anatomy

I am looking for an anatomy and physiology class, with lab, as a prerequisite to an on-site program in the health professions. I am looking for a program from an RA university, and one with a significant enough lab component that it is likely to transfer easily. (I noticed that some actually send things such as a dead rat and a pig heart to your house, which I suppose would be grounds for a restraining order under other circumstances.) And finally, I am looking for low cost.

Anyone have some ideas? I looked through old threads for some ideas of where to look. So far, Mayville State University looks good, and Mesa State College of Colorado is a contender, as well.

 

You will find a horse head in your bed if you don't pay some of the for-profit schools. Would that count?

 

I'm currently taking anatomy and physiology 2 at

Cayuga Community College, which is a SUNY school (State University of New York)
SUNY: Complete Campus List

here is the A&P 1 course
https://banweb.cayuga-cc.edu/prodssb/bwckctlg.p_disp_listcrse?term_in=201150&subj_in=BIOL&crse_in=203&schd_in=%
only the BIOL 203 - 7xx sections are online

most of the students are taking it to fulfill nursing entrance requirements, the course transfers to other SUNY schools

It is a 4 credit course, all online, using ANGEL (sorta like BlackBoard)

They do REQUIRE some bio to take the course. I faxed them my copy of my bio CLEP results. They accepted that.

this is the book for both A&P 1 and 2
Amazon.com: Anatomy & Physiology (4th Edition) (9780321616401): Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N Hoehn: Books

This is the lab
Amazon.com: Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab Manual: Cat Version with PhysioEx 8.0, 10th Edition (9780321616128): Elaine N. Marieb, Susan J. Mitchell: Books

For the lab you read a bunch of stuff, study pics and then take an online 10-15 question test of multiple choice and fill in the blank questions.
Mostly stuff like
"Here is a picture of a male cadaver with 20 items labeled. What is item 3 pointing to?"
and
"Here is a picture of a male cadaver with 20 items labeled. Which number is the lateral condyle?"

The book also contains a CD with a bunch of Flash multimedia labs on it. Each Flash is a simulated laboratory. So you click on a lab icon and follow the directions on the pdf. Click on a pipette, drag it to the flame, sterilize it, use the pipette to transfer some chemical to a blood sample, drag the blood to the centrifuge, start the centrifuge, run for 60 seconds, observe and record your findings, dispose of the blood. Repeat for 5 different chemicals for each of 6 different blood types.

Then on the lab test, along with the label the cadaver images, there are questions regarding the flash simulated lab.
"Which person had the lowest blood sugar? What effect did chemical A have on the results? What effect did chemical B have on the results? Describe the graph of the heart rate."

All these are also multiple choice and short fill in in the blank.

Every 3 weeks (so every 3 - 6 chapters, because some weeks cover more than one chapter) you have a big exam.
Instead of 10-15 questions there are 100 questions covering the past 3 weeks.
And that's just 100 lab questions. There are also 100 questions for the chapter readings test.

The exams are all timed. 15 minutes for the weekly tests. 120 minutes for each of the bigger exams.

There is also 2 final exams (one for the labs, one for the chapter readings) that cover the whole semester, each 120 minutes, each 100 questions.

There are also 3 discussion questions throughout the semester.
Example: Pick an auto immune disease and write 400 words about it. Reply to 3 other students postings, each reply must be at least 250 words.

The course is a PAIN IN THE BUTT !
The teacher is great, but reading 60 - 80 pages of A&P each week is so freaking boring!
So much chemistry. So many new words. Its a whole new vocabulary.
Everything just starts jumbling together.
When you read it without hearing the words pronounced, without seeing something drawn on the board in real time, it makes it SO DIFFICULT.

for example: I read the section on Lac operon 10 times and never understood it.
I searched youtube, found this video and finally got it.
YouTube - Lac Operon

Now, can you imagine reading that?

I'm glad I'm taking the courses. I still prefer online to taking the subway 45 minutes each way in the evening after work in the middle of winter and going to a B&M school, but I really think I could have learned more, easier if I had taken the classes in a local community college.

 

Wow. Thanks for the detailed reply. I will definitely check into the course. Can you tell me the cost?

 

Other options include: Ocean County Community College (Ocean County College) and University of New England - College of Osteopathic Medicine (University of New England - Home).

 

Ocean is where I took my A&P sequence. Rat? Uh no, but fetal pig, cat, cow eye, sheep kidney, liver, and 50 specimen slides. Does that count? lol. Not cheap, but not terribly difficult. There is also a virtual anatomy software program that you'll use that is made from cadaver photographs and it allows you to dissect layer by layer. Tests were M/C open book, WHICH book is anyone's guess- certainly not the text book. They were hard. My test/quiz average was around 70 both semesters. However, besides the quizzes, you'll do 12 lab reports per semester and some forum work I pulled A's out of both classes, they were painful, but it can be done.

You'll need a microscope ($) as well, so factor that into your costs. My A&P text was about $250, the labs were each about $200 per semester, and then tuition. Oh, but a bonus is that Ocean offers this sequence year round, in either 8, 12, or 16 week formats- so that's pretty sweet.

 

Great info in this thread. Thanks to everybody.

 

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. I spend a log time yesterday researching these and any others I could find.

So far my research has led me to Clovis Community College, which I believe is in New Mexico. For summer they offer a four-credit class for under $200, lab included!

 

Hav you looked at Straighterline.com? They now have A&P 1&2 with or without labs. $100/month and $39/course, go at your own pace.

 

Go, Mavericks!

 

Be sure that the program you are interested in will accept a DL prerequisite. Is this for PA or nursing? So you don't waste your time and money, a call to the program(s) you plan on applying to would probably be wise. I'm applying to PA schools and all of the ones that I'm looking at specifically address this. Good luck.

I've take a full sequence A&P course FTF and I wouldn't change it for the world. Hands-on cadaver work is a real learning experience that the virtual cadaver (we had both in class) just couldn't match.

 

The program I am interested in is clinical laboratory science. I called the school and they said what they are interested in is whether the courses were taken at an accredited school, not whether it was in-person or DL.

I also noticed that a lot of people who plan to apply for nursing school are doing their prereqs, including A&P, via DL and seem to have very good luck with it. Still, you're right, some schools do not accept DL. What's your experience as far as the majority of PA schools?

 

Florida State College at Jacksonville offeres an online A&P class. I know someone that took it and they had to make clay organs at one point.

 

Don't assume, but you can always ask. I wrote to 8 medical schools, and asked if I could do my premeds at University of New England (and online - RA- premed program) All said yes. Besides, there are only a dozen or so schools that have a cadaver lab.

 

Hi again, everyone. So I settled on Clovis Community College for the A&P. I have learned that it is possible to take A&P 1 and A&P 2 at the same time, if one so chooses. Anyone have ideas about this? I work full-time and I'm thinking the amount of material to be absorbed is go great, I'd better do them one-at-a-time. Can anyone who's taken them comment?

 

Hi Jennifer,

Do you recall the 8 med schools that gave you the "ok" for the UNE online science courses?

Thanks!

P.S. Your PM Inbox is full!

 

Thanks about my box.
Once upon a time I had my confirmation emails saved, but those are long since deleted. I'm pretty sure I can remember though. FWIW, I always used my real name when I asked. I mention this because over at the premed forum, they suggest doing so on the down-low as if you're hiding something. I had another theory, I wanted proof (connected to my name) that this issue was discussed well ahead of registration/application. Of course, without solid MCAT scores, your online education becomes the punch-line. Anyhow...
For sure: LECOM (DO), UNE (DO), Colorado...the new one just south of Denver (DO) which is beautiful btw, AT Still (DO), and Southern Illinois University (MD), Saba (MD). These were my top 6 schools. I'm drawing a blank on the other 2, I think one was in PA and one in OH but don't quote me. The only school that seemed border line was Southern Illinois. Funny thing though, their advisor is a rock star. His mission in life is to know you on a first name basis, he and I exchanged a number of emails and he was supportive of my plans *using UNE* as long as my MCAT score reflected a solid science education.

It's worth adding that I DID NOT apply to any of the schools. Without hesitation, I believe a non trad with solid grades, excellent letters and shadows, great MCAT and an online science education can get into a DO or Carib med school. Of course, I can't prove it, so take it with a grain of salt.

The unofficial med school application stats site (can't recall the name) that "everyone" uses lists at least 2 EC/TESC grads. However, I heavily researched the TESC student, and she completed a traditional postbac at Hopkins first...so.....

P.S. I know you and I chatted about this on and off, would you mind sharing your wife's point of view?

 

I believe this is the site:
MDapplicants.com - Home

 

Thanks! That's the one.

 

Jennifer,

Thanks for the information. Was PCOM the school in PA that you were thinking of?

At this point, I am really interested in this question just to satisfy my own curiosity. Speaking of UNE (and online science courses) - I am very close to applying to their online MPH program (they just received CEPH accreditation this Fall and lucky for me, no GRE is required! If I manage to get in (fingers crossed), I'll be taking classes with students all over the world (including DO students from UNE). The science course part comes in as they require an undergrad science AND math course OR one graduate-level science course as a pre-req for the MPH program. I figure if I take one science pre-req through UNE (and crush it) that should improve my chances a bit.

I have a pipe dream of one day applying to DO school, but a lot of things would have to fall into place for that to happen (actually just one thing would do it, but my lottery winnings have thus far amounted to nil).

I have asked my wife (who is an MD) for her opinion on this a while back and If I memory serves, she did not see any issue in taking science pre-reqs online (provided that the schools in question accept them).