Curriculum
The goal of the College of Medicine is to produce caring and competent physicians who are capable of succeeding in their postgraduate career. The four-year program, which leads to an M.D. degree, is divided into two years of preclinical instruction which consists of education in the basic sciences and an introduction into clinical medicine, followed by two years of clinical science education.  The curriculum, during the first two years, addresses four major objectives: provision of basic science concepts, acquisition of problem-solving strategies, development of skills which permit the performance of an adequate history and physical examination, and an introduction to the role of the physician in society. Throughout, emphasis is placed on small group instruction. The curriculum is updated continually to incorporate and integrate basic science and clinical science disciplines, and to promote decision making skills, as well as expand and improve opportunities for independent, self-directed learning. As a result, students are being exposed earlier to certain clinical skills.

The junior year consists of six clinical core clerkships. The clinical core consists of six weeks each of internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics, family medicine/rural, surgery, and psychiatry.  During the clerkships, emphasis is placed on the development of clinical, interpersonal, and professional competence.

Students also have the opportunity to choose four three-week selectives from a list of core and non-core specialties. At least six weeks (two selectives) must be done in the designated core rotations; however, students can choose to complete all twelve weeks in the core designated specialties.  These selectives are designed to give the student an opportunity to experience different specialties in order to aid them in their career planning and specialty choice. All courses are graded on a honors/pass/no pass basis. 

Students must complete all of their junior year requirements on campus and may not participate in any rotations other than those at MUSC.

During the senior year, students take a minimum of eight four-week rotations. The student is required to take a clinical externship and one month each of surgery and internal medicine. The remaining five blocks are electives and, depending upon previous academic performance, can be taken at approved sites throughout the state or country. A complete listing of elective courses may be found in the Catalog of Electives at www.musc.edu/comelectives/index.html. In addition, students are required to complete and satisfactorily pass the Clinical Practice Exam (CPX).