Elective Requirements and Scheduling Policy

Professionalism Reporting

Policy Statement:

The Keck School of Medicine offers a variety of Elective choices for clerkship or post clerkship phase students, which are designed to enhance students’ learning experiences and provide exposure to and appreciation for a variety of medical specialties.

 

Definitions:

Electives

Electives may be offered for a minimum of two continuous weeks and a maximum of four continuous weeks (with the exception of Research, which may be a maximum of eight weeks). Electives are designated as core clinical, clinical, and non-clinical and may be delivered synchronously, asynchronously, in-person or through online or remote methods as approved by the MECC. KSOM medical students may receive credit for a maximum of one away virtual elective.

 

Process:

  • Students design their schedule in collaboration with the Academic and Career Advising team in the Office of Student Affairs, based on student preferences, graduation and policy requirements, and residency application plans.
  • Students are responsible for consulting the course catalog for any course prerequisites.
  • The add/drop/change process for Electives is managed by the KSOM MD Registrar’s Office.
  • Course placements are approved by the clinical departments.
  • Electives must be finalized three weeks in advance of the start date. Late submission of requests will be approved at the discretion of the clinical departments.
  • Students cannot drop Electives within two weeks of the start date unless approved by the course director. If a student drops a course within the two-week window without permission, or after the course begins, the student will be given a “No Credit” as the official grade for the course and no other course can be scheduled during that time frame.
  • Away Electives must be approved by the student’s faculty advisor. Virtual Electives hosted by other institutions must be approved by the Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education and the student’s faculty advisor prior to the student enrolling in the Elective. Proof of approval from the host institution must be submitted to KSOM Visiting Student Coordinator for the Elective to be added to a student’s schedule.

Reviewed and Approved: May 22, 2024

Medical Education Curriculum Committee (MECC)