Policy on Fourth-Year Electives (Career Focus Tracks)
MMS students are required to complete 6 elective credits (24 weeks) during the MS4 year. Students can complete electives as either a traditional 4-week elective (1 credit) or as a 2-week mini-elective (0.5 credit) (see Policy on Fourth Year Mini-Electives). Two 2-week electives are equivalent to one 4-week elective. Senior medical students are responsible for maintaining awareness of graduation requirements and complying with registration requirements.
Elective Restrictions:
- Students can do no more than 4 electives (16 weeks) in any one specialty.
- Students can do no more than 2 blocks of research (8 weeks), with the exception of MD/PhD students or students in the Academic Career Focus Track.
Mini-Elective Restrictions:
- Students must complete two, 2-week mini-electives (4 weeks) to fulfill 1 elective credit.
- Students cannot take more than a total of 4 mini-electives (8 weeks).
Policies Regarding Time Off
Holidays: Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Friday following Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, Match Day, and Memorial Day.
The School’s policy regarding time off for interviewing for residency programs (not for general use) allows a maximum of 5 days from an elective to be granted at the discretion of the course director. Students wishing to be excused for any days off must obtain approval from both the Office of Admissions and Student Affairs and the course director in advance. Students missing any days should be prepared to make up time and work missed.
Guidelines for Creating Fourth-Year Electives
- The objectives of the elective are defined and indicated by specific topics in the body of knowledge to be mastered. It is strongly recommended that these be given to students in writing at the beginning of the elective period. The clinical and didactic experiences planned for the course must be designed to accomplish the objectives.
- The elective involves at least 30 hours per week of time with at least 10 hours structured (clinical, conference, lecture).
- The elective involves significant teaching by faculty.
- At least 5 hours of teaching per week are aimed at the MS4 level.
- The students are evaluated based on the demonstration of their accomplishment of the objectives.
- Students are observed closely enough by faculty to evaluate their performance meaningfully.
- The fourth-year electives follow the same structure as the clinical clerkships for evaluation of the student’s clinical performance. Forms include student mid-point feedback form and the final faculty assessment of student. Students are required to evaluate their attending as well as the elective.