The Master of Applied Science in Anatomical Sciences Education, a research paper-based graduate program, is designed to develop expertise in the anatomical sciences, pedagogy, and education scholarship, with an emphasis on the application of this knowledge. Students will apply their expertise as anatomy teachers in the Faculty and will disseminate their own scholarly project.

• This program focuses on anatomy education and modern medical education principles.
• Compulsory courses focused on anatomical sciences education and pedagogy are completed in the 1st year and application of teaching principles and acquired knowledge in the 2nd year in the form of a practicum
• Seminar course focused on Education Scholarship
• Mandatory research project initiated in 2nd semester of first year and completed during 2nd year

View the complete program requirements

• 39 units (Master’s with research paper)
• 5 full time terms (20 consecutive months, with candidates beginning in the Fall semester (September) and completing their degree by the Winter semester (April) of their 2nd year
• Compulsory courses focused on anatomical sciences education and pedagogy in the 1st year and application of teaching principles and acquired knowledge in the 2nd year
• Seminar course focused on Education Scholarship
• Mandatory research project initiated in 2nd semester of first year and completed during  2nd year, culminating in research paper

For specific program deadlines:
Look at the Application Deadlines page.

To be eligible, candidates must have a Bachelor of Sciences (B.Sc.) degree with specialization (or equivalent) in one of the following areas:

• Biology
• Biochemistry
• Pharmacology
• Physiology
• Human kinetics (kinesiology)
• Biopharmaceutical, Biomedical or Health sciences

Minimum average of 75-79% (B+) required.

Documents required for admission

• A letter of intent (one page-single-spaced) describing why you wish to complete the ASE program and how your previous experience/education makes you an ideal candidate for this Master of Applied Science degree.
• Two letters of reference (one must be from an academic source)
• A curriculum vitae
• All university-level official transcripts

Language requirements

Applicants must be able to understand and fluently speak the language of instruction (English or French) in the program to which they are applying. Proof of linguistic proficiency may be required. Most of the courses in this program are offered in English or French, with some courses offered in a bilingual setting (for example, the cadaveric laboratories will provide instruction in both languages at the same time).

Intake will only be for the Fall semester (to coordinate with teaching opportunities in the medical program). Administrators for the program will review applications and eligible applications will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee. The Admissions Committee will use explicit criteria to assess applications as denoted above.

Notes

Preference will be given to candidates who have completed an undergraduate course in human anatomy (or equivalent). Candidates that have established a level of anatomy training comparable to the courses offered in the first year of the program, as assessed by the Program Director, can be accepted into a 1-year version of the Master’s Program with a focus on applied teaching and scholarship courses.

Candidates are also encouraged to document research or scholarly abilities (via research reports, abstracts, or presentations) in their Letter of Intent.

International candidates must check the admission equivalencies for the diploma they received in their country of origin.

Please review the Admission process page for more information on how to apply.

Students in this program will be eligible to apply for external scholarships. Please consult the list of Scholarships page to view the full list of scholarships and bursaries offered by the University of Ottawa.

Currently, we do not have an ASE PhD option for students to ‘fast-track’ or switch to, as we do for other FoM graduate programs. After completion of their ASE Master’s Degree, students interested in Health Professions Education research could pursue a related PhD in Clinical Sciences and Translational medicine (general stream or Interdisciplinary Social Sciences in Medicine concentration) or from the Faculty of Education: Health Professions Education concentration. For those with a biomedical science background and an interest in pursuing anatomy-based or translational research can apply to the PhD in Clinical Science and Translational medicine's general stream.

Students receive extensive opportunities to develop their relevant knowledge teaching skills in their first year courses (by preparing and delivering cadaveric demonstrations, presenting lab-based reviews for their peers, and delivering classroom lectures emphasizing anatomy in the context of clinical cases). Further, during their second year students will have deliberate practice and preparation time prior to each teaching event, with support from experienced anatomy educators, and the opportunity to receive regular feedback from Faculty to help guide their progression. Graduate students will therefore be optimally supported to be fully prepared for their teaching responsibilities.

Students with this Master’s degree will be prepared to become anatomy instructors at post-secondary institutions. This training would prepare students with the background necessary to be successful in healthcare profession programs or in positions such as Pathology Laboratory Assistants. As professor positions typically require a PhD, the anatomy training in this program followed by subsequent PhD studies noted above would make an individual highly competitive for professor positions in anatomy education.

Both programs develop important anatomy knowledge and promote the development of critical communication skills in the context of teaching. The most important difference is the scope of the research project undertaken and as such, the research skills that are developed in this context. The Intensive program exposes students to research in medical education, but given the short scope, will be restricted to literature reviews. This program, therefore, does not lead to doctoral studies. The Masters with the research project allows for the development and completion of a complete research project and can lead to the PhD.

You can apply to both programs. A fee of $120 will apply for each program application. 

The Research Paper program has more limited enrollment due to is much more limited than the Intensive program. While strong candidates who don’t get into the Research Paper program will be considered for the Intensive program, the converse situation is not likely feasible.

You will have a fulsome research experience under the guidance of your Research Supervisor (selected by the end of your first term in the program). This includes reviewing relevant literature in your specific area, developing a research question, becoming familiar with and applying relevant methodologies, analyzing data, and disseminating your findings in both an oral presentation format and written Major Research Paper in your last term of the program.

Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office, Faculty of Medicine

451 Smyth Road, Room RGN 2016

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

K1N 6N5

Tel.: 613-562-5215 Email: [email protected]

Chris Ramnanan, Director, Anatomical Sciences [email protected]

The teaching opportunities are centered around the MD program, including all formal curricular prosection-based laboratories (across all systems of the body) and teaching in the context of anatomy electives (for example, our Dissection Elective Program).

Currently, we have the capacity to admit up to 12 students in the Research Project stream and up to 30 students in the Intensive stream. We are aiming to grow capacity in each stream as the program evolves. 

Not at the present time.