The Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree requires a minimum of four years of study. The focus of the medical curriculum is to prepare students for supervised medical practice through clinical integration of material throughout all four years of study. Students in the pre-clerkship phase of the curriculum (approximately 18 months) do not take separate courses in the traditional basic science disciplines of gross anatomy, biochemistry, genetics, physiology, histology, microbiology, immunology, pharmacology, pathology, and neuroscience. Rather, such content is appropriately organized into integrated blocks of instruction (3 to 19 weeks in duration depending upon the theme of the block). Students in the clerkship and elective phases of the curriculum (approximately 30 months) rotate on clinical service in required clerkships (internal medicine, surgery, psychiatry, pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, family medicine, radiology, emergency medicine, critical care medicine, and an acting internship) and also have opportunities for rotations in elective clerkships and areas of interest. Grades are issued for individual blocks and clerkships on an honors/pass/fail basis. Students are required to take and pass and/or achieve a minimum score on National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) customized comprehensive exams and subject exams at various points in the program.
The ethical and social aspects of medical practice receive special emphasis in the Humanities, Ethics, Altruism and Leadership (HEAL), which provide lecture, discussion and small group case studies that focus on the humanistic concerns in modern medicine.
During the clerkship portion of the curriculum, students receive clinical training in a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings associated with our main campus or clinical teaching sites located in Bryan/College Station, Dallas, Houston, Round Rock, and Temple. Clerkships in Internal Medicine, Surgery, Family Medicine, Psychiatry, Pediatrics, Radiology and Obstetrics/Gynecology are required. Also, clerkships in Emergency Medicine, Critical Care Medicine, and acting internship are required. A wide variety of elective clinical experiences are available. Some clinical rotations can be completed at alternate locations around the state (e.g. Pediatrics at Driscoll Children's Hospital in Corpus Christi). Students may also design custom learning experiences for electives or participate in offerings at other medical colleges on a limited basis.
Policies and Regulations
The College of Medicine Student Handbook is published on the College of Medicine website under the Office of Student Affairs. This handbook is the official statement of rules and regulations that govern student conduct and student activities. The handbook can be viewed online on the following site; https://medicine.tamu.edu/academics/students/index.html.
Professionalism
Students entering a formal medical education program are expected to uphold and adhere to the ethical and behavioral standards of the profession of medicine. The development and maintenance of a professional attitude is an ongoing responsibility of each student. Evaluation of professional behavior is an integral part of the curriculum and will be a factor in assigning grades and determining promotion, retention or dismissal.
For more information, please see the College of Medicine's Admissions Requirements.
The medical curriculum provides the basic science and clinical foundations that will prepare medical students for supervised medical practice in residency and beyond. The Doctor of Medicine degree is awarded at the completion of the four-year program to those students who have attained a passing grade in all required courses and clerkships in the curriculum, who are not on probation, who have passed the USMLE Step 1 and Step 2-CK exams, and who have satisfactorily demonstrated to the faculty the personal and professional qualities essential to the practice of medicine. Students are expected to complete the requirements for the MD degree within six (6) years, not counting time away on leave of absence or pursuit of advanced degrees, such as an MD/PhD.
Plan of Study Grid | First Year | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| |
| MEID 605 | Foundations of Medicine I | 7 |
| MEID 606 | Foundations of Medicine II | 5 |
| MEID 607 | Medical Gross Anatomy | 8 |
| MEID 619 | Practice of Medicine I | 8 |
| | Semester Credit Hours | 28 |
| Spring |
|---|
| MEID 608 | Neuroscience | 6 |
| MEID 609 | Introduction to Disease | 9 |
| MEID 616 | Cardiovascular | 5 |
| MEID 618 | Medical Student Grand Rounds | 2 |
| MEID 620 | Practice of Medicine II | 8 |
| | Semester Credit Hours | 30 |
| Second Year |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| MEID 617 | Respiratory | 3 |
| MEID 701 | Hematology/Oncology | 4 |
| MEID 704 | Renal Genitourinary | 4 |
| MEID 706 | Metabolism/Gastrointestinal/Nutrition | 5 |
| MEID 708 | Integument-Musculoskeletal | 2 |
| MEID 712 | Practice of Medicine III | 6 |
| | Semester Credit Hours | 24 |
| Spring |
|---|
| MEID 707 | Endocrinology and Reproductive Sciences | 5 |
| MEID 711 | Evidence Based Medicine | 1 |
| MEID 713 | Transition to Clerkship | 4 |
| | Semester Credit Hours | 10 |
| Third Year |
|---|
| |
| 1 | |
| EMED 800 | Emergency Medicine Clerkship | 4 |
| MFCM 800 | Family Medicine Clerkship | 6 |
| IMED 800 | Internal Medicine Clerkship | 8 |
| NEXT 800 | Neurology Clerkship | 4 |
| OBGY 800 | Obstetrics and Gynecology Clerkship | 6 |
| MPED 800 | Pediatrics Clerkship | 6 |
| MPSY 800 | Psychiatry Clerkship | 6 |
| MRAD 800 | Radiology Clerkship | 2 |
| SURG 800 | Surgery Clerkship | 8 |
| MEID 685 | Directed Studies | 7 |
| MEID 821 | Practice of Medicine IV | 1 |
| MEID 822 | Practice of Medicine V | 1 |
| MEID 823 | Practice of Medicine VI - Interprofessional Social and Ethical Dilemmas in Healthcare | 1 |
| | Semester Credit Hours | 60 |
| Fourth Year |
|---|
| MEID 850 | Practice of Medicine Capstone | 2 |
| 2 | 40 |
| | Semester Credit Hours | 42 |
| | Total Semester Credit Hours | 194 |
Pre-Clerkship Phase
The first 18 months of the curriculum (pre-clerkship portion) focus on the fundamentals of biomedical science and consist of two components, Foundations and Organ Systems administered in consecutive blocks.
Foundations blocks emphasize the basic structure of the human body and basic principles of other medical science disciplines, i.e., gross anatomy, histology, basic principles of biochemistry, genetics, pharmacology, and cell physiology. Students take integrated courses which cover medical humanities, ethics, leadership, important professional development topics, and Introduction to Clinical Skills, which includes patient history-taking and doctor-patient communication skills and physical diagnosis.
By mid-semester of the first year, students transition into the Organ Systems blocks. The Organ Systems blocks cover normal function, pathophysiology and disease-related aspects of the specific organ systems including the basic therapeutic approach to disease. The disciplines covered in Organ Systems blocks include organ-based physiology, organ system/disease-related biochemistry and genetics, pathology, microbiology, immunology, pharmacology, introductory pediatrics and introductory internal medicine. During the Organ Systems blocks, students continue to build skills in integrated humanities and clinical skills.
A 10-week break between first and second year provides time for wellness and student participation in research and/or clinical experiences.
Clinical Phase
During the Clinical portion of the curriculum, students rotate on clinical service in required clerkships and have opportunities for elective rotations in areas of interest. During this time, students have the opportunity to experience clinical training in several different patient care venues and locations, including private-practice, academic, and governmental institutions.
