STUDENT ELECTIVES GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

This directory contains a listing of all electives available to students of the John A. Burns School of Medicine with a brief description of course content and evaluation methods, including information on the required clerkships.The electives are designed to increase your level of responsibility in patient care, broaden your exposure to available sub-specialties and the role of others in health care, and should be selected in consultation with identified faculty.A minimum of 35 weeks of fourth year credit is necessary to graduate, 7 in required areas.(Emergency Medical Care (4) and Senior Seminar (3) ) and 28 in other 545/546 electives. Two blocks can be taken as free time, as for interviewing/vacation. The rules for the 28 weeks are as follows:

1.    Changes (additions/deletions) must be done 4 weeks prior to the start of the four week block and must be done through the respective departments not the individual preceptors.

2.    No more than 12 weeks can be taken out-of-state.

3.    No more than 8 weeks* can be taken in a single department except Medicine (there is no limit in the number of Medicine electives which may be taken).

4.    Final course selection must be completed before April 28, 2000 after which time the electives become available to mainland students and housestaff on a first-come basis.

All students are required to meet with a specialty advisor to review/approve the student's 4th year schedule. Once signed approval is obtained, the student should keep the specialty advisor up-to-date on any revisions. A listing of specialty advisors as well as approval forms may be found as part of the packet you received with this Directory on February 18th.Please note that all electives must have the approval of the department course coordinator/faculty representative (varies between departments), and for away electives, the Associate Dean of Student Affairs. Instructions for out-of-state electives are provided on the back of the sample form.You are urged to plan your year carefully, seeking counsel and advice from your advisor and others in order to maximize your experience.Reminder:     Biom 531 (Unit 6 Comprehensive Clinical Exam) has been moved to Block A of your fourth year and is scheduled over three weekends: July 15 & 16, 22 & 23, 29 & 30, 2000. Each third year student will be assigned to one of these dates and the exam will take 4 to 5 hours to complete. Questions concerning this may be directed to the Center for Clinical Skills, 547-9841.

• Students may exceed the 8 week limit if their schedule permits; however, only 8 weeks will count.
• For the purpose of this requirement, Surgical ICU and Radiology, although in the Department of Surgery, do not count as Surgery electives.

1.    Students must be provided with a gradual increase in responsibility.

2.    Counseling/Advising system crucial.

3.    Minimum of 35 weeks of electives must be successfully completed to graduate.

* Proficiency must be established by December 31.