Curriculum

The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (UPSOM) has a well-developed curricular infrastructure that combines a lecture- and problem-based curriculum with early and in-depth clinical experiences and an integrated organ systems approach to the preclinical sciences. The clinical years are characterized by an integrated clerkship structure and an emphasis on student flexibility.

Curriculum Description

The current UPSOM curriculum was implemented in 2004 and features active, participatory learning, a problem-based approach, an early introduction to the patient and the community, and the integration of a rigorous foundation in basic and clinical biomedical sciences with the social and behavioral aspects of medicine.

Curriculum Map

Curriculum Overview Map (PDF)

Curriculum Blocks

There are five main blocks embedded in our curriculum that offer a variety of learning experiences for students.

Areas of Concentration

Area of concentration programs provide an opportunity for students to pursue in depth an area of personal interest during their four years of medical school.

Professional Enrichment Courses

A Professional Enrichment Course provides well-structured, rigorous and high quality experiences in areas not typically available to students.

MS-1

A complete list of MS-1 Courses.

MS-2

A complete list of MS-2 Courses.

MS-3

A complete list of MS-3 Clinical Focus Courses and Clerkships.

MS-4

General overview for Fourth Year students.

Longitudinal Research Project

Longitudinal Research Projects expose students to the mechanics of scientific investigation; teach them how to develop a hypothesis and how to collect, analyze, and interpret data to support it; encourage them to pursue research opportunities; and help them understand the structure of thought underlying the practice of medicine.