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M.D. Curriculum By Year

To fast-track your transition into clinical training, Saint Louis University School of Medicine structures your M.D. curriculum into three phases spanning four academic years.

  • Phase 1: Pre-Clerkship (18 Months)
    • Focus: foundational training in basic and clinical science
  • Phase 2: Clerkship (12 Months)
    • Focus: clinical service in seven general medical departments
  • Phase 3: Post-Clerkship (18 Months)
    • Focus: career specialization and pre-residency preparation

Explore Your Curriculum Phases

Phase 1: Pre-Clerkship - Year 1 (12 Months)

Focus on the core biomedical science fundamentals you need for medical practice. 

Required Courses

  • Epidemiology and Biostatistics
  • Foundations in Health Care Ethics
  • Professional and Personal Development I
  • Molecular Foundations in Medicine
  • Clinical Interviewing
  • Clinical Diagnosis
  • Leadership in the Business of Medicine
  • Medicine and Society: Foundations of Patient Safety
  • NSF-Musculoskeletal
  • NSF-Thorax and Head
  • NSF-Abdomen and Pelvis
  • Introduction to Pathology
  • Principles of Immunology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics
  • Brain and Behavior
  • Cardiovascular System
  • Hematology
  • Respiratory System
  • Introduction to Medical Information Management
  • Bench to Bedside

Electives 

Explore your specific interests through physician shadowing, basic science and clinical research, and more. 

Phase 1: Pre-Clerkship - Year 2 (Six Months)

Focus on organ systems in health and disease, and build skills in medical history taking and physical diagnosis. 

Required Courses

  • Clinical Reasoning in Health Care Ethics
  • Special Study for Exams
  • Professional and Personal Development II
  • Clinical Diagnosis
  • Leadership in the Business of Medicine
  • Medicine and Society
  • Fundamentals of Quality Improvement
  • Renal-Urinary System
  • Gastrointestinal System
  • Endocrine and Reproductive System
  • Skin, Bone and Joint Module

Exam Prep

Prepare for the USMLE Step 1 exam by taking NBME-customized exams for each organ module. You must successfully pass the USMLE Step 1 before progressing to Phase 2. 

Phase 2: Clerkship (12 Months)

Launch your full-time clinical experience by completing seven fundamental clinical rotations and two separate two-week career exploration electives. Your rotation order will be determined by a student lottery.

Core Clerkships

  • Family and Community Medicine (six weeks)
  • Internal Medicine (eight weeks)
  • Neurology (four weeks)
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology (six weeks)
  • Pediatrics (eight weeks)
  • Psychiatry (four weeks)
  • Surgery (eight weeks)

Longitudinal Classes

  • Medical Information Management Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM)
  • Personal and Professional Development III

Career Exploration

Explore fields that aren’t covered in the seven core clerkships. Common selections include anesthesiology, dermatology, diagnostic radiology, emergency medicine, radiation oncology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and research. 

Review Core Clerkship Details

Phase 3: Post-Clerkship (18 Months)

Explore areas of specialization through electives, sub-internships, ambulatory medicine and emergency medicine rotations. The design and scheduling flexibility help you refine the clinical skills you’ll need for future residency and fellowship training. 

Required Year 4 Milestones

  • Step 2 Exam: Complete the USMLE Step 2 Clinical Knowledge exam.
  • Capstone Course: Take a focused capstone course that integrates your basic and clinical science knowledge with the clinical skills you’ve developed over the past four years, preparing you for residency training. 

Required Clerkships

  • Acting Internship: Serve on department teams with the responsibilities of an intern, including ward duties, admissions, transfers and consultations. You may choose to take additional acting internships to best prepare for graduate medical education.
  • Ambulatory Medicine Clerkship: See how much of medicine is practiced in an outpatient setting. Choose to complete the clerkship within the Department of Internal Medicine or the Department of Pediatrics.
  • Emergency Medicine Clerkship: Complete this four-week clerkship at the end of your post-clerkship phase. The rotation focuses on rapid history taking, physicals, differential diagnoses and managing life-threatening conditions. 

Required Electives (36 Total Weeks)

  • Direct Patient Care Electives (Minimum 24 Weeks): Provide hands-on, on-the-ground care delivery in a specific clinical environment. You’ll likely complete most of your electives at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital and within the SSM Health network. You may use all 36 weeks in this category.
  • Non-Direct Patient Care Electives (Maximum 12 Weeks): Use this time for asynchronous education — often structured research under a primary investigator.
  • Away Rotations (Year 4): Complete domestic rotations at a non-SLU academic hospital through the AAMC’s Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) program. If you’re considering an international elective, you’re encouraged to:
    • Take FCM 0410: Global Health: Cross Cultural/International Experiences
    • Apply for one of two scholarships:
      • Dr. Tom Dooley Memorial International Elective Scholarship
      • Everett M. Sugarbaker School of Medicine Scholarship

Explore VSLO Opportunities