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About the Program
The Master of Science in Medical Illustration Program is one of only four such programs in the nation. The two-year program is accredited by the Association of Medical Illustrators and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.
Intensive illustration courses are supplemented with graduate science courses taken with medical students. Illustration courses cover a variety of traditional media. Digital media and multimedia are taught in the first and second year.
Anatomical and surgical illustration for publication and interactive media is emphasized. Students spend four semesters observing and sketching in the operating room. Assignments offer practical experience with media for print applications as well as motion and electronic media.
Program Goals
- To refine students’ expertise in various artistic media
- To provide the scientific foundation to prepare illustrations in a medical setting
- To teach students to visually problem solve and to establish and meet objectives
- To offer extensive practical experience in medical illustration and prepare students for the profession
Career Opportunities
- Medical illustration for medical schools, large medical centers, hospitals and specialty clinics in single-artist departments or large production units
- Medical illustration for advertising agencies, medical publishers and pharmaceutical companies
- Medical illustration for attorneys who need art to demonstrate evidence in legal cases
- Entrepreneurship in medical illustration
Admission Requirements
Applicant Preliminary Evaluation Form and Preliminary Portfolio (January 31 deadline for Fall entry) sent directly to the of Medical Illustration Graduate Program:
Medical Illustration Graduate Program, CJ-1101
Georgia Health Sciences University
Augusta, GA 30912-0300
Preliminary application materials are reviewed by the department’s Admissions Committee. If the evaluation is satisfactory, you must then complete the Online Application for Graduate Programs and submit all required application materials and official documents. In addition, if the preliminary evaluation is satisfactory, you will be invited for an interview. Please do not submit a formal Online Application for Graduate Programs until you have completed the preliminary application process and received notification from the Department.
Completed Online Application for Graduate Programs. Please check the Office of Academic Admissions website for fee information: http://www.gru.edu/Admissions/
Application deadlines for application and required materials and documents:
Early submission of all application materials is strongly advised.
January 31 (Fall entry) - Preliminary Application deadline: The Applicant Preliminary Evaluation Form and preliminary portfolio must be submitted by the applicant directly to the Department of Medical Illustration by January 31. Specific information about the preliminary application process can be found at: http://www.gru.edu/medart/MI-Application.html.
March 31 (Fall entry) - Formal Application deadline - If invited for a personal interview by the Medical Illustration Graduate Program, the interviewee must complete a formal Online Application for Graduate Programs and submit all required application materials to the Office of Academic Admissions.
Note: All required application materials and documents must be received in order for an application to be considered complete and before an admission decision can be made. Applications and supporting materials received after the program deadline will only be considered on a space-available basis.
Minimum GPA Requirements: Minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. As an exception, the Admissions Committee may consider candidates with a lower GPA based on extenuating circumstances, test scores (GRE), strengths in other areas; however, this may result in acceptance to the program on probationary status.
Minimum Degree Requirement and Official Transcripts: Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. To be used to satisfy degree requirement, evaluation of foreign educational transcripts must show degree(s) earned that are the U.S. equivalency of degree(s) required by the program.
Official transcripts are required from all universities and colleges ever attended. Only in the case of transcripts from international colleges/universities will an official course-by-course evaluation of an official transcript be accepted in lieu of an official transcript.
Official transcripts should be sent to GRU’s Office of Academic Admissions. To remain official, all transcripts must remain in the original, unopened, sealed and stamped/signed envelope from the Registrar’s Office of the issuing institution. Alternatively, GRU will accept official electronic transcripts from the Registrar’s Office of the prior institution. Electronic transcripts should be directed to admissions@gru.edu.
Transcript/credential evaluation of foreign transcripts: An official, professional course-by-course evaluation based on official transcripts and documents is required for all foreign educational transcripts and documents from one of the following three credentials evaluation services: Josef Silny & Associates, Inc., World Education Services (WES), Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE). Silny and WES are recommended. Official evaluations based on unofficial transcripts, documents, or copies will not satisfy this requirement.
References: Recommendations (which include a reference form and letter of recommendation) from three individuals are required. Referees should be individuals qualified to critically assess the applicant’s prior academic (usually college professors), employment, artistic, research and/or clinical experience (clinical or research supervisor/mentor) and qualifications (as applicable) as well as the applicant’s potential as a graduate student in the field/program selected.
Graduate reference forms and letters of recommendation can be submitted online only. As part of the online application process, applicants provide the names and current email addresses for three individuals they have asked to serve as their referees. Once the online application is submitted, each referee will receive an email notification directing him/her to the online site where he/she can complete the reference form and submit his/her letter of recommendation. To change a referee after the application has been submitted, the applicant is instructed to log into his/her CollegeNet account and update the name and current email address for the referee. Status updates of your referees’ submissions will be provided to you directly from CollegeNet.
GRE Requirement: Test takers who took the GRE prior to August 1, 2011 were scored on the old scoring scale of 200-800. The minimum score requirement of 900 total (combined Verbal and Quantitative Scores) will continue to be used for those who took the GRE prior to the scoring changes.
Test takers who took the GRE after to August 1, 2011 are scored on the new scoring scale of 130-170. The minimum score of 290 total (combined Verbal and Quantitative Scores) will be required for those who took the GRE after to the scoring changes.
All official GRE scores must be submitted to GRU’s OAA directly from the Education Testing Service (ETS) and must be less than five years old. The institution code for submission of GRE scores to GHSU is 5406. Please do not select a department code.
TOEFL Requirement: Minimum score of 550 paper-based, 213 computer-based, or 79 internet-based.
Official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) test scores are required for applicants whose first language is not English. The institution code for submission of TOEFL scores to GHSU is 5406. Do not select a department code.
Exemption from the TOEFL requirement is allowed for graduate students who submit proof of earning a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college/university where English is the language of instruction.
Program Specific Requirements
- Pre-requisite course work:
- Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy or Vertebrate morphology with a “C” or better grade, with student dissection of a large mammal (for example a cat or piglet)
- Human Physiology
- Life Drawing from a nude model, including advanced-level courses
- Advanced courses in realistic drawing or painting from observation
- Computer graphics, including Photoshop and Illustrator or equivalent are required. Additional digital media courses are strongly recommended.
- Any of the following are recommended:
- Science: Histology, Embryology, Invertebrate Anatomy, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Genetics, Immunology, Basic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Organic Chemistry.
- Art: Animation, Architectural Drawing, Cinematography, Color Theory, Drafting, Design (Graphic, Interface, Media, Set/Stage, 2D, 3D, Type, Web, etc.), Media Arts, Sculpture, Photography, Perspective, Print Making (Engraving, Intaglio, Lithography, Serigraphy, etc.), Technical Drawing, Time Arts, Typography, Videography.
- Preliminary Application and Preliminary Portfolio of Original Artwork: Specific information regarding the preliminary and formal portfolios can be found at www.georgiahealth.edu/medart/MI-Portfolio.html. Samples of artwork from the portfolios of successful applicants can be seen at http://www.gru.edu/medart/MI-Portfolio.html.
- Personal Interview and Formal Portfolio Review with the Program Faculty: Preliminary application materials are reviewed by the department Admissions Committee. If the evaluation is satisfactory, you must then complete the Online Application for Graduate Programs and submit all required application materials and official documents to GRU’s Office of Academic Admissions. In addition, if the preliminary evaluation is satisfactory, you will be invited to Augusta for a personal interview with the Medical Illustration Admissions Committee. Interviews are by invitation only, and are scheduled in February and March. A personal interview is required for admission. Travel to and from Augusta and hotel arrangements for the interview are the responsibility of the applicant. The applicant must bring a formal portfolio of work for the interview.
Admission Recommendations
GPA: Prefer GPA of 3.0 or higher.
GRE: Prefer a minimum combined verbal and quantitative score of 1000 or higher.
*Substitutions and/or waivers of minimum requirements must first be supported and approved at the program level and then formally approved by the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies.
*While every effort is made to maintain this information as current, it may be subject to change. Please check with GRU’s Office of Academic Admissions for recent updates.
*Applications deferred to another semester are subject to all admission requirements and program requirements in effect for the semester to which they are deferred.
Academic Common Market
The GRU Department of Medical Illustration participates in the Academic Common Market. Students from Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, or Virginia may petition their home state to learn whether they qualify for in-state tuition at GRU.
Estimated Tuition and Fees
For estimated tuition and fees, please see the Tuition and Fees information for students who matriculated at GHSU section of this catalog.
