University of Michigan

What you'll study

The programme blends biomedical visualisation and informatics methods to teach students how to communicate complex medical information through static and interactive media, data visualisation and clinical decision-support tools. Core themes include anatomical and physiological illustration, medical imaging interpretation, information design, visual analytics and user-centred design for clinical contexts.

• Anatomy and Physiology for Visual Communicators – focused dissection-based study, imaging correlation and drawing techniques to ensure anatomical accuracy.
• Medical Illustration Techniques – traditional and digital media, vector and raster illustration, 3D modelling and rendering for surgical and educational materials.
• Medical Imaging and Visualization – fundamentals of CT, MRI and ultrasound data, segmentation, volumetric rendering and image-based visual storytelling.
• Health Data and Visual Analytics – principles of data cleaning, exploratory analysis and clinical data visualisation for patient-level and population-level datasets.
• User-Centred Design & HCI – usability testing, prototyping for clinical workflows and accessibility considerations in healthcare interfaces.
• Computational Tools for Informatics – scripting for data processing, use of visualization libraries, basic machine learning concepts applied to biomedical data.
• Ethics, Regulation and Communication – patient privacy, informed consent, intellectual property and best practice for communicating risk and uncertainty.
• Capstone Project or Thesis – an extended, supervised practical project that integrates illustration and informatics skills to produce a portfolio-ready deliverable such as a clinical visualisation system, an interactive anatomy resource, or a research-based design study.

Entry requirements

Applicants are typically expected to hold a bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline such as biology, medicine, art and design, information science, computer science or a closely related field. Admissions emphasise demonstrated ability rather than a single prescribed background, and the programme commonly accepts students with mixed profiles (for example, fine art graduates with life science coursework, or biologists with digital art experience).

• Academic record – a good undergraduate degree in a relevant subject; specific GPA thresholds are set by the admissions office.
• Portfolio – required for applicants with an art or design background; should show drawing ability, visual problem-solving and any relevant scientific illustration or data visualisation work.
• Technical evidence – applicants from scientific backgrounds should demonstrate visual or computational skills (examples of lab figures, scripts, interactive projects or coursework).
• References – two or three academic/professional references that attest to the applicant’s ability to undertake graduate-level interdisciplinary work.
• Supplemental materials – a personal statement outlining interests at the intersection of illustration and informatics; some applicants may be asked to complete a short assignment.

Career prospects

Graduates move into roles that combine visual communication with domain knowledge in healthcare and research. Common career paths include medical illustrator for hospitals and publishing, clinical informatics specialist focused on visual interfaces, data visualisation and UX roles within biotech and pharmaceutical companies, instructional designer for health sciences education, and digital content developer for museums and patient education programmes.

• Medical or scientific illustrator for academic and commercial publishers, medical schools and healthcare institutions.
• Clinical informatics analyst, creating dashboards and visual tools to support clinical decision-making and quality improvement.
• Data visualisation specialist or UX designer in biotech, medtech and health data start-ups.
• Researcher or developer in biomedical visualisation labs, producing interactive anatomy tools, surgical planning visualisations or VR/AR training applications.
• Freelance visual communicator producing patient education materials, grant visuals and conference graphics.

Why study at University of Michigan

At the University of Michigan, students benefit from proximity to a world-class medical centre and a collaborative research environment. The university’s strengths in health informatics, clinical research and digital media provide access to clinical mentors, imaging datasets and interdisciplinary centres where design, computing and medicine intersect.

Resources that commonly support students include clinical partnerships for practicum placements, access to medical imaging and anatomy labs, specialist libraries and galleries, and faculty with experience in biomedical visualisation, informatics and human-centred design. The programme’s location within a large research university also facilitates cross-department supervision and industry connections for internships and capstone projects.