Anatomy: One semester or two? Whats better?

[ptlover]

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Hi All,


I have noticed that some PT programs have anatomy only over the summer or one semester with other classes. I attended an interview for a school that had Anatomy over 2 semesters, and one student was shocked to hear that some schools offer anatomy for one semester. She said she thought it was a disservice to those students. I then noticed some schools do have 2 semesters of Anatomy. What is everyone else's opinion of this? Is it a real issue to only have one semester of Anatomy? Or does your knowledge stay strong due to other classes that incorporate anatomy?

 

[bluesareblack]

Not a big deal in my opinion....but I took anatomy then TA'd for it twice. I think for me it's more about how soon I use the information after I learn it. Memorizing muscles/bones/etc. means nothing to me unless I use that info in a practical way, and often (like you will for PT school and in your career). If they really focus on the stuff they think is important then I would be confident 1 semester would be perfectly fine. In my opinion, that's why Anatomy is a pre-req everywhere you go...you'll probably have at LEAST a foundation of knowledge on the subject already.

 

[okramango]

My program has one semester of gross anatomy, but anatomy is really a big part of every class we take and gets beaten into our heads over and over again every semester. Trust me, you will absolutely have the anatomy down by the time you finish PT school, whether the program has one or two semesters of gross anatomy. In my opinion, it really doesn't matter.

 

[TheDarkKnight14]

At an interview, one of the current students actually mentioned this and he said he liked having it over the summer because it was one less class to worry about throughout the year. And similar sentiments that have already been stated here were repeated (the content will be used repeatedly, etc)

 

[SwampPT]

I'm betting that you have anatomy throughout the entire program even though there's only one class with "anatomy" in the title. Anatomy is pretty much the foundation of everything we will be doing.

 

[ptlover]

Thanks all I was just curious on everyones opinion. I imagine the class is a foundation that is built upon.

 

[SwampPT]

We're all going in with assumptions and opinions and we're all going to get punched in the face, but we will all make it because we are concerned enough to be on SDN stressing over it🙂

 

[Watson27]

From what I have seen, programs with one semester offer it your first summer and it is basically the only course you have (maybe with a lightweight "intro to the profession" or similar course). Perhaps this allows a more in-depth look at anatomy, rather than trying to take it for two semesters when you have other difficult courses to worry about? I think it probably all balances out either way.

 

[SwampPT]

At the end of the day every program must teach ABCD in order to become and maintain accreditation. All programs will essentially teach the same basic thing just in different formats.