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New disability master's degree

Launch your career as an ADA coordinator, expert in a disability resource center or facilitator within cultural or educational institution

What to Expect

Thinking about joining our program? Find out what you can expect as a student at UIC.

The Biomedical Visualization program is a two year full time masters program consisting of two Summer, Fall, and Spring semesters. While the majority of our students attend full time, certain exceptions are allowed for students who request to complete the program part time.

Part Time Track

With permission from faculty, the part time student will work with their advisors to plan out their graduate career. The part time track has the same required courses of the full time track but spread throughout 4-5 years. Towards the end of the first year the part time student will be required to select either an animation, modeling, interactive, illustration, or design focus for their remaining electives.

For more information at the course schedule, download the Biomedical Visualization Part Time Course.pdf. Consult the UIC Academic Catalog for course descriptions.

Full-Time Track

Click on each of the tabs (Year 1, Year 2) and each of the sub-tabs (Summer, Fall, and Spring) to get a detailed look at the courses students can take each semester of the BVIS program.

Year 1 Heading link

Explore the each semester schedule — including courses, activities, and opportunities — by clicking through the tabs below.

Required courses
BVIS 518 Web Development 2 hours
BVIS 552 Graphic Design 2 hours
BVIS 501 Professional Practices in Biomedical Visualization 1 hour
Elective courses
BVIS 500 Biomedical Visualization Techniques 2 hours
BVIS 504 Visual Storytelling in Biomedical Visualization 2 hours
Required courses
ANAT 441 Gross Human Anatomy 5 hours
BHIS 499 Information Sources in BHIS 1 hour
BVIS 505 Visual Learning & Visual Thinking I 2 hours
BVIS 510 Anatomical Visualization 3 hours
BVIS 595 Seminar in BVIS 1 hour
Electives
BVIS 519 Modeling I 3 hours

Opportunities

Resources

You’ll begin your research in the spring by selecting topics and research advisors. Courses in illustration, design, modeling and animation provide you with a solid foundation in visual problem solving and critical thinking.
Required courses
BVIS 503 Strategic Inquiry for BVIS (first 8 weeks) 3 hours
BVIS 508 Pathophysiology for Biomedical Visualization 3 hours
At least one of the following:
ANAT 544 Advanced Craniofacial Anatomy 3 hours
NEUS 403 Human Neuroanatomy 3 hours
BVIS 560 Molecular Pharmacology for Biomedical Visualization 3 hours
Elective courses
BVIS 522 Illustration Techniques 3 hours
BVIS 536 Serious Game Development 3 hours
BVIS 541 Animation I 2 hours
BVIS 551 3D Printing with Data Segmentation (2nd 8 weeks) 2 hours
BVIS 594 Special Topics in Biomedical Visualization 1-3 hours
BVIS 596 Independent Study 1-4 hours

Opportunities

Year 2 Heading link

Explore the each semester schedule — including courses, activities, and opportunities — by clicking through the tabs below.

BVIS summer moves fast with most students attending the AMI Annual Conference later in July. Research presentations in BHIS 595 seminar are a highlight of the summer as you’ll complete your research proposal.
Required courses
BHIS 595 Seminar in BHIS 1 hour
Elective courses
BVIS 520 Modeling II 3 hours
BVIS 538 Medical Legal Visualization 2 hours
BVIS 542 Animation II 3 hours
BVIS 535 Visual Learning & Visual Thinking II 2 hours
BVIS 537 Advanced Serious Game Development 2 hours
BVIS 594 Special Topics in Biomedical Visualization 1-3 hours
BVIS 596 Independent Study 1-4 hours
Students agree that the Clinical Sciences course is the highlight of the semester! You’ll complete rotations through various medical specialty departments, looking over shoulders of celebrated UIC physicians and surgeons.
Required courses
BVIS 502 Clinical Sciences for BVIS 3 hours
BVIS 597 Project Research 1-3 hours
At least one of these courses
GEMS 521 Biomedical Sciences 3 hours
NEUS 501 Foundations of Neuroscience I 3 hours
Electives
ART 454 3D Space I: Modeling (Maya) 4 hours
BVIS 523 Haptics I 2 hours
BVIS 539 Immersive Interactive Visualization 3 hours
BVIS 543 Animation III 4 hours
BVIS 548 Advanced Illustration Techniques 3 hours
BVIS 562 Advanced Graphic Design 3 hours
BVIS 580 Practicum in BVIS 6-12 hours
BVIS 596 Independent Study 1-4 hours

Opportunities

Look forward to the completion and presentation of your research! You’ll prepare for professional life after graduate school by gaining valuable insight into business practices and exploring the unique and diverse employment opportunities for which you’ve been prepared.
Required courses
BVIS 575 Business Practices 3 hours
BVIS 597 Project Research 1-2 hours
Electives
ANAT 544 Advanced Craniofacial Anatomy 3 hours
ART 455 3D Space II: Animation (Maya) 4 hours
BVIS 508 Pathophysiology for Biomedical Visualization 3 hours
BVIS 530 Surgical Illustration 4 hours
BVIS 544 Animation IV 4 hours
BVIS 547 360 Animation 1 hour
BVIS 580 Practicum in BVIS 6-12 hours
BVIS 521 Modeling III 2 hours
BVIS 560 Molecular Pharmacology for Biomedical Visualization 2 hours
BVIS 596 Independent Study 1-4 hours
GEMS 515 Receptor Pharmacology and Cell Signaling Prereq: GCLS 501 Biochemistry or approval of the dept. 3 hours
NEUS 502 Foundations of Neuroscience II 3 hours
NEUS 403 Human Neuroanatomy 3 hours

Opportunities

  • Enter UIC’s Student Research Forum
  • Enter UIC Image of Research Competition – Deadline usually in late June
  • Register for the Association of Medical Illustrators Annual Conference in July and consider being an onsite student volunteer to defray some cost of your student registration
  • Enter the AMI Student Salon
  • Enter BioCommunications Association Bioimages 2017
  • Upon graduation complete your application for Professional Member status and a free year of membership in the Association of Medical Illustrators. Request a sponsor letter from a Certified Medical Illustrator such as a BVIS faculty member. Apply here
Apply now
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