​Preclerkship Electives

Preclerkship electives provide students the opportunity to broaden their experiences during the preclerkship years and are a major element of the curriculum at UC San Diego School of Medicine. Students are expected to complete a minimum of 15 weekly hours or approximately 135 total hours of elective work during the first two years of medical school. The elective hour requirement may be satisfied through participation in preclerkship elective courses, directed readings, independent study, preceptorships, and laboratory experiences. Students may choose to enroll in UC San Diego courses outside of the SOM and earn SOM elective credit.

Clinical Electives

In the third year, students take 2 two-week clinical selectives (one of the selectives must be in surgery or a surgery-related field).

During the fourth year of the curriculum, students select elective clerkships. Although students are allowed to choose their fourth year schedule, they must fulfill the following requirements:

• Direct Patient Care (DPC) Clerkships

  A minimum of three months of the fourth-year curriculum shall be devoted to DPC Clerkships at UC San Diego or an affiliated hospital. During these months, students must enroll in:

  • Ambulatory Care Clerkship – A minimum of one month of ambulatory care.
  • Inpatient Care Clerkship – A minimum of one month of inpatient care (including intensive care units).
  • Primary Care Clerkship – A minimum of one month of primary care. Most sub-specialty consultative rotations will not satisfy this requirement.
• Other Elective Clerkships

  A minimum of three months of elective clerkships. (Note, if a student does not take 2 two-week clinical selectives in the third year, then the student is required to take a minimum of four months of elective clerkships in the fourth year, at least one of which must be in surgery or a surgery-related field).