Overview

The Anatomy and Histology major is offered by the School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health.

Every health profession, and much of biomedical research, depends on understanding how the human body is structurally built. This major teaches you that structure at every scale, from the cells and tissues you examine under the microscope to the organs and regions you study in the anatomy laboratory. Throughout, you will learn to connect structure with function.

Your learning in this Major is made possible by local people who generously donated their bodies to the University of Sydney for anatomy education. Working with human body donors shows the real and completely normal variation between bodies that no textbook or model can capture. Your interaction with body donors also gives you an opportunity to reflect on respect, dignity, and professional conduct; humanistic qualities that matter across every profession.

About the major

In second year, you will build a broad foundation across the body's organ systems, studying their anatomy and histology side by side. You will learn the language of both disciplines: the basic tissue types that make up the body, and how the major systems are organised to keep us alive and functioning. Laboratory classes are hands-on and team-based. In anatomy, you will work with prosected (professionally dissected) human body donors, and in histology you will develop light microscopy skills using human and animal tissue slides.

In third year, you will study the regions and systems of the body in greater depth, building a detailed three-dimensional understanding of how structures relate to one another. You will learn how to identify structures in donor prosections and in clinical imaging, and to apply your knowledge to a range of contexts including clinical applications and research. You will also strengthen your skills in microscopic analysis, visuo-spatial reasoning, and scientific communication.

The Major culminates in a project-based capstone experience. There, you will bring together the knowledge and skills from across the Major and apply them to a real-world problem, working in teams with interdisciplinary academics from across the University. Along the way, you will strengthen your problem-solving, collaboration, data analysis, and communicating with diverse audiences.

By undertaking this Major, you will graduate with a thorough, integrated understanding of the human body, along with the observational, analytical and communication skills transferable across science and health. The Major provides a strong foundation for graduate study in a range of health professions, and for careers in biomedical research, education and science communication.

Your studies are supported by the School's extensive physical and digital collections, including the J.T. Wilson Museum of Human Anatomy and the J.L. Shellshear Museum of Physical Anthropology and Comparative Anatomy. You will also have access to a growing range of digital learning resources, some created by the Faculty of Medicine and Health's Media Lab.

Requirements for completion

Requirements for the major and minor in Anatomy and Histology are listed in the Anatomy and Histology unit of study table.

Honours

Honours in Anatomy and Histology may be undertaken in certain appended honours degrees. Admission requirements and unit of study information can be found on the Anatomy and Histology – Honours unit of study table. Read how to apply for honours as a current student.

Honours in Anatomy and Histology is available via an appended Honours. Students will be part of world-leading medical research within the School of Medical Sciences. The one-year program includes a 36-credit point research project giving students access to the latest biomedical technologies, whilst two 6-credit point coursework units will aid in the development of fundamental research and communication skills. For more information about Honours in the School of Medical Sciences, please visit our website.

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