Fourth Year Course Directory

Penn State College of Medicine Elective Requirements In Years III & IV

approved, CUMED III/IV subcommittee, February 7, 2008
approved, CUMED Oversight committee, February 25, 2008

1. To meet graduation requirements, students in the College of Medicine must successfully complete a total of at least five 4-week elective rotations during the clinical years (Years III and IV).  To complete these five required electives:
   
   • Two 4-week blocks are available in the third year schedule which may be divided into elective and vacation time, or used entirely for electives.
   • Multiple potential 4-week elective blocks are available in the fourth year schedule.



2. The majority of elective courses are available during either the third or fourth year; however, some elective rotations are specifically designed for third year students or for fourth year students.
   • Regardless of the year, any listed prerequisites must have been successfully completed prior to beginning the elective.
   • Those electives which are designated as third year electives have been specifically designed for third year students and may only be taken during the third year.
   • Those electives which are designated as fourth year electives have been specifically designed for fourth year students and may only be taken during the fourth year.
   • Only one of the elective requirements may be completed as two 2-week elective courses.  (Current 2-week elective courses are all third year electives and may only be taken by third year students.)



3. Within the above criteria, students may satisfy the elective requirement of five blocks with any combination of elective courses.  (There is no minimum requirement for a specific number of “third year”, “fourth year” or general electives.”)