Curriculum
The BUSM curriculum offers students the opportunity to study medicine in a flexible, supportive environment that stimulates a spirit of critical inquiry and provides a sound base of knowledge in the biological, social, and behavioral sciences. While curriculum review, integration, and modification is an ongoing process, the last major restructuring of the academic program took place in the 1990’s, with expansion of early clinical experience, reduction of the number of lecture hours, and the addition of small group, problem based seminars. In this latter course, Integrated Problems, students meet in small groups, employing case based discussion to develop and integrate their knowledge in the biological and social sciences. The Introduction to Clinical Medicine Course provides a mentored early clinical experience, creating an opportunity for students to begin developing the communication and examination skills that are fundamental to effective clinical practice. In addition, these two programs provide a bridge between the basic science instruction of the first two years and the clinical clerkships of the third and fourth years. Another major curriculum reform began in 2008 and focused on enhancement of early clinical experience, the horizontal and vertical integration of the preclinical sciences, further transfer of lecture time to small group and case-based teaching venues, decompression of the teaching schedule for the first two years, and expansion of clinical elective time in the third and fourth years.
The emphasis during the first year is on normal structure and function (anatomy and physiology). In the second year, the focus shifts to abnormalities or defects in structure and function (pathology and pathophysiology). The third year is the core clerkship year. Students complete their initial clinical rotations, participating in active ambulatory and inpatient practices on major teaching services, in the disciplines of medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, family medicine, neurology, radiology, and psychiatry. In the fourth year, students complete advanced clinical rotations in ambulatory care, geriatrics and home care, as well as a sub-internship in the specialty of their choice. In addition, there are a minimum of 24 weeks of elective time during the third and fourth years combined, with opportunities to pursue clinical and basic science research, as well as independent study programs. Many students choose to spend some of this time at other institutions, either in the U.S. or abroad, in a very active program in International Health.
There are many opportunities for students to participate in clinical or basic science research throughout the four years. BUSM is a major research institution and students may return to research interests they have pursued in the past, or try research for the first time. Stipends are available for those rising second year students who wish to undertake a summer research fellowship.
Students may choose the Alternative Curriculum, spreading the requirements of a single curricular year over two academic years, paying half-tuition for each of those years. This can allow a student to decompress the program or to pursue research opportunities. In addition, combined degree programs are available for individuals who wish to pursue a course of study leading to the MD-PhD, MD-MPH, MD-MA, or MD-MBA. A student may apply to enter these combined degree programs at any time, before or after matriculation.
Graphics below provide approximations of the curricular calendars,
and reflect curricular integration
