Policy 6-220: Graduate Studies and Degrees, Doctor of Medicine
Purpose and Scope
(Reserved)
Definitions
(Reserved)
Policy: Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Medicine
Admission Criteria. Applicants to the University of Utah College of Medicine must
have completed at least three years of training at an accredited college or university.
A bachelor's degree is considered desirable, but is not absolutely required. To qualify
for admission , an applicant must have demonstrated competence in English (a minimum
of one year of college course work), chemistry (two years of college course work),
physics (one year of college course work), and have training in the biological and
social sciences, humanities, and mathematics. Applicants are required to record an
official score on the New Medical College Admission Test. Applicants are also required
to submit an autobiographical sketch, official transcripts, and letters of recommendation.
Exceptions to these requirements may be made upon recommendation of the Admissions
Committee and with the approval of the dean of the College of Medicine.
Students enrolled in an accredited college of medicine may request transfer to the
University of Utah College of Medicine. Applicants must submit an official transcript
of grades and scores on the examination of the National Board of Medical Examiners,
Part I. A transfer student may receive advanced standing if a position is available
and the Admissions Committee determines the applicant is so qualified.
Admissions criteria are subject to change to conform to the requirements of the Council
on Medical Education of the American Medical Association and/or the Association of
American Medical Colleges. Admissions criteria are also changed if the faculty of
the College of Medicine so determine that such changes improve the admissions process.
Bachelor's Degree. Students who complete three years of work of the premedical curriculum
and the first year in the College of Medicine may receive a B.S. degree in the College
of Science. Those who comply with additional requirements designated by the College
of Science may receive a B.A. degree in the College of Science. In this combination
course in the College of Medicine, the subjects of the first year in medicine, together
with the related work prescribed for the premedical years of study shall constitute
a composite major in basic biological sciences. Candidates for either the B.S. or
the B.A. degree under this combined course shall register simultaneously as seniors
in the College of Science and as Freshmen in the College of Medicine.
M.D. Degree. All candidates for the M.D. degree must be officially enrolled in the
College of Medicine and complete all prescribed course work as determined by the Curriculum
Committee of the College of Medicine. Such course work currently includes thirty-two
weeks each in the freshman and sophomore years, thirty-six weeks of clerkships in
the junior year, and forty-two weeks of electives in the senior year. Instruction
in the freshman year includes anatomy histology, neuroanatomy, biochemistry, physiology,
psychiatry, radiology, and physical diagnosis. Instruction in the sophomore year includes
physical diagnosis, microbiology, psychiatry, pathology, pharmacology, and an integrated
sequence of approximately twenty weeks covering the major organ systems. During the
junior year, students are required to complete clerkships in medicine, psychiatry,
pediatrics, surgery, and obstetrics and gynecology. During the senior year, the student
is required to take forty-two weeks of electives. Most electives are of a four week
duration and students are free to select those areas of their interest.
A pass/fail grading system is used and candidates must record a passing grade for
all required course work. Students who fail a course must undertake additional work
to demonstrate competence. Students failing two or more courses (each equivalent to
a minimum of three credit hours) in any one year will be officially dismissed from
the College of Medicine; however, the Executive Committee can recommend that a failing
student repeat the year rather than be dismissed. No student may repeat an academic
year more than one time because of unsatisfactory scholarship. A student can be dismissed
from the College of Medicine if the Executive Committee determines that continuance
is inadvisable for reason of misconduct or that the student is unsuitable for the
practice of medicine as judged by character, motivation, and/or emotional stability.
All candidates for the M.D. degree are required to take and record an official score
on the Nation Board of Medical Examiners' examinations, Parts I and II.
Curriculum content and graduate requirements may be changed to conform to the requirements
of the Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association and/or the
American Association of Medical Colleges. Faculty may also change graduate requirements
if it is determined that such change improves the quality of the curriculum and training
of the candidates.
Rules, Procedures, Guidelines, Forms and other related resources
Rules
Procedures
Guidelines
Forms
Other related resource materials
References:
(Reserved)
Contacts:
Policy Owner:
Questions about this Policy and any related Rules, Procedures and Guidelines should
be directed to the Dean of the School of Medicine.
Policy Officers:
Only the Sr. Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Sr. Vice President for Health
Sciences or their designees have the authority to grant exceptions to this policy.