The Curriculum

The curriculum is organized to meet the seven goals of the undergraduate medical education program: the development of profi ciency in self-directed learning and lifelong learning skills; the acquisition of appropriate core biomedical science knowledge; clinical skills; problem solving/clinical reasoning skills; interviewing and communication skills; information management skills; and professional attitudes and behavior. Students study the basic and clinical sciences in an integrated fashion across the four-year curriculum, utilizing a variety of educational methods including small-group, problem-based learning. Community- based clinical experiences in the first year, as well as a focus on general population health, are hallmarks of the curriculum. Humanistic and professionalism issues are addressed longitudinally across the curriculum in formats designed to provide students with a clear understanding of the role and responsibilities of physicians within society. Information technology has been integrated into the curriculum, and each incoming student is provided with an IBM ThinkPad laptop computer.

Year 1

Year 1 serves as the foundation for the curriculum and consists of eight courses: Human Structure and Development, Cellular and Subcellular Processes, Introduction to Systems Pathophysiology, Foundations of Clinical Medicine I (FCM), Being a Physician, Population Health and Epidemiology (Pop- Epi), and Community Practice Experience (CPE).

Year 2

Year 2 introduces clinical medicine with Systems Pathophysiology 2 and 3 covering Hematology/Lymph, Cardiovascular, Pulmonary Systems, Renal, Musculoskeletal, Nutrition & Digestive, Reproductive Systems, and Being a Physician 2.

Year 3

Year 3 is composed of three 16-week blocks, and approximately one-third of the class is assigned to each block at any given time.

Year 4

Year 4 consists of 10 four-week blocks (four required, six elective) and four weeks of vacation. Numerous elective opportunities are available intramurally and externally at approved institutions. Students have the opportunity to participate in electives in foreign countries; the medical school maintains formal affiliation agreements with a number of medical schools including schools in Japan, India, China, and Norway. Implemented in the spring of 2001, the Senior Seminar is a capstone experience for students and includes small-group problem-based learning, journal clubs, and medical Spanish. Also included are basic and clinical science lectures, aimed at enhancing the abilities and preparing the soon-to-graduate student for the challenges of residency and beyond.

See also: Technology | Curriculum Slide Show (FlashPaper format)