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.
