New Elective, AOC, & Content Changes

Request for a Change in Curricular Content 

The Curriculum Committee has central oversight on major changes to the curriculum. Course and clerkship directors must request Curriculum Committee approval before making major changes to existing curriculum. Directors are empowered to make minor changes (e.g., faculty, format, timing, sequence, weightings) without prior approval. 

For more information, and to request approval, see this document.


Proposal Procedure for a New Elective

The elective curriculum at UPSOM is designed so that students can pursue areas of interest that will deepen and broaden their education. It is also a time for students to fill in any gaps in clinical knowledge or skills prior to the start of internship. The Elective Proposal Document outlines the procedure necessary for an elective to be added to the School of Medicine Curriculum Courses and to be officially listed in the online Course Catalog. 

Completed Elective Proposal Forms should be given to the Chair of the UPSOM Curriculum Committee or Associate Dean for Medical Education for initial discussion at the Curriculum Committee Executive Committee.


Proposal Procedure for a New Area of Concentration (AOC)

AOCs help provide students opportunities to pursue areas of personal interest longitudinally, around the curriculum.  This program gives students more depth and experience, to uniquely enhance their medical education. 

To start a new AOC, proposals should include:

  1. An explanation of how the program would fulfill core AOC criteria

  2. Faculty leadership to take overall responsibility for the program

  3. Details on how the program supports UPSOM program objectives

  4. A list of potentially interested medical students

There are five core criteria:

  1. Content and didactic material, including journal clubs, literature review, national meeting participation, syllabus, and reading lists 

  1. Faculty mentorship 

  1. Experiential component 

  1. Preparation of a scholarly project, often including presentation at a local or national forum 

  1. Evaluation of student participants  

Faculty support and commitment to activity in the AOC and mentoring is key. Though there maybe student leaders and champions, this has to be backed by dedicated faculty who will work with each component of the AOC.  The proposal must come from faculty and not students. This assures the continuation and vibrancy of the AOC after students graduate.  

The AOC should meet the educational program objectives of the School of Medicine.  Propsoals must outline which UPSOM learning objectives would be supported by the AOC.

We also will need a list of medical students who have expressed interest in participating in AOC activities.  They’re not committed to joining, but just that they would strongly consider it. 

An approved AOC proposal is here, which can be useful as a guide.  Questions, and final materials for the proposal, should be submitted to the Chair of the Curriculum Committee for review and approval.