6.2 Academic Requirements Policy

Purpose and Scope 

This policy applies to medical students enrolled in the University of Washington School of Medicine’s (UWSOM) or regional partner programs and approved to pursue the MD degree. The purpose of this policy is to outline all academic requirements, which students must complete in order to successfully obtain the MD program degree from the University of Washington School of Medicine.  

Policy Statement 

All students must pass and complete the academic course and credit requirements as approved for their entering class in order to graduate.  

*Students should visit the academic credits and requirements for their entering class below for specific modifications related to COVID.

Foundations Phase (for E-24 and all subsequent classes)
Entering class 2024 and all subsequent classes, must successfully complete the following to qualify for the Patient Care Phase of their medical training:

  • Immersion & Orientation
  • Foundations of Clinical Medicine
  • Fundamentals of Medical Science & Research
  • Infections & Immunity
  • Integration I
  • Cancer, Hormones & Blood
  • Muscles, Joints, Bones & Skin
  • Cardiovascular System
  • Medicine, Health & Society I
  • Respiration & Regulation
  • Integration II
  • Head, Neck & Gut
  • Mind, Brain, & Behavior
  • Integration III
  • Reproduction & Development
  • Threads
  • Medicine Health and Society II
  • OSCE (Foundations I & II)
  • Consolidation / Comprehensive Basic Science Review
  • USMLE Step 1
  • Transition to Clerkships
  • Independent Investigative Inquiry (III)
  • Independent Investigative Inquiry Final Project (III Final Project)

Students who do not engage in the clinical curriculum immediately after completing pre-clinical course work will be expected to meet the clinical requirements that exist at the time the students enter the clinical curriculum.

Foundations Phase (for E-23)
Entering class 2023, must successfully complete the following to qualify for the Patient Care Phase of their medical training:

  • Immersion & Orientation
  • Foundations of Clinical Medicine
  • Fundamentals of Medical Science & Research
  • Infections & Immunity
  • Cancer, Hormones & Blood
  • Muscles, Joints, Bones & Skin
  • Cardiovascular System
  • Medicine, Health & Society I
  • Respiration & Regulation
  • Head, Neck & Gut
  • Mind, Brain, & Behavior
  • Reproduction & Development
  • Threads
  • Integration weeks 1-3
  • Medicine Health and Society II
  • OSCE (Foundations I & II)
  • Consolidation / Comprehensive Basic Science Review
  • USMLE Step 1
  • Transition to Clerkships
  • Independent Investigative Inquiry (III)
  • Independent Investigative Inquiry Final Project (III Final Project)

Students who do not engage in the clinical curriculum immediately after completing pre-clinical course work will be expected to meet the clinical requirements that exist at the time the students enter the clinical curriculum.

Foundations Phase (for E-22)
Entering class 2022, must successfully complete the following to qualify for the Patient Care Phase of their medical training:

  • Immersion & Orientation
  • Foundations of Clinical Medicine
  • Fundamentals of Medical Science & Research
  • Infections & Immunity
  • Cancer, Hormones & Blood
  • Muscles, Joints, Bones & Skin
  • Cardiovascular System
  • Medicine, Health & Society I
  • Respiration & Regulation
  • Head, Neck & Gut
  • Mind, Brain, & Behavior
  • Lifecycle
  • Threads
  • Integration weeks 1-3
  • Medicine Health and Society II
  • OSCE (Foundations I & II)
  • Consolidation / Comprehensive Basic Science Review
  • USMLE Step 1
  • Transition to Clerkships
  • Independent Investigative Inquiry (III)
  • Independent Investigative Inquiry Final Project (III Final Project)

Students who do not engage in the clinical curriculum immediately after completing pre-clinical course work will be expected to meet the clinical requirements that exist at the time the students enter the clinical curriculum.

Foundations Phase (for E-19 through E-21 cohorts)
Entering classes 2019 through 2021, must successfully complete the following to qualify for the Patient Care Phase of their medical training:

  • Immersion & Orientation
  • Foundations of Clinical Medicine
  • Molecular & Cellular Basis for Disease
  • Invaders & Defenders
  • Circulatory Systems
  • Energetics & Homeostasis
  • Blood & Cancer and Musculoskeletal
  • Mind, Brain, & Behavior
  • Lifecycle
  • Threads
  • Ecology of Health & Medicine/Themes in Medicine (I)
  • Clinical Research Methods
  • OSCE (Foundations I & II)
  • Foundations Capstone, Consolidation & Transition
  • USMLE Step 1
  • Transition to Clerkships
  • Independent Investigative Inquiry (III)

Students who do not engage in the clinical curriculum immediately after completing pre-clinical course work will be expected to meet the clinical requirements that exist at the time the students enter the clinical curriculum.

Patient Care Phase
Students must successfully complete the following to qualify for the Explore & Focus Phase of their medical training:

  • Family Medicine
  • Internal Medicine
  • Obstetrics/Gynecology
  • Pediatrics
  • Psychiatry
  • Surgery
  • Integration
  • OSCE (Patient Care Phase)
  • NBME Subject Exams and/or equivalent clerkship exams

Explore & Focus Phase
Students must successfully complete the following to qualify for consideration for receiving the MD degree from UW School of Medicine:

  • Advanced Patient Care clerkships
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Neurology or Neurosurgery
  • Clinical electives
  • Integration
  • USMLE Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK)
  • Transition to Residency
  • NBME Subject Exams and/or equivalent clerkship exams

Foundations Phase Curriculum 129.5 credits
   Blocked Courses:
Fundamentals of Medical Science and Research 13 credits
Cancer, Hormones and Blood 10 credits
Infections and Immunity 10 credits
Muscles, Joints, Bones and Skin 8 credits
Cardiovascular System 8 credits
Respiration & Regulation 10 credits
Head, Neck and Gut 8 credits
Mind, Brain, and Behavior 11 credits
Reproduction and Development 8 credits
 
 Longitudinal Courses:
Foundations of Clinical Medicine 17 credits
Medicine Health and Society I 1 credit
Medicine Health and Society II 3 credits
Integration I 0.5 credits
Integration II 0.5 credits
Integration III 0.5 credits
 
 Scholarship Courses:
Independent Investigative Inquiry (III) 6 credits
Independent Investigative Inquiry Final Project (III Final Project) 1 credit
 
Consolidation (12 credits) and Transition to Clerkships (2 credits)
Credits counted under Foundations Phase
14 credits

Patient Care Phase Curriculum
*
84 credits
   Required Clinical Clerkships:  
Family Medicine 6 weeks 12 credits
Internal Medicine 12 weeks 24 credits
Obstetrics/Gynecology 6 weeks 12 credits
Pediatrics 6 weeks 12 credits
Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences 6 weeks 12 credits
Surgery 6 weeks 12 credits

Explore and Focus Phase Curriculum
*
76 credits
   Required Clinical Clerkships:
Neurology/Neurosurgery 4 weeks 8 credits
Emergency Medicine 4 weeks 8 credits
Advanced Patient Care** 8 weeks 16 credits
Clinical Electives: 5 four-week blocks*** 20 weeks 40 credits

Transition to Residency

Credits counted under Explore and Focus Phase
2 weeks 4 credits

Total minimum credits for M.D. degree:
289.5 credits

* Students will be advised concerning their clinical training which will include different locations throughout the WWAMI region. All students are required to complete a minimum of two, four-week clerkships in Seattle at one or more of the following hospitals: UW Medical Center, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle Children’s Hospital, or Puget Sound VA.

** One of the two 4-week Advanced Patient Care Clerkships must be a Sub-internship.

*** Electives can range from of 2-12 weeks but will usually be either 2-weeks or 4-weeks. Students in the Medical Scientist Training Program and the UW Pathology fellowship who enter the UWSOM prior to 2015 and who do not engage in the clinical curriculum immediately after completing pre-clinical coursework meet the clinical requirements as they exist at the time they enter, with the exception of 8 credits of clinical electives which are waived. These students enter the clinical curriculum in summer of their third year of MD coursework after completion of the PhD or UW Pathology fellowship.

Foundations Phase Curriculum 128 credits
   Blocked Courses:
Fundamentals of Medical Science and Research 13 credits
Cancer, Hormones and Blood 10 credits
Infections and Immunity 10 credits
Muscles, Joints, Bones and Skin 8 credits
Cardiovascular System 8 credits
Respiration & Regulation 10 credits
Head, Neck and Gut 8 credits
Mind, Brain, and Behavior 11 credits
Reproduction and Development 8 credits
 
 Longitudinal Courses:
Foundations of Clinical Medicine 17 credits
Medicine Health and Society I 1 credit
Medicine Health and Society II 3 credits
 
 Scholarship Courses:
Independent Investigative Inquiry (III) 6 credits
Independent Investigative Inquiry Final Project (III Final Project) 1 credit
 
Consolidation (12 credits) and Transition to Clerkships (2 credits)
Credits counted under Foundations Phase
14 credits

Patient Care Phase Curriculum
*
84 credits
   Required Clinical Clerkships:  
Family Medicine 6 weeks 12 credits
Internal Medicine 12 weeks 24 credits
Obstetrics/Gynecology 6 weeks 12 credits
Pediatrics 6 weeks 12 credits
Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences 6 weeks 12 credits
Surgery 6 weeks 12 credits

Explore and Focus Phase Curriculum
*
76 credits
   Required Clinical Clerkships:
Neurology/Neurosurgery 4 weeks 8 credits
Emergency Medicine 4 weeks 8 credits
Advanced Patient Care** 8 weeks 16 credits
Clinical Electives: 5 four-week blocks*** 20 weeks 40 credits

Transition to Residency

Credits counted under Explore and Focus Phase
2 weeks 4 credits

Total minimum credits for M.D. degree:
288 credits

* Students will be advised concerning their clinical training which will include different locations throughout the WWAMI region. All students are required to complete a minimum of two, four-week clerkships in Seattle at one or more of the following hospitals: UW Medical Center, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle Children’s Hospital, or Puget Sound VA.

** One of the two 4-week Advanced Patient Care Clerkships must be a Sub-internship.

*** Electives can range from of 2-12 weeks but will usually be either 2-weeks or 4-weeks. Students in the Medical Scientist Training Program and the UW Pathology fellowship who enter the UWSOM prior to 2015 and who do not engage in the clinical curriculum immediately after completing pre-clinical coursework meet the clinical requirements as they exist at the time they enter, with the exception of 8 credits of clinical electives which are waived. These students enter the clinical curriculum in summer of their third year of MD coursework after completion of the PhD or UW Pathology fellowship.

Foundations Phase Curriculum 128 credits
   Blocked Courses:
Fundamentals of Medical Science and Research 13 credits
Cancer, Hormones and Blood 10 credits
Infections and Immunity 10 credits
Muscles, Joints, Bones and Skin 8 credits
Cardiovascular System 8 credits
Respiration & Regulation 10 credits
Head, Neck and Gut 8 credits
Mind, Brain, and Behavior 11 credits
Lifecycle 8 credits
 
 Longitudinal Courses:
Foundations of Clinical Medicine 17 credits
Medicine Health and Society I 1 credit
Medicine Health and Society II 3 credits
 
 Scholarship Courses:
Independent Investigative Inquiry (III) 6 credits
Independent Investigative Inquiry Final Project (III Final Project) 1 credit
 
Consolidation (12 credits) and Transition to Clerkships (2 credits)
Credits counted under Foundations Phase
14 credits

Patient Care Phase Curriculum
*
84 credits
   Required Clinical Clerkships:  
Family Medicine 6 weeks 12 credits
Internal Medicine 12 weeks 24 credits
Obstetrics/Gynecology 6 weeks 12 credits
Pediatrics 6 weeks 12 credits
Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences 6 weeks 12 credits
Surgery 6 weeks 12 credits

Explore and Focus Phase Curriculum
*
76 credits
   Required Clinical Clerkships:
Neurology/Neurosurgery 4 weeks 8 credits
Emergency Medicine 4 weeks 8 credits
Advanced Patient Care** 8 weeks 16 credits
Clinical Electives: 5 four-week blocks*** 20 weeks 40 credits

Transition to Residency

Credits counted under Explore and Focus Phase
2 weeks 4 credits

Total minimum credits for M.D. degree:
288 credits

* Students will be advised concerning their clinical training which will include different locations throughout the WWAMI region. All students are required to complete a minimum of two, four-week clerkships in Seattle at one or more of the following hospitals: UW Medical Center, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle Children’s Hospital, or Puget Sound VA.

** One of the two 4-week Advanced Patient Care Clerkships must be a Sub-internship.

*** Electives can range from of 2-12 weeks but will usually be either 2-weeks or 4-weeks. Students in the Medical Scientist Training Program and the UW Pathology fellowship who enter the UWSOM prior to 2015 and who do not engage in the clinical curriculum immediately after completing pre-clinical coursework meet the clinical requirements as they exist at the time they enter, with the exception of 8 credits of clinical electives which are waived. These students enter the clinical curriculum in summer of their third year of MD coursework after completion of the PhD or UW Pathology fellowship.

Foundations Phase Curriculum 120 credits
   Blocked Courses:
Molecular & Cellular Basis of Disease 11 credits
Invaders and Defenders 10 credits
Circulatory Systems 16 credits
Blood and Cancer 5 credits
Muskuloskeletal 3 credits
Energetics and Homeostasis 10 credits
Mind, Brain, and Behavior 14 credits
Lifecycle 8 credits
 
 Longitudinal Courses:
Foundations of Clinical Medicine 16 credits
Themes in Medicine 4 credits
 
 Scholarship Courses:
Independent Investigative Inquiry (III) 6 credits
Research Methods 6 credits
 
Consolidation and Transition
(3 courses: Foundations Capstone, Consolidation, & Transition to Clerkship) credits counted under Foundations Phase
11 credits

Patient Care Phase Curriculum
*
84 credits
   Required Clinical Clerkships:  
Family Medicine 6 weeks 12 credits
Internal Medicine 12 weeks 24 credits
Obstetrics/Gynecology 6 weeks 12 credits
Pediatrics 6 weeks 12 credits
Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences 6 weeks 12 credits
Surgery 6 weeks 12 credits

Explore and Focus Phase Curriculum
*
76 credits
   Required Clinical Clerkships:
Neurology/Neurosurgery 4 weeks 8 credits
Emergency Medicine 4 weeks 8 credits
Advanced Patient Care** 8 weeks 16 credits
Clinical Electives: 5 four-week blocks*** 20 weeks 40 credits

Transition to Residency

credits counted under Explore and Focus Phase
2 weeks 4 credits

Total minimum credits for M.D. degree:
280 credits

 

* Students will be advised concerning their clinical training which will include different locations throughout the WWAMI region. All students are required to complete a minimum of two, four-week clerkships in Seattle at one or more of the following hospitals: UW Medical Center, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle Children’s Hospital, or Puget Sound VA.

** One of the two 4-week Advanced Patient Care Clerkships must be a Sub-internship.

*** Electives can range from of 2-12 weeks but will usually be either 2-weeks or 4-weeks. Students in the Medical Scientist Training Program and the UW Pathology fellowship who enter the UWSOM prior to 2015 and who do not engage in the clinical curriculum immediately after completing pre-clinical coursework meet the clinical requirements as they exist at the time they enter, with the exception of 8 credits of clinical electives which are waived. These students enter the clinical curriculum in summer of their third year of MD coursework after completion of the PhD or UW Pathology fellowship.

Academic Credit Requirements for Entering 2019 Class & Subsequent Classes

Foundations Phase Curriculum 120 credits
Blocked Courses:
Molecular & Cellular Basis of Disease 11 credits
Invaders & Defenders 10 credits
Circulatory Systems 16 credits
Blood & Cancer & Musculoskeletal 8 credits
Energetics & Homeostasis 10 credits
Mind, Brain, & Behavior 14 credits
Lifecycle 8 credits
Longitudinal Courses
Foundations of Clinical Medicine 15 credits
Themes in Medicine/Ecology of Health & Medicine+ 4 credits
Scholarship Courses
Independent Investigative Inquiry (III) ± 6 credits
Independent Investigative Inquiry Final Project ± 1 credit
Research Methods 1 credit
Consolidation & Transition 16 credits
(Includes Foundations Capstone, Consolidation & Transition &
Transition to Clerkships) credits counted under Foundations Phase
Patient Care Phase Curriculum* 86 credits
Required Clinical Clerkships:
Family Medicine 6 weeks 12 credits
Internal Medicine 12 weeks 24 credits
Obstetrics/Gynecology 6 weeks 12 credits
Pediatrics 6 weeks 12 credits
Psychiatry 6 weeks 12 credits
Surgery 6 weeks 12 credits
Blocked Course (Distance Learning):
Themes in Medicine 2 weeks 2 credits
Explore & Focus Phase Curriculum* 77 credits
Required Clinical Clerkships:
Neurology/Neurosurgery 4 weeks 8 credits
Emergency Medicine 4 weeks 8 credits
Advanced Patient Care** 4 weeks 8 credits
Clinical Electives: 5 four-week blocks*** 20 weeks 40 credits
Blocked Course (Distance Learning):
Themes in Medicine 1 week 1 credit
Transition to Residency 2 weeks 4 credits
Total minimum credits for MD degree: 283 credits ±

+ Themes in Medicine course change effective and on transcript in Winter 2021.

Themes in Medicine, week seven, 1 week, 1 credit is waived for students who entered the UW School of Medicine in fall 2019.

± Independent Investigative Inquiry requirement is optional for students graduating between summer 2022 and spring 2023 and for the entering class of 2020 due to impacts of COVID-19 and final credits may be below minimum of 283 credits.

* Students will be advised concerning their clinical training which will include different locations throughout the WWAMI region. All students are required to complete a minimum of two, four-week clerkships in Seattle at one or more of the following hospitals: UW Medical Center, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle Children’s Hospital, or Puget Sound VA.

** One of the two 4-week Advanced Patient Care Clerkships must be a Sub-internship.

*** Electives can range from of 2-12 weeks, but will usually be either 2-weeks or 4-weeks. Students in the Medical Scientist Training Program and the UW Pathology fellowship who enter the UWSOM prior to 2015 and who do not engage in the clinical curriculum immediately after completing pre-clinical coursework meet the clinical requirements as they exist at the time they enter, with the exception of 8 credits of clinical electives which are waived. These students enter the clinical curriculum in summer of their third year of MD coursework after completion of the PhD or UW Pathology fellowship.

Academic Credit Requirements for Entering 2018 Class

Foundations Phase Curriculum 120 credits
Blocked Courses:
Molecular & Cellular Basis of Disease 11 credits
Invaders & Defenders 10 credits
Circulatory Systems 16 credits
Blood & Cancer & Musculoskeletal 8 credits
Energetics & Homeostasis 10 credits
Mind, Brain, & Behavior 14 credits
Lifecycle 8 credits
Longitudinal Courses:
Foundations of Clinical Medicine 16 credits
Ecology of Health & Medicine 4 credits
Scholarship Courses:
Independent Investigative Inquiry (III)* 6 credits
Research Methods 6 credits
Consolidation & Transition (3 courses: Foundations Capstone, Consolidation & Transition to Clerkship) credits counted under Foundations Phase 11 credits
Patient Care Phase Curriculum* 60 credits
Required Clinical Clerkships:
Family Medicine 4 weeks 8 credits
Internal Medicine 8 weeks 16credits
Obstetrics/Gynecology 4 weeks 8 credits
Pediatrics 4 weeks 8 credits
Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences 4 weeks 8 credits
Surgery 6 weeks 12 credits
Blocked Course (Distance Learning):
Ecology of Health & Medicine ± 1 week 1 credit
Explore & Focus Phase Curriculum* 76 credits
Required Clinical Clerkships:
Neurology/Neurosurgery 4 weeks 8 credits
Emergency Medicine 4 weeks 8 credits
Advanced Patient Care** 8 weeks 16 credits
Clinical Electives: 5 four-week blocks*** 20 weeks 40 credits
Blocked Course (Distance Learning):
Themes in Medicine 1 week 1 credit
Transition to Residency (credits under E&F Phase) 2 weeks 4 credits
Total minimum credits for MD degree: 256 credits

* Students will be advised concerning their clinical training which will include different locations throughout the WWAMI region. The Time in Seattle requirement is waived for students in clerkships during the 2020-2021 academic year due to COVID-19.

± Ecology of Health Medicine, week six, 1 week, 1 credit is waived for students who entered the UW School of Medicine in fall 2018.

** One of the two 4-week Advanced Patient Care Clerkships must be a Sub-internship.

*** Electives can range from of 2-12 weeks, but will usually be either 2-weeks or 4-weeks. For students graduating in June 2022, 40 credits (five months) of electives will be required and 16 credits (two months) of electives can be clinical or approved non clinical electives.

Students who complete CBSR receive credit for one clinical elective pre-COVID-19. In addition, CBSR students must complete at least 16 clinical elective credits for graduation.

Students in the Medical Scientist Training Program and the UW Pathology fellowship who enter the UWSOM prior to 2015 and who do not engage in the clinical curriculum immediately after completing pre-clinical coursework meet the clinical requirements as they exist at the time they enter, with the exception of 8 credits of clinical electives which are waived. These students enter the clinical curriculum in summer of their third year of MD coursework after completion of the PhD or UW Pathology fellowship.

Academic Credit Requirements for Entering 2017 Class

Foundations Phase Curriculum 120 credits
Blocked Courses:
Molecular & Cellular Basis of Disease 11 credits
Invaders & Defenders 10 credits
Circulatory Systems 16 credits
Blood & Cancer & Musculoskeletal 8 credits
Energetics & Homeostasis 10 credits
Mind, Brain, & Behavior 14 credits
Lifecycle 8 credits
Longitudinal Courses:
Foundations of Clinical Medicine 16 credits
Ecology of Health & Medicine 4 credits
Scholarship Courses:
Independent Investigative Inquiry (III) 6 credits
Research Methods Course 6 credits
Consolidation & Transition – (Foundations Capstone, Consolidation, & 11 credits
Transition to Clerkships (Credits counted under Foundations Phase)
Patient Care Phase Curriculum 86 credits ±
Required Clinical Clerkships:
Family Medicine 6 weeks 12 credits
Internal Medicine 12 weeks 24 credits
Obstetrics/Gynecology 6 weeks 12 credits
Pediatrics 6 weeks 12 credits
Psychiatry 6 weeks 12 credits
Surgery 6 weeks 12 credits
Blocked Course (Distance Learning):
Ecology of Health & Medicine 2 weeks 2 credits
Explore & Focus Phase Curriculum* 61 credits
Required Clinical Clerkships:
Neurology/Neurosurgery 4 weeks 8 credits
Emergency Medicine 4 weeks 8 credits
Advanced Patient Care** 4 weeks 8 credits
Clinical Electives: 4 four-week blocks*** 16 weeks 32 credits
Blocked Course (Distanced Learning):
Ecology of Health & Medicine/Themes in Medicine 1 week 1 credit
Transition to Residency 2 weeks 4 credits
(Credits counted under E&F Phase)
Total minimum credits for MD degree: 283 credits±

* For students graduating in June 2021, the USMLE Step 2CS is suspended from May 2020 to approximately May 2021 and is not required for graduation.

± Students who leave the curriculum and re-enter the Patient Care Phase in Spring 2020 will have reduced credits due to the shortened clerkship length and impacts of COVID-19.

** Students will be advised concerning their clinical training which will include different locations throughout the WWAMI region. The Time in Seattle requirement is waived for students in clerkships during the 2020-2021 academic year due to COVID-19.

For students graduating in June 2021, one Advanced Patient Care Clerkship is required and the requirement that one of the two 4-week Advanced Patient Care Clerkships must be a Sub-internship is suspended.

*** Electives can range from of 2-12 weeks, but will usually be either 2-weeks or 4-weeks. For students graduating June 2021, 32 credits (4 months) of clinical elective rotations are required and 16 credits (two months) of clinical elective requirements can be met by approved non-clinical online courses.

Students who complete CBSR receive credit for one clinical elective pre-COVID-19. In addition, CBSR students must complete at least 16 clinical elective credits for graduation.

Students in the Medical Scientist Training Program and the UW Pathology fellowship who enter the UWSOM prior to 2015 and who do not engage in the clinical curriculum immediately after completing pre-clinical coursework meet the clinical requirements as they exist at the time they enter, with the exception of 8 credits of clinical electives which are waived. These students enter the clinical curriculum in summer of their third year of MD coursework after completion of the PhD or UW Pathology fellowship.

Academic Credit Requirements for Entering 2016 Class

Foundations Phase Curriculum 107 credits
Blocked Courses:
Molecular & Cellular Basis of Disease 11 credits
Invaders & Defenders 10 credits
Circulatory Systems 16 credits
Blood & Cancer 5 credits
Energetics & Homeostasis 10 credits
Mind, Brain, & Behavior 14 credits
Lifecycle 8 credits
Longitudinal Courses:
Primary Care Practicum 8 credits
Foundations of Clinical Medicine 8 credits
Scholarship Courses:
Independent Investigative Inquiry (III) 6 credits
Consolidation & Transition (credits counted under Foundations Phase) 11 credits
Patient Care Phase Curriculum* 84 credits
Required Clinical Clerkships:
Family Medicine 6 weeks 12 credits
Internal Medicine 12 weeks 24 credits
Obstetrics/Gynecology 6 weeks 12 credits
Pediatrics 6 weeks 12 credits
Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences 6 weeks 12 credits
Surgery 6 weeks 12 credits
Explore & Focus Phase Curriculum* 76 credits
Required Clinical Clerkships:
Neurology/Neurosurgery 4 weeks 8 credits
Emergency Medicine 4 weeks 8 credits
Advanced Patient Care** 4 weeks 8 credits
Clinical Electives: 4 four-week blocks*** 20 weeks 40 credits
Transition to Residency (credits under E&F Phase) 2 weeks 4 credits
Total minimum credits for MD degree: 267 credits

* Students will be advised concerning their clinical training which will include different locations throughout the WWAMI region. All students are required to complete a minimum of two, four-week clerkships in Seattle at one or more of the following hospitals: UW Medical Center, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle Children’s Hospital, or Puget Sound VA.

** One of the two 4-week Advanced Patient Care Clerkships must be a Sub-Internship.

*** Electives can range from 2-12 weeks, but will usually be either 2-weeks or 4-weeks. For students graduating June 2020, 40 credits (5 months) of clinical elective rotations are required and 16 credits (two months) of clinical elective requirements can be met by approved non-clinical online courses.

Students in the Medical Scientist Training Program and the UW Pathology fellowship who enter the UWSOM prior to 2015 and who do not engage in the clinical curriculum immediately after completing pre-clinical coursework meet the clinical requirements as they exist at the time they enter, with the exception of 8 credits of clinical electives which are waived. These students enter the clinical curriculum in summer of their third year of MD coursework after completion of the PhD or UW Pathology fellowship.

Academic Credit Requirements for Entering 2015 Class

Foundations Phase Curriculum 107 credits
Blocked Courses:
Molecular & Cellular Basis of Disease 11 credits
Invaders & Defenders 10 credits
Circulatory Systems 16 credits
Blood & Cancer 5 credits
Energetics & Homeostasis 10 credits
Mind, Brain, & Behavior 14 credits
Lifecycle 8 credits
Longitudinal Courses:
Primary Care Practicum 8 credits
Foundations of Clinical Medicine 8 credits
Scholarship Courses:
Independent Investigative Inquiry (III) 6 credits
Consolidation & Transition (credits under Foundations Phase) 11 credits
Patient Care Phase Curriculum* 84 credits
Required Clinical Clerkships:
Family Medicine 6 weeks 12 credits
Internal Medicine 12 weeks 24 credits
Obstetrics/Gynecology 6 weeks 12 credits
Pediatrics 6 weeks 12 credits
Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences 6 weeks 12 credits
Surgery 6 weeks 12 credits
Explore & Focus Phase Curriculum* 76 credits 
Required Clinical Clerkships:
Neurology/Neurosurgery 4 weeks 8 credits
Emergency Medicine 4 weeks 8 credits
Advanced Patient Care** 8 weeks 16 credits
Clinical Electives: 5 four-week blocks 20 weeks 40 credits
Transition to Residency (credits under E&F Phase) 2 weeks 4 credits
Total minimum credits for MD degree: 267  credits

* Students will be advised concerning their clinical training which will include different locations throughout the WWAMI region. All students are required to complete a minimum of two, four-week clerkships in Seattle at one or more of the following hospitals: UW Medical Center, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle Children’s Hospital, or Puget Sound VA.

** One of the two 4-week Advanced Patient Care Clerkships must be a Sub-Internship.

Students in the Medical Scientist Training Program and the UW Pathology fellowship who enter the UWSOM prior to 2015 and who do not engage in the clinical curriculum immediately after completing pre-clinical coursework meet the clinical requirements as they exist at the time they enter, with the exception of 8 credits of clinical electives which are waived. These students enter the clinical curriculum in summer of their third year of MD coursework after completion of the PhD or UW Pathology fellowship.

Academic Credit Requirements for Entering 2014 Class

Foundations Curriculum (Generally defined as 500 level courses) 147 credits
Required Human Biology (Basic Science) first and second year courses
Required Preceptorship
Introduction to Clinical Medicine I & II
Clinical Curriculum (Generally defined as 600 level courses) 148 credits
Required clinical clerkships in the third year
Family Medicine 6 weeks 12 credits
Internal Medicine 12 weeks 24 credits
Obstetrics/Gynecology 6 weeks 12 credits
Pediatrics 6 weeks 12 credits
Psychiatry 6 weeks 12 credits
Surgery 6 weeks 12 credits
Required clinical clerkships in the fourth year
Emergency Medicine 4 weeks 8 credits
Neurology 4 weeks 8 credits
Chronic Care 4 weeks 8 credits
Surgical Selectives 4 weeks 8 credits
Other clinical electives 16 weeks 32 credits
Independent Investigative Inquiry 8 credits
Non-Clinical Selectives (500-level medical school courses) 4 credits
Capstone (Transition to Residency) 2 credits
Total minimum credits for MD degree: 309 credits

 

Effective: Current
Last updated: April 24, 2024
Policy Contact: UW School of Medicine, Curriculum Office, somgov@uw.edu; Education Quality Improvement Office, eqi@uw.edu