Where Can I Find an Anatomy and Physiology Course Online?

Many healthcare-related career programs, such as those for becoming a nurse or physician's assistant, require anatomy and physiology as prerequisites. You can find courses online through community colleges or distance and extension programs in four-year colleges and universities. Course delivery methods, fees and requirements vary from school to school.

Online Anatomy and Physiology Courses Overview

As universities and colleges have been transferring their material into online formats, more and more courses have become available for distance learning. One such subject is anatomy and physiology, which can now be found in a number of online programs for various schools. These courses offer instruction that is identical to that which is provided in on-campus courses and allow busy students with work or other commitments to create their own schedule.

Important Facts About Online Anatomy and Physiology Courses

Program Levels	Undergraduate, graduate
Prerequisites	High school diploma or equivalent for undergraduate courses; graduate courses may require a bachelor's degree or current college enrollment
Degree Fields of Study	Human Physiology, Human Anatomy & Physiology, Medical Anatomy & Physiology
Possible Careers	Physician, surgeon, occupational therapist, physical therapist
Median Salary (2021)*	$208,000+ (physicians and surgeons)
Job Outlook (2021-2031)*	3% (physicians and surgeons)

Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

School Options

Ocean County College

Ocean County College's online course teaches students about the basics of human anatomy and physiology. Suggested prerequisites for this class include passing grades in at least high school chemistry and biology. Topics in this course include the history of the cell, the integumentary system, muscular and nervous systems, and tissues.

Oregon Institute of Technology

Oregon Tech Online provides a three-course sequence in anatomy and physiology. These studies generally satisfy many allied health program requirements. Labs are included as interactive videos and material is presented through lectures and online drawings and images. The sequence, which consists of Anatomy and Physiology I - III, provides introductory and more advanced studies in body control and support systems, human movement and cell biology.

University of North Carolina Online

This school, located in Chapel Hill, NC, offers a basic, bachelor's degree-level course in human anatomy and physiology. In order to take this course, you must be a student of the University of North Carolina and enrolled in either a degree or non-degree academic program. Credit can be transferred to degree programs at other universities.

University of California - Berkeley (U.C. Berkeley)

The U.C. Berkeley Extension program offers online, introductory courses in anatomy and physiology. The course titles are 'Introduction to Human Physiology' and 'General Human Anatomy'. You'll have access to your instructor and fellow students through message boards and class chat rooms. While the program is considered self-paced, the school suggests that you can count on one month of study time per semester unit so you're staying current with the class.

This is a 3-unit course, so you should be able to complete it in three months; you have a maximum of six months to complete the course from the time of enrollment. The prerequisite for this course is a year of college or high school chemistry. At the end of the course, you'll sit for a proctored exam at a site which is approved by the school.