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:

Selectives

Selectives are clinical rotations delivered through KSOM-affiliated sites with supervision by KSOM faculty and are offered for four continuous weeks. Selectives are approved by the Medical Education Curriculum Committee (MECC) to serve as options for students to meet specific graduation requirements.

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 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 Selectives and Electives is managed by the KSOM MD Registrar’s Office.
  • Course placements are approved by the clinical departments.
  • Selectives and 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 Selectives or Electives within two weeks of the start date unless approved by the Selective or Elective 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)

  • Electives and Selectives may be taken in clerkship and post-clerkship phase.

    Selectives are clinical rotations delivered through KSOM-affiliated sites with supervision by KSOM faculty and are offered for four continuous weeks. Selectives are approved by the Medical Education Curriculum Committee (MECC) to serve as options for students to meet specific graduation requirements.

    • 16 weeks Selectives
    • 32 weeks of Electives

    Note: Of the 48 weeks of Selectives and Electives combined, a minimum of 36 weeks must be devoted to clinical rotations.

    • Selectives and Electives are available to students who have completed the prerequisites for those specific courses.
    • Selectives or Electives may not be repeated for credit.
    • A maximum of 8 weeks may be credited for a research Elective.
    • Maximum of 12 weeks of away rotations or similar rotations within KSOM course catalog can be taken for graduation credit.
    • Electives and Selectives may not be audited.

    All student schedules are subject to approval by the Clinical Departmental Advisor and Career Advisor in the Office of Student Affairs

  • Electives may be taken in the clerkship phase and post-clerkship phase.

    • 40 weeks of electives

    Note: Of the 40 weeks of  electives, 30 weeks must be devoted to clinical rotations and 12 weeks of the clinical rotations must be from the core clinical electives list. One core clinical elective must be in Emergency Medicine (3-weeks or 4 weeks) or Critical Care (4weeks).

    • Electives are available to students who have completed the prerequisites for those specific courses.
    • Electives may not be repeated for credit.
    • A maximum of 8 weeks may be credited for a research Elective.
    • Electives may not be audited.
    • A maximum of 12 weeks of elective credit may be earned during away rotations.
    • A maximum of 12 weeks of similar electives within the same general specialty or within sub-specialties may be taken from the KSOM course catalog.

    All student schedules are subject to approval by the Clinical Departmental Advisor and Career Advisor in the Office of Student Affairs