MD Elective Information

The Keck School of Medicine offers elective courses in various clinical areas. Students can complete courses in designated two-, three- or four-week elective blocks in Clerkship and Post-Clerkship Phases of the MD curriculum 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 Medical Education Curriculum Committee.

Students may receive credit for custom electives that are clinical in nature and supervised by an on-site physician. To explore this option, complete the Extramural Elective Petition and submit it to the Registrar’s Office as indicated on the form.

Scheduling Assistance 

Students can receive guidance with elective scheduling from the following resources: 

• Academic & Career Advising team, KAM 103, md.careeradvising@usc.edu: 
  • Randy Zuniga, MS
  • Sam Lopez, MS
  • Specialty Elective Guides

• Post-Clerkship & Elective Advisor, KAM 218, (323) 442-2750, taylor.paramo@med.usc.edu
  • Taylor Paramo, BA

Student Schedules 

Medical students can access MedOASIS to add themselves to elective waitlists via the Course Catalog and manage their schedules. 

• Electives must be finalized three weeks in advance of the start date. 

• Students cannot drop Electives within two weeks of the start date unless approved by the course director. 

Away Electives 

Medical students are eligible to explore taking an away elective at other U.S. medical schools or teaching hospitals. To learn more about such opportunities, students can visit The Association of American Medical Colleges Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO). For away electives at an institution not participatingin VSLO, students must apply directly to that program. 

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. Medical students may receive credit for a maximum of one away virtual elective. 

To add an away rotation to your schedule, add yourself to the MedOASIS wait list for the sub-internship rotation (500E) in the department that corresponds to the course of your away rotation (i.e., Emergency Medicine 500E). Once you receive confirmation from the institution that you have been accepted, please complete the “Away Elective Information” linked to the Actions column of the away elective course on your MedOASIS schedule, and upload documentation (PDF of VSLO confirmation email).

VSLO FAQs

Away Funding Opportunity
Do you want to participate in a visiting medical student clerkship, but don’t know how you will pay for it?  The Keck School of Medicine of USC is here to help. Students who feel they may qualify for assistance are encouraged to complete the attached application and return it to the Office of the Registrar (KAM 218) or email it to medkeck@usc.edu. Please see the criteria below to apply.

Qualifications:

• Qualified applicants must be current students experiencing financial hardship.
• Students must be in good standing and in their post-clerkship phase of medical school.
• Students must have completed all required clerkships.
• Away rotations that qualify for this funding include those where students must travel more than 40 miles one way to the site of the away rotation.  Funding may be used for housing, travel and fees.

To apply for funding, you must have an away rotation finalized on your schedule. There is a maximum of $1000 per award.

Applications (see Visiting Clerkship – Student Request for Funding form below) are reviewed and considered by the Office of Registrar at the Keck School of Medicine. For questions about the funding, please email medkeck@usc.edu.

Relevant Forms 

Away Elective Document Request 

Clinical Elective Evaluation Form

International Elective Petition 

Travel Fellowship Application 

Visiting Clerkship – Student Request for Funding

Post-Clerkship Phase Block Calendar 

4-Week Elective Blocks, 2025-2026 Academic Year 

2-/3-Week Elective Blocks, 2025-2026 Academic Year 

Elective Policies and Procedures 

More information can be found at Elective Requirements and Scheduling Policy 

Emergency Care While Away from the University

During the application process for an extramural elective, an elective at a non-LCME-/ACGME-approved institution, or an international elective, students are required to provide information on how they would receive emergency care should an emergent issue arise. For students rotating at LCME-/ACGME-approved institutions, students will follow the host institutions plans for emergency care.

Visiting Medical Student Program 

The Keck School of Medicine welcomes visiting students from LCME-accredited schools and visiting students from schools abroad. Please review the Visiting Student Clerkships page for eligibility requirements and application instructions.