Credit Hours)
• MILL 7670 - Multimedia I (3 Credit Hours)
• MILL 7671 - Multimedia II (3 Credit Hours)
• MILL 8020 - Business and Resource Management I (2 Credit Hours)
• MILL 8021 - Business and Resource Management II (3 Credit Hours)
• MILL 9210 - Investigation of a Problem (1 to 4 Credit Hours)
• MILL 9211 - Investigation of a Problem II (2 Credit Hours)
• MILL 9250 - Master’s Project (1 to 4 Credit Hours)
• PATH 6010 - Pathology for Medical Illustrators I (3 Credit Hours)
• PATH 6011 - Pathology for Medical Illustrators II (2 Credit Hours)