Pros and Cons of taking A&P 1&2, or Anatomy and Physiology separately?

CrunchyMama, ASN, RN · Jul 28, 2009

IMO (please no bashing) but I think taking it seperately is kinda pointless. My school only offers it together and I honestly didn't know taking it seperately was an option until coming here. It makes much more sense taking it together because you study the systems and how they work together. Taking it seperate seems like it would be harder.

mariposabella · Jul 28, 2009

Ditto what CrunchyMama said and at my school A&P is one class.

Brighten · Jul 29, 2009

Anatomy and Physio sep is better imo. I like being able to memorize every single body system. thats how my school offers it btw

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lightsnoise · Jul 29, 2009

I would do anatomy and physio separately because anatomy is straight up memorization and physio is understanding how things work...plus if you do take it together you have to take both at the same school. Anyways, A&P together seems to be much easier than the classes separately.

CyclicalEvents · Jul 29, 2009

My school did them separately and I hated it. I got A's in both, but the topics go hand in hand and should've been taught that way. Having them "separate" means squeezing two semesters worth of combined A&P into 1 semester of 2 courses.

Considering the nature of the courses, that's a lot of 'understanding systems' in 1 course over 1 semester. Physiology was far too much conceptual information in too short of a time, while anatomy was excessive memorization to fill in time.

I'd rather have 2 courses of concepts with anatomy memorization thrown in, than have 1 class class to cram concepts in everything in and another that covers arbitrary details.

tabacue · Jul 29, 2009

My thought is why would you want to take the extra classes? I think most of us are trying our best to get these pre-reqs out of the way so we can get into the program. I would much rather take two courses rather than four and get them out of the way so I am that much closer to getting in. Just my opinion though...

CyclicalEvents · Jul 29, 2009

It's the same amount of courses. Instead of taking A&P 1 then A&P 2, you take 1 course called Anatomy and another called Physiology, and cover the same amount of material (in theory).

lpag789, BSN, RN · Jul 30, 2009

I took them separately and really enjoyed it that way. Some people are good at straight memorization and can make an A in Anatomy....but when it comes to the concepts in Physiology, don't do as well. So instead of having low(ish) grades in both because of the Phys, at least they have the high grade in Anatomy.

For me, Physiology was much easier having already memorized and been extremely comfortable with the Anatomy portion. I think I would have had a much more difficult time learning them if they had been put together. In the end, it really just depends on how you learn and what works best for you.

tabacue · Jul 30, 2009

If it is still the same # of classes and you can take them together, I don't think it would hurt to take them separately. You may learn more information that way. I just finished A&P2 and didn't have the option of taking them separately. I think they just give you basic information.

risa1191013 · Jul 30, 2009

I took A&P together and I think it helped me to understand better since I was learning the location part (Anatomy) and the how it works part (Physiology) together. I think that whether you take them together or separately depends on how your brain works and what will make the subjects easier for you to learn and get a good grade on. This is just my two cents though! Good luck!

LCGrace · Aug 4, 2009

Thanks so much everyone! You all are loads of help :)

I believe the reason that this school offers both is because most people transfer their credits off to other schools in this area - atleast that is what I'm guessing.

I think I'm going to take them separately. From what I hear and what I know about my study habits (which I have a hard time with.. procrastination! I will have to work on that) it will be easier for me to take A&P together so I can learn form with function. I'll be starting A&P 1 with Intro to Chem in January, hope it goes well!

:redbeathe