Curriculum » Accepted Medical Students » College of Medicine

Course Descriptions for 1st and 2nd Year

The following courses constitute the preclinical component of the curriculum for the M.D. degree and are required for medical students during the first and second years. Some of the courses are available to graduate students in the university, but the number of students who can be accepted is limited by laboratory facilities, and enrollment requires the written approval of the course director.

Class of 2027 schedule (click to open)

FIRST YEAR

BMS 6810 Introduction to Clinical Medicine I (8 credits)

ICM 1 is part of an 18 month preclinical curriculum designed to prepare students for clinical rotations that begin in the spring of the second year of medical school. ICM 1 is offered in the Fall of the first year of medical school and prepares students for a two week preceptorship with a primary care clinician in December.

BMS 6003 Genetics and Health (4 credits)

This required first-year course surveys basic and modern concepts in human genetics, with emphasis on medically-relevant material. This will prepare students to understand the genetic contributions of conditions that they will be diagnosing and treating in the future.

BMS 6092 Discovery, Research and Health (1 credits)

This course provides an orientation to foundational concepts and methodological considerations in health outcomes research. Topics include health outcomes measurement and evaluation, evidence-based medicine, systematic reviews, observational studies and quasi-experimental designs, effectiveness research, and translational research methods. Special attention will be paid to ethics in research.

BMS 6031 Foundations of Medicine (6 credits)

The Foundations of Medicine course is organized into four modules that will cover topics in (1) cell and tissue biology and development, (2) mechanisms of homeostasis, (3) injury and host response, and (4) pharmacotherapeutics.

BMS 6751 Nutrition and Health (1 credit)

This course is designed to provide students with an overview of clinical nutrition in preparation for their clinical experiences and for integration into the systems modules. The focus will be on helping students to consider how nutritional science can be applied to human health.

MDC 6001 Introduction to Clinical Practice (Preceptorship) (Fall 3 credits, Summer 3 credits)

During this course, students are assigned to a physician preceptor who practices primary care medicine. Students spend three weeks on location with the physician and have many opportunities to utilize their interview and physical examination skills.

BMS 6300 Fundamentals of Microbiology and Immunology (4 credits)

This course introduces first year medical students to basic microbiology, infectious diseases, and immunology in preparation for the organ system-based courses that follow. Microbiology topics include basic bacteriology, virology, mycology, parasitology, pathogenesis, and host-pathogen interactions. Immunology builds upon the innate defenses previously covered and includes major histocompatibility, humoral and cell-mediated defenses, autoimmunity, immunosuppression, and transplantation.

BMS 6816 Introduction to Cancer Biology and Clinical Oncology (2 credits)

Using a patient based format in lectures, labs, small groups, film, team based learning and standardized patients, this course will introduce the key concepts in cancer biology and carcinogenesis, nomenclature and staging, ethics and public policy, surgical, radiation and medical oncology and cancer pharmacology.

BMS 6091 Health Outcomes and Policy 1 (1 credit)

This course provides an orientation to foundational concepts in health outcomes and policy at the individual, system, and population health levels. Topics include health care delivery systems, health policy-making processes, quality assessment, and translational research. Distributive justice and ethics in healthcare law and policy will be explored.

BMS 6812 Introduction to Clinical Medicine II (7 credits)

ICM 2 is part of an 18 month preclinical curriculum designed to prepare students for clinical rotations that begin in the spring of the second year of medical school. ICM 2 is offered in the Spring of the first year of medical school.

BMS 6863 Population Health in Medicine (1 credit)

This course will provide first-year medical students with an overview of population science. An understanding of epidemiology, the determinants of and distribution of health in a population, is important to address population level factors that influence health. One of its key foci is the social determinants of health which influence health inequities among population groups. Additionally, this course will address USMLE Step 1 content in population health and epidemiology.

BMS 6633 The Cardiovascular System (5 credits)

The focus will be recognition of pertinent findings in patients that suggest cardiovascular disease, development of a list of differential diagnoses explaining the presenting complaint, utilization of diagnostic testing and understanding the pathophysiology, pathology, epidemiology and therapies of diseases of these systems.

BMS 6642 Respiratory System (5 credits)

BMS 6638C The Kidney and Urinary Tract (4 credits)

The focus is the recognition of the pertinent history and physical examination findings that suggest urinary tract disease, the development of a list of differential diagnoses explaining patient’s presenting complaint, as appropriate, utilization of diagnostic testing, understanding the pathophysiology, pathology, etiologies, epidemiology and therapies of diseases of the urinary tract.

MS2 receive their white coats at the end of their 2nd year after completing Step Exams with The White Coat Ceremony

MDT 7090 Discovery Pathways and MSRP (2 credits) – Optional

The College of Medicine Discovery Pathways Program is an optional program for medical students to build a portfolio of accomplishment and scholarship in a defined area acceptable to pathway leadership. The overall goals of the Research Track are:

Allow students to perform an extended research project within their 4 year medical school curriculum, and graduate with their classmates.
Students may apply for Graduation with Honors in Research and the Craig Tisher MD Faculty in Research Prize.
Expose medical students to research and begin their training as Clinician Scientists.
Be flexible enough so that students may choose to extend their research experience beyond the primary track and pursue the MD/Ph.D. program.

SECOND YEAR

BMS 6000 Fundamentals of Clinical Medicine (1 credit)- for OMFS students only

This course will provide a bridge from the dental sciences to clinical medicine. Entering OMFS students will be provided the tools and experiences to prepare for entry to Introduction to Clinical Medicine. Small group sessions will help prepare the student to share medical information in verbal and written form.

BMS 6813 Introduction to Clinical Medicine III (16 credits)

This curriculum will provide students with the basic competencies in professional behavior; communication with patients, families and other health professionals; physical examination; differential diagnosis; documentation and understanding of the social context of healthcare.

BMS 6814 Introduction to Clinical Medicine IV (8 credits)

This curriculum will provide students with the basic competencies in professional behavior; communication with patients families and other health professionals; physical examination; differential diagnosis; documentation and understanding of the social context of healthcare.

BMS 6020 Clinical Neuroscience (7 credits)

Clinical Neuroscience will introduce basic central nervous system (CNS) structure and function, along with head and neck anatomy, and integrate these with clinical topics important to Neuromedicine.

BMS 6021 Pain and Addiction Intensive (1 credit)

This is a second year course in the medical education curriculum. It provides an overview of the assessment of pain, the bio-psychosocial aspects of pain and the multidisciplinary approach to pain treatment. This course is designed to prepare students for their clinical experiences and for integration into the systems modules.

BMS 6635 Dermatology and the Musculoskeletal System (4 credits)

The focus of the course is recognition of the findings that suggest cutaneous or MSK disease; development of differential diagnoses explaining the complaint; diagnostic testing to establish a diagnosis; understanding the pathophysiology, pathology, etiologies, epidemiology and therapies; and appreciation of factors that contribute to health and disease.

BMS 6632 Endocrinology and Reproduction (4 credits)

The focus of this course is the recognition of the history and physical examination findings, development of differential diagnoses explaining symptoms and signs, utilization of diagnostic testing to establish a diagnosis, understanding the pathophysiology, pathology, etiologies, epidemiology and therapies of endocrine and reproductive diseases; and appreciation of psychological and sociological factors contributing to health and disease.

BMS 6634 Gastroenterology and Hepatology (5 credits)

The focus of this course is the recognition of patient histories and physical examination findings suggesting gastrointestinal/hepatobiliary disease; differential diagnoses to explain the presenting complaint; utilization of diagnostic testing to establish or confirm diagnosis; pathophysiology, pathology, etiologies, epidemiology and therapies of gastrointestinal/hepatobiliary diseases; contributing psychological and sociological factors.

MDC 6001 Introduction to Clinical Practice (Preceptorship) (3 credits)

BMS 6631 Hematology (4 credits)

The focus of this course is the recognition of patient histories and physical examination suggesting hematological disease; differential diagnoses; diagnostic testing; pathophysiology, pathology, epidemiology and therapies of hematologic diseases (including pharmacology and use of biologic and blood bank products); appreciation of psychological and sociological factors that contribute to health and disease.

MDT 7090 USMLE Step 1 Preparation (1 credit)

This course allows for adequate preparation for the USMLE through self-directed learning. The course has formative evaluation with the NBME Basic Science Examination and a summative clinical skills exam.