Unit Policy
Title
School of Medicine: Offices of Medical Student Education: Policy on Electives and Scholarly Concentration Programs
Introduction
Purpose
This Policy identifies the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ("University") School of Medicine ("SOM") Medical Doctorate degree (MD) program's ("Program") requirements related to Electives for graduation and Scholarly Concentration Programs.
Scope
This Policy applies to all students in the Program ("Students").
Policy
Policy Statement
In support of Student academic success and timely curricular advancement, the Program is committed to ensuring that Students have clarity on the Program's curricular offerings, requirements, and progression criteria. In furtherance of this commitment, this Policy defines the Program's offering of, and provision of credit for Student's participation in, Electives and Scholarly Concentration Programs.
Class of 2027
Beginning with the Class of 2027 (i.e., graduating in 2027), and for each Class thereafter, Foundation Phase Electives will not count towards Students' MD degree graduation requirements.
Students can take one (1) Elective in the Spring 2024 semester or Summer 2024 semester. There will not be any Elective offerings in the Fall 2024 Foundation Phase Elective catalog, except the Comprehensive Advanced Medical Program of Spanish (CAMPOS) and Scholarly Concentration Program Electives.
Class of 2028 and Beyond
Beginning with the Class of 2028 (i.e., graduating in 2028), Foundation Phase Electives will only be offered to Students during the Summer between the first and second year of the Program. CAMPOS will continue to be offered in a three (3)-semester curriculum, beginning with the fall of the first year of the Program. Scholarly Concentration Program Electives will be offered to Students only during the Individualization Phase.
Definitions
Foundation Phase: The first eighteen (18) months of the Program's curriculum comprised of:
- Nine (9) Medical Science courses (three (3) per semester)
- Three (3) semesters of Patient Centered Care (PCC)
- Three (3) semesters of Social and Health Systems (SHS)
Individualization Phase: The final fourteen (14) months of the Program's curriculum dedicated to the completion of graduation requirements and electives tailored to a Student's career interest, beginning in March and ending in May of the following year consisting of:
- Two (2) Acting Internships
- One (1) Critical Care Selective
- One (1) two-week Neurology Selective
- Three (3) Electives
- Transition to Residency (TTR) (to be completed at the end of the phase)
- Two (2) longitudinal courses:
- Science of Medicine
- Social and Health Systems 5
Elective: Curricular experiences that allow Students to pursue their individualized learning interests, explore specialties or areas of medicine, and their deepen knowledge or skills.
Scholarly Concentration Program: Curricular experiences that allow Students to pursue learning in areas of individual interest.
Related Requirements
External Regulations
Unit Policies, Standards, and Procedures
Contact Information
Primary Contact
Name: Mary Hauser, Senior Director for Curricular Affairs
Email: mary_hauser@med.unc.edu
Publication Details
Issuing Officer: Heather Tarantino, Associate Dean for Curricular Affairs, heather_tarantino@med.unc.edu
Effective Date: November 1, 2023