What youll learnIf you want to get under the skin of the human body and delve into the functioning of everything from the skeletal structure to the nervous system, an anatomy or physiology degree might be for you. You could learn how cells develop, how limbs form in the right places, even how muscle groups are used in different sports. You may touch on hot topics such as cell cloning, genetic engineering or the impact of malaria or HIV on a human being.

Anatomy degrees will involve dissection of human and animal cadavers, while physiology involves the study of both the healthy body and the body as affected by disease research which can lead to the development of new medical treatments. Degree courses will impart an excellent knowledge of how the body works and can encompass a variety of disciplines including biology, genetics, immunology, embryology, neuroscience, pharmacology and disease processes.

How youll learnCourses are hands-on, so you could be doing anything from dissection classes to fieldwork or data analysis. As well as learning independently, youll probably need to complete group work, and a hefty original research project in the final year. Expect to spend lots of your time in lectures, seminars and laboratory practicals.

Entry requirementsMany universities will ask for at least two A-Levels (or equivalent) in biology, chemistry, physics or maths. Psychology may also be desirable.

What job can you get?Many graduates work as physiotherapists, or in fields such as cardiology, audiology, neurophysiology, or speech and language therapy.

Others undertake further study, sometimes in medicine or dentistry. If you love the academic side, a career in scientific research could be right up your street. This will require extra study, but you will be able to specialise in an area of particular interest. This doesnt always mean you need to stay in a university pharmaceutical companies, charities and government departments need researchers too.

Teaching is another option, while the analytical and data-handling skills youll gain should make you an attractive candidate for multinational corporations.

Originally posted here:
University subject profile: anatomy and physiology - The Guardian