Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California

Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California Academics

4-year modern. First year: Students are progressively involved in patient care beginning with the first semester ofthefirstyear.Anintroductiontoclinicalmedicinecourse begins in the freshman year and runs through the sophomore year. Doctor-patient relationships and interviewing are presented during the first year, and physical diagnosis and history-taking are discussed in the second. Groups of approximately 6 to 7 students are led by a faculty member who serves as a clinical tutor for their first 2 years. Basic sciences are taught largely in an organ system approach. Appropriatematerialinthebasicsciencesispresentedduring the study of these systems; patients are observed and examined for clinical illustration of the subject under discussion. Second year: The student studies the pathologic aspects of medicine, also predominantly in organ system approach. In addition, a student may begin an investigative project. Third year: Student participation is required in the clinical clerkships, such as internal medicine and general surgery. Elective study is provided in the third and fourth years. Fourth year: Consists almost entirely of work chosen by the student. In addition, students have an opportunity to engage in clinical or basic research through voluntary participation in a summer fellowship program between the freshman and sophomore years.