Repeat of Academic Year Policy

Professionalism Reporting

Policy Statement:

The Keck School of Medicine is dedicated to producing exemplary competent physicians with a strong academic knowledge base. Students who are not meeting academic milestones may be delayed in their progress through the medical school curriculum and may be required to repeat an academic year at the discretion of the Student Performance Committee

A repeat of the academic year does not extend the six year matriculation to graduation requirement.

Policy Requirement:


Limits to Remedial Work
When the SPC determines that a student has failed to demonstrate sufficient progress, the committee may recommend remedial work. The SPC considers each student’s situation on an individual basis, but it is anticipated that students who reach the limits outlined below will be ineligible for remediation, retaking of examinations, and promotion to the next semester or phase of the curriculum. Students who reach the limits outlined below can petition the SPC for further consideration.

Pre-Clerkship Phase Limits to Remedial Work

  • Does not pass three or more final composite course assessments on the first attempt during Semester 1 and Semester 2 combined.
  • Does not pass two or more Semester 3 final composite course assessments on the first attempt.

Clerkship Phase Limits to Remedial Work

  • Fails two or more required courses and/or clerkships
  • Fails three subject exams on the first attempt. ICM, EPIC and HJSC must be passed for the student to be eligible for promotion. These courses are considered independently and are not part of the limits to remedial work criteria listed above.
  • Failure to make satisfactory progress in the Required Scholarly Project.
  • A student is allowed only one repeat of an academic year during his/her enrollment at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.
  • Any student who fails to take a scheduled makeup exam on a date scheduled by the Curriculum Office will receive a grade of “Fail” on that exam and will need to appear before the Student Performance Committee to request approval to repeat the academic year.
  • When the Student Performance Committee determines that a student has failed to demonstrate sufficient progress as outlined above, the committee may recommend remedial work, repeating the year of instruction in part, or in its entirety, dismissal, leave of absence, or other action.
  • All students repeating segments of the curriculum on which they have been previously examined who do not pass the first examination in the repeated segment will be allowed a makeup examination, but failure to pass on the first exam attempt will be noted as an F on the transcript.

 Process:

  • The Student Performance Committee reviews all students at the end of each academic year (or earlier in some cases) determining their clearance for promotion or their need to remediate course work and/ or repeat an academic year.
  • Students who are required to repeat an academic year are placed on academic probation status until removed from probation by the Student Performance Committee.
  • Students may appeal the decision of the Student Performance Committee as outlined in the KSOM Promotion Policy

Reviewed and Approved:  September 3, 2025

Medical Education Executive Council