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program of instruction of the College of Medicine is based on
the philosophy of a "core" concept of medical
education. By this approach, required "core" courses
providing the essential knowledge and skills necessary for the
practice of medicine are offered to all medical students. In
addition, time is provided in the schedule for elective
courses, so that students can explore areas of special
interest.
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The core
disciplines of the first and second years include gross and
developmental anatomy, histology and cell structure,
biochemistry, physiology, microbiology, pathology,
pharmacology, medical genetics, psychiatry, as well as
biometrics and epidemiology. In addition to these, two
interdisciplinary courses are offered in the first year: Basic
Neuroscience and Introduction to Patient Care I.
Interdisciplinary courses offered during the second year
include Pathophysiology of Organ Systems, Infectious Diseases,
and the principles of physical diagnosis in Introduction to
Patient Care III.
The
third and fourth years consist of units of instruction in a
continuum of clerkships and examinations for various clinical
subjects. During the fourth year, opportunity is available for
additional clinical or research experience through twenty-four
(24) weeks of electives. Elective Requirements: Time is
available for elective courses presented in the form of
lectures, research, seminar and clinical experiences. These
courses are designed to broaden the basic knowledge acquired
in the Core Curriculum and also to meet the needs of
individual students that arise from differences in background,
interests, and choice of future careers in medicine or
medically related professions.
Beginning in the second semester of the first year, each
medical student may enroll in one (1) elective per semester
through the second year. Enrollment in electives during the
first two years may be done at the option of the student, but
is not required for promotion to the second or third years.
Clinical electives are not ordinarily open to first and second
year students. Students are strongly advised to select
electives which will enhance their pre-clinical preparation.
Elective time is not available in the
clerkship schedule of the eleven-month third year. However, in
the fourth year, a total of twenty-four (24) weeks is provided
of which a minimum of twenty (20)weeks must be spent in an
elective course, clinical clerkship, or research activity. An
optional: (4) weeks may be taken as "vacation" in
addition to any other regular holidays during the year.
During senior electives, students may simultaneously serve as
externs in the selected course receive compensation as a
US-PHS appointee in connection with an approved elective. The
elective however, must be a training experience and temporary
employment cannot be substituted electives.
In choosing an elective, senior students may enroll in courses
offered at Howard University (described in the booklet, "Senior
Elective Courses") or, upon approval, electives may
be taken( another institution. To do the latter, the student
must first obtain and complete the "Medical Student
Application for Extramural Elective Clerkship" form which
is available in the Office of the Dean. The request is then
approved by the appropriate department chairman in the College
of Medicine' Final approval of the request is made by the Dean
or Associate Dean prior to transmitting application to the
extramural chairman, Director, or Chief of Service at the host
institution w the elective is to be taken.
Students desiring to take senior electives within the College
of Medicine will be advised to register within the respective
department(s) at a specified period to be announced in April
of the third year.
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