Fairleigh Dickinson University

What you'll study

This master's programme integrates core principles of medical illustration with applied informatics. You will study human anatomy and physiology alongside courses in digital imaging, 3D modelling, animation, and interactive media for clinical and educational use. Informatics components cover health data standards, electronic health records, visualisation of clinical data, user-centred design for healthcare applications, and basic scripting or programming for image processing and data integration.

• Human anatomy & physiology for illustrators — systematic study of body systems with emphasis on visual communication needs.
• Medical and scientific illustration techniques — traditional drawing and painting techniques adapted for medical subjects, plus digital illustration workflows.
• 3D modelling, rendering & animation — creation of anatomical models, surgical animations and procedural simulations.
• Health informatics fundamentals — clinical data structures, terminologies, standards (e.g. HL7, FHIR), and privacy considerations.
• Data visualisation for health — methods to represent complex datasets, dashboards and interactive visual tools for clinicians and patients.
• Programming for imaging & analytics — scripting for image processing, automation, and basic data analysis (commonly using languages such as Python or JavaScript).
• Professional practice & portfolio development — ethics, copyright, client communication, project management and preparation of a professional portfolio or capstone project that demonstrates combined illustration and informatics skills.

Learning is delivered through a mix of studio practice, laboratory sessions, seminars and project-based modules. Students typically complete a final major project or thesis that addresses a real-world problem — for example a surgical animation, an interactive patient education tool, or a clinical data visualisation system.

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold an undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline such as fine art, scientific illustration, biomedical sciences, computer science, design, or a closely related field. Admissions commonly expect:

• Transcripts demonstrating satisfactory academic performance at bachelor level.
• Portfolio of visual work (for applicants from art, design or illustration backgrounds) showing drawing ability, visual problem-solving and any relevant digital work.
• Statement of purpose describing your interests at the intersection of medical illustration and informatics, and proposed areas for study or research.
• References — usually two academic or professional referees who can speak to your suitability for graduate study.
• Technical prerequisites — coursework or demonstrable experience in anatomy/biology for illustrators, and basic computing or coding experience for those emphasising informatics. Where gaps exist, conditional admission with recommended preparatory modules may be offered.

Standardised tests (such as the GRE) are not typically required but applicants should check specific admissions guidance. International applicants will need to show English language proficiency according to the university's published requirements.

Career prospects

Graduates of this programme are prepared for careers that combine visual communication and health data skills. Typical roles include:

• Medical illustrator or scientific visualiser producing imagery for textbooks, journals, patient education and marketing.
• 3D modeller and animator for surgical planning, simulation and educational media.
• Health visualisation specialist creating dashboards, interactive tools and infographics for clinical or public-health data.
• User-experience designer for healthcare applications with a focus on clinical workflows and patient communication.
• Clinical informatics analyst working on data integration, standards implementation and visual reporting.
• Freelance or studio-based practitioner supplying hospitals, publishers, medical device companies and e-learning providers.

The combination of a professional portfolio and applied informatics experience broadens employment opportunities across hospitals, academic medical centres, publishing, medical technology firms and health startups. Some graduates also pursue doctoral study or specialised certification in medical illustration, informatics or related disciplines.

Why study at Fairleigh Dickinson University

Fairleigh Dickinson University offers an environment suited to interdisciplinary practice, with small class sizes that allow close supervision of studio and project work. The university's proximity to major medical centres and a large metropolitan health ecosystem provides opportunities for collaborative projects, guest lectures from practising clinicians and placement or internship possibilities.

• Hands-on facilities — access to digital labs, imaging and 3D production resources that support both illustration and informatics coursework.
• Interdisciplinary faculty — instructors with experience across art, biomedical science and information technology who supervise applied projects and portfolio development.
• Professional development — emphasis on building a market-ready portfolio, networking with industry partners, and preparing for freelance or institutional careers.
• Flexible pathways — options to tailor the programme toward more technical informatics or studio-focused illustration, depending on career goals.

Together, these features make the programme a practical choice for students seeking to work at the interface of visual communication and healthcare technology.