{"id":365,"date":"2023-01-18T13:26:43","date_gmt":"2023-01-18T21:26:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medicine.wsu.edu\/md\/?page_id=365"},"modified":"2025-08-22T08:42:01","modified_gmt":"2025-08-22T15:42:01","slug":"by-year","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/medicine.wsu.edu\/md\/curriculum\/by-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Program by Year"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\r\n\t\nCollege of Medicine<\/span><\/a><\/span>MD Program<\/span><\/a><\/span>News<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>
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\r\n\t\tCurriculum by Program Year\t<\/h1>\r\n\t\t<\/header>\r\n\n\n
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Integrating Clinical Training with Classroom Learning from the Start<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At Washington State University\u2019s Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, the MD program curriculum integrates classroom learning and community-based clinical training beginning in the first year to prepare future physicians to succeed in a range of health care environments and achieve outstanding outcomes for their patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the pre-clerkship years, Years 1 and 2, students study the fundamental medical sciences and are introduced to clinical practice and their regional medical campuses. In the clerkship years, Years 3 and 4, students transition to their regional campuses and are immersed in clinical experiences through a third-year Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship (LIC) and fourth-year sub-internship and required and elective clinical rotations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pre-clerkship Years: Foundational Sciences and Clinical Training<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the first two years of medical school, the focus of the program is classroom learning, with integrated exposure to clinical settings. You will study the foundational sciences of medicine and the fundamentals of clinical practice to develop the essential knowledge and skills you need to succeed as a physician.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clinical Experiences in Years 1 and 2<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Before you arrive to begin the program, you will have the opportunity to rank your preferences among our four clinical regions where you will complete your clerkship and most other clinical training: Everett, Spokane, Tri-Cities, or Vancouver. At the beginning of the program, you will receive your campus assignment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the pre-clerkship years, you will visit your assigned campus for one week per term to become familiar with the community\u2019s health care infrastructure and to train with experienced health care professionals. You will also spend one half day per term in a clinical setting in Spokane. This early exposure to clinical settings enables students to put classroom lessons into practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Year 1<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Your medical education begins with a week of orientation that introduces you to the program, your peers and instructors, and the range of resources available to support your learning<\/a> and well-being<\/a> during your time in medical school. Orientation week concludes with a moving White Coat Ceremony where your family and friends join the college faculty and staff to welcome you to the medical profession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Intensive Introductory Training<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

First-year students complete intensive course work in fundamental medical sciences<\/a> including anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, and more, learning about human body systems and the prevention and treatment of associated health conditions. Your course work will include the art and practice of medicine, where you learn clinical skills, medical ethics, professionalism, and about health equity and other topics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Course work employs a variety of educational formats: large-group classroom learning, case-based small-group learning, and simulation-based clinical skills training at the Virtual Clinical Center.<\/a> Courses for the leadership curriculum and scholarship and discovery curriculum also begin in Year 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Year 2<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Second-year students broaden and deepen their knowledge of foundational medical sciences through course work that explores more body systems <\/a>and applies concepts at a deeper level. You continually review prior content and apply it in new contexts as your medical knowledge grows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, you continue to develop your competence in medical and scientific knowledge, patient care and health promotion, professionalism and self-awareness, practice-based and lifelong learning, systems-based and interprofessional practice, and interpersonal and communication skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Licensing Exam, Part 1 of 3<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Near the end of your second year, you will have dedicated study time to prepare for the first part of a three-part national exam, the United States Medical Licensing Examination<\/a> (USMLE). This part tests your knowledge of fundamental medical sciences. You must pass all parts of the USMLE before you can practice medicine as an MD in the U.S.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n\n

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Course Catalog<\/h2>\n\n\n\n