Curriculum Structure  |  Curriculum Policies and Procedures 

The goal of the School of Medicine curriculum is to present a four year continuum that balances emphasis on the scientific basis of medicine with early clinical experience; offers progressive patient care responsibilities for students; and permit students to individualize their educational programs as well as to enhance their independent learning and problem solving skills. The sciences basic to medicine are presented in an interdisciplinary format focusing initially on the scientific principles of medicine and ultimately progressing to disease process. The medical curriculum began a revision process in 1989 and was implemented beginning in 1993.

⇒ Curriculum At-A-Glance

⇒ Curriculum Principles and Objectives

Highlights of the curriculum include:

• Centralized responsibility
• Integrated and multi-disciplinary basic science courses with enhanced clinical relevance and logical sequencing
• Lecture and non- lecture learning balanced in half day sessions
• Courses in a series to avoid competing with other courses
• Instructional objective-based education
• Early and longitudinal clinical preceptorship
• Core clerkships completed during third year
• Ambulatory and primary care strongly emphasized
• Primary care clerkships linked sequentially
• Required clinical experience in a rural and/or medically underserved area
• Continuity Curriculum in the third year
• Advanced clerkships in fourth year
• Transition courses bridge curriculum
• Performance based assessment of students utilizing standardized patients
• Internet- based courses and curriculum evaluation

Curriculum Structure

Year One

• Transition to Medical School
• Gross Anatomy, Imaging and Embryology
• Cell Structure & Function
• Systems Processes and Homeostasis
• Biological Basis of Disease
• Principles of Clinical Medicine & Preceptorship

Year Two

• Circulation
• Metabolism
• Neurosciences & Behavior
• Blood
• Human Growth and Development
• Principles of Clinical Medicine & Preceptorship
• Transition to Clerkships

Year Three

• Core Unit A -6 week clerkships
  • General Internal Medicine
  • Family Medicine
  • Pediatrics I
  • Ob-Gyn
• Core Unit B - 6 week clerkships
  • Internal Medicine
  • Surgery I
  • Psychiatry
  • Rural Primary Care
• Third Year Continuity Curriculum Seminars

Year Four - 4 week clerkships

• Surgery II
• Pediatrics II
• Neurology
• Subinternship or ICU
• Electives
• Transition to Residency

Curriculum Policies and Procedures

Curriculum Governance Structure

The curriculum is supported by centralized governance in the Dean's Office through the Office of Education and Student Affairs. The Curriculum Committee and its subcommittees are responsible for implemention, evaluation, coordination and continuous evolution of the curriculum.

Curriculum Evaluation

• Required courses/clerkships evaluated annually and reviewed by the Curriculum Committee.
• USMLE performance is analyzed
• Performance based assessment of students required during years one through three
• Performance of graduates assessed by surveying residency program directors
• AAMC Graduation Questionnaire monitored