To become eligible for the MD degree, each student must meet the School of Medicine (UCISOM) program objectives, learning objectives of required courses and clerkships, and required clinical experiences. This is determined through formative and summative assessments in each course or clerkship.

Although UCISOM has an effective system of student monitoring and advising, it is ultimately the student's responsibility to be aware of their academic performance and possible failure to complete course requirements (as established by each unit of the curriculum).

Requirements for graduation are listed below. All requirements must be completed to be eligible for graduation and to participate in the UCISOM Hooding Ceremony.

Achievement of a passing grade for all courses in the MD curriculum.
Successful passage of the United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) Step 1 and Step 2CK administered by the National Board of Medical Examiners. Failure to pass USMLE Step 1 or Step 2CK precludes graduation. No exceptions will be made.
Passage of the Clinical Performance Examination (CPX).

At the conclusion of each academic year, the Committee on Promotions and Honors reviews the academic progress of each student to make a decision for promotion to the next course year.

The Committee on Promotions and Honors may require that an individual student repeat a portion or all of an academic year (subsequent to incomplete or unsatisfactory course work or an approved leave of absence). Students have a maximum of six academic years ending at the conclusion of the School of Medicine Spring term of the sixth academic year for degree completion excluding time spent on an approved academic leave of absence. Refer to the Leaves of Absence policy and the annual School of Medicine academic calendars.

Advancement and Graduation Requirements

The table below displays the advancement and graduation requirements for the MD degree:

MS1

MS2

MS3

MS4

To advance to the MS2 year, students must successfully complete the first year of the pre-clerkship curriculum, which consists of Clinical Foundations I, Patient and Community Engagement (PACE) and three curricular blocks — Normal Human Structure and Function; Mind and Brain; and the Molecular Basis of Medicine.

Normal Human Structure and Function

This block covers:

Anatomy & Embryology
Histology
Physiology

Mind and Brain

This block covers:

Neuroscience
Anatomy & Embryology
Behavioral Science
Medical Ethics, Sociology, and Humanities (MESH)

Molecular Basis of Medicine

This block covers:

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Medical Genetics
Immunology

To advance to the MS3 year, students must successfully complete the second year of the pre-clerkship curriculum, which consists of Clinical Foundations II, Patient and Community Engagement (PACE) and three curricular blocks — General Principles of Pathology and Pharmacology, Infection & Host Response and Disease & Therapeutics.

General Principles of Pathology and Pharmacology

This block covers:

Pathology
Pharmacology

Infection and Host Response

This block cover:

Pathology
Pharmacology
Medical Microbiology

Disease and Therapeutics

This block covers:

Pathology
Pharmacology
Behavioral Science
Medical Ethics, Sociology, and Humanities (MESH)

For USMLE Step 1 timelines, refer to the USMLE Step 1 Preparation and Clinical Rotations Scheduling policy.

For more information, refer to the Exam Administration and Procedures policy.

At the start of the MS3 year, students must successfully complete Clinical Foundations III and Radiology to advance to the clinical rotations.

To advance to the MS4 year, students must successfully complete Clinical Foundations III and Radiology, the core clinical clerkships and electives (2 weeks minimum; 4 weeks maximum).

Core clerkships include the following:

Family Medicine
Internal Medicine
Neurology
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Pediatrics
Psychiatry
Surgery

To successfully complete the MS4 year, students are required to pass:

2 weeks of Emergency Medicine
4 weeks of an ICU selective (Surgery, Medicine, Pediatrics, Neurology)
4 weeks of an acting internship selective
Clinical Foundations IV (during the Spring term prior to graduation)
28 weeks of electives (during the MS3 and MS4 years)
Clinical Performance Exam (CPX)
USMLE Step 1
USMLE Step 2CK

For USMLE Step 1 and Step 2CK timelines, refer to the USMLE Step 1 Preparation and Clinical Rotations Scheduling policy and Exam Administration and Procedures policy.

RELATED POLICIES, FORMS AND LINKS

Clinical Performance Examination (CPX) Policy
Exam Administration and Procedures Policy
Leaves of Absence Policy
MS4 Overview
Research Electives Policy
Student Academic and Professional Standing Policy
UCI Electives Policy
USMLE Step 1 Preparation and Clinical Rotations Scheduling

Last approved by SOM Committee on Curriculum and Educational Policy, SOM Committee on Promotions and Honors: October 10, 2024