Georgetown University

What you'll study

The programme is an interdisciplinary curriculum that brings together anatomical and physiological sciences, principles of visual communication, and applied informatics. Typical modules cover human anatomy and pathology for illustrators, scientific and medical visualisation, principles of graphic design and illustration techniques, and informatics topics such as biomedical data modelling, databases and clinical standards.

• Anatomy and Pathology for Visualisation — systematic study of human anatomy and common pathological processes with an emphasis on accurate depiction.
• Medical and Scientific Illustration Techniques — traditional and digital drawing, rendering, 3D modelling and animation for scientific explanation.
• Biomedical Imaging and Image Processing — introduction to medical imaging modalities and techniques for preparing clinical images for publication and education.
• Data Visualisation and Human–Computer Interaction — principles of representing quantitative biomedical data, dashboards, interactive graphics and user-centred design for clinical tools.
• Clinical and Health Informatics — fundamentals of electronic health records, interoperability standards (such as FHIR), clinical terminologies and data governance.
• Programming for Visualisation — applied scripting and tools (commonly Python or JavaScript libraries) to manipulate data and produce reproducible figures and interactive displays.
• Ethics, Communication and Regulatory Context — ethical issues in medical representation, patient privacy, consent and the regulatory environment for health information and medical media.
• Professional Practice, Portfolio and Capstone Project — supervised practical project or practicum with a clinical partner, producing a professional portfolio of illustrations and informatics artefacts.

Most students complete a balance of studio-based coursework, technical informatics classes and a culminating applied project that demonstrates both illustrative skill and the ability to work with clinical datasets or health IT systems.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold an undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline such as life sciences, fine art/illustration, graphic design, computer science or a closely related field. Admissions favour candidates who can demonstrate both visual aptitude and quantitative or technical competence.

• Undergraduate degree from an accredited institution in a relevant subject.
• Portfolio of visual work showing range, accuracy and conceptual clarity — for applicants from scientific or technical backgrounds, supplementary visual samples or a documentation of prior media projects is typically requested.
• Academic transcripts and at least two letters of recommendation.
• Statement of purpose explaining interest in the intersection of medical illustration and informatics, and describing career objectives.
• Some familiarity with basic programming or data handling is advantageous; applicants without this background may be admitted conditional on completing preparatory coursework.

Where applicable, professional experience in healthcare, scientific research, biomedical communications or digital media strengthens an application. Specific standardised test requirements or language proficiency rules follow university-wide admissions policy.

Career prospects

Graduates work across healthcare, academia, industry and communication agencies. The degree prepares students for roles that require both visual expertise and understanding of clinical data flows.

• Medical/Scientific Illustrator for hospitals, universities, publishing houses or museums.
• Health Data Visualisation Specialist creating dashboards and interactive tools for health systems, public-health agencies or NGOs.
• Clinical Informatics Analyst or UX designer for electronic health record vendors and health-tech startups.
• Medical Communications and Educational Designer producing patient education materials, simulation visuals and instructional media.
• Regulatory and Pharmaceutical Visualisation roles preparing figures and animations for regulatory submissions, training and marketing.
• Research roles in biomedical visualisation, human–computer interaction or digital health, often leading to doctoral study.

Graduates often combine freelancing with institutional employment, or move into leadership positions that bridge clinical teams, IT departments and communication units.

Why study at Georgetown University

Georgetown’s strengths in health sciences and its location in Washington, D.C. give students access to a wide network of clinical partners, federal health agencies, research hospitals and health-technology organisations. The university fosters interdisciplinary collaboration between clinical faculty, computer scientists and designers, enabling projects that draw on real-world clinical data and cases.

Students benefit from small cohort sizes, practicum opportunities with local hospitals and regulatory bodies, and career services attuned to healthcare and life-sciences employers. The programme emphasises professional ethics, patient-centred communication and the translation of complex biomedical information into clear, accessible visual forms—skills that are in demand across health systems, research institutions and industry.