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School of Medicine School of Medicine
  1. School of Medicine
  2. Education
  3. MD & Combined Programs
  4. MD & PhD
  5. Program
  6. Curriculum

MSTP Curriculum

The curriculum of the UC San Diego MSTP integrates research training with medical education. The chart below outlines the SOM and Grad Program Curriculum of the MSTP. Most trainees earn both M.D. and Ph.D. degrees in about 8 years.

Integrated Scientific Curriculum

Note: All students are also required to complete a one-week Bioinformatics Bootcamp in early August prior to Year 1 (MS1).

Outline of requirements for MSTP Year 1, Year 2, Graduate Years, Year 3 and Year 4
Summer Fall Winter Spring
Year 1 Human Health & Disease
First Lab Rotation

Foundations of Human Biology

Cardiovascular I

Pulmonary I

Gastrointestinal I

Renal I

Musculoskeletal I

Mind, Brain & Behavior I

Endocrinology, Reproduction & Metabolism I

Immunology & Hematology
Microbiology
Clinical Foundations: including clinical skills and professional development curriculum, longitudinal ambulatory externship, case-based learning modules
Year 2 Human Health & Disease
Second & Third Lab Rotations

Principles of Clinical Oncology

Epidemiology, Biostatistics & Medical Informatics

Musculoskeletal II

Gastrointestinal II

Endocrinology, Reproduction & Metabolism II

Cardiovascular II

 

Mind, Brain & Behavior II

Pulmonary II

Renal II

Multi-Organ System Disorders & Integrative Cases Review
(2 weeks)

Comprehensive Review & Study for USMLE Step 1
(6 weeks)

 

Apply to Graduate Programs

Clinical Transitions
(1 week) 
Clinical Foundations: including clinical skills and professional development curriculum, longitudinal ambulatory externship, case-based learning modules

Choose Graduate Program (April)

Choose Thesis Lab (June)
Graduate Years Complete Graduate Program requirements and PhD work.
Students can choose to work in Free Clinic to maintain clinical exposure during Graduate Years.
Year 3

Core Clinical Clerkships:

  • Medicine (12 weeks)
  • Surgery (8 weeks)
  • Pediatrics (8 weeks)
  • Reproductive Medicine (6 weeks)
  • Psychiatry (6 weeks)
  • Neurology (4 weeks)
  • Primary Care (1 afternoon/week throughout the year, except during Surgery)

Clinical Selectives: 2 two-week selectives (one must be in surgery or a surgery-related field)

 Advanced Therapeutics
(4 weeks)
Year 4

Requirements of 4th Year (9 months of enrollment):

  • 12 weeks of direct patent care clerkships (1 each of inpatient, outpatient, and primary care)
  • 12 weeks minimum of other clinical elective
  • Completion of Independent Study Project
Principles to Practice
(4 weeks)