B.A. / M.D. Program

Curriculum


Doctor and students visiting a patient

During the first two years of the program, the majority of a student’s time is dedicated to the arts and sciences to fulfill baccalaureate degree requirements, while the remaining time is spent in medical school coursework. In the final four years of the program, the majority of the student’s time is spent in medical school coursework with a smaller percentage of time spent completing baccalaureate degree requirements.

After students apply and are admitted to the “Medicine BA/MD” major, they will then select from three baccalaureate degree options:  Liberal Arts, Chemistry, or Biology.  Selection of the baccalaureate degree is dependent upon the number of transferrable courses available from high school (AP, IB, dual enrollment, etc.) To learn more about the typical six-year program of study, please visit the UMKC Academic Catalog.

Curriculum by Year

YEAR 1 FALLYEAR 1 SPRINGYEAR 2 SUMMERYEAR 2 FALLYEAR 2 SPRINGYEAR 3YEAR 4YEAR 5YEAR 6
MEDICINE:Medical Terminology, Learning Basic Medical Sciences, Fundamentals of Medical PracticeFundamentals of Medical Practice IIHospital Team ExperienceFundamentals of Medical Practice IIIFundamentals of Medical Practice VI, Clinical CorrelationsClinical Correlations, History of Medicine, Pathology I (General/Clinical), Medical Neurosciences, Clinical Practice of Medicine I, Intro to Pharmacology (Self-Paced), Pathology II (Anatomic/Systemic), Medical Microbiology, Clinical Practice of Medicine II, Continuing Care Clinic (half-day weekly)Pharmacology, Behavioral Sciences in Medicine, Year 4 Docent Rotation, Family Medicine I, Ambulatory Care Pharmacology (Self-Paced), Continuing Care Clinic (half-day weekly), Patient-Physician-Society I and II, ElectivesPsychiatry, Prescribing for Special Populations (Self-Paced), Obstetrics/Gynecology, Pediatrics, Family Medicine II Rural Preceptorship, Surgery, Year 5 Docent Rotation, Continuing Care Clinic (half-day weekly), ElectivesYear 6 Docent Rotation, Emergency Medicine, Rational and Safe Drug Prescribing (Self-Paced), Continuing Care Clinic (half-day weekly), Electives**
ARTS AND SCIENCES:Functional Anatomy w/Lab, General Chemistry I w/Lab, two General Education Requirements*Microbiology w/Lab, General Chemistry II w/Lab, Sociology: An Introduction, two General Education Requirements*Organic Chemistry w/Lab, Cell BiologyHuman Biochemistry, Sociology Life Cycles, General Psychology, Arts & Sciences Elective, Genetics, two General Education Requirements*Human Structure Function I, II and IIIHuman Structure Function IVCourses for B.A. degree*Humanities/Social ScienceHumanities/Social Science

Year 1-2

The student completes a significant portion of their baccalaureate degree while being introduced to the basic medical sciences. The Fundamentals of Medicine series (I-IV) builds on communication skills and learning to perform a patient-centered interview. This provides the students an opportunity to learn more about themselves, their profession, and further develop effective interviewing skills. The Fundamentals of Medicine series offers a unique theme each semester: women’s health (Fall Year 1), geriatrics (Spring Year 1), pediatrics (Fall Year 2) or adult medicine (Spring Year 2). Presentations on various medical symptoms and clinical findings are provided to integrate anatomy and physiology with medical history-taking, and provide a format for learning about developing a differential diagnosis based on the patient’s history.

In addition, clinical experiences begin immediately through the docent team experience and continue to advance as the student progresses through the six years. During docent team, teams of 10-12 students meet for two hours each week during the semester with the docent (teaching physician) at one of our partner hospitals. Information learned in the classroom is integrated throughout this clinical experience. Bridging the first two years, students spend one week during the summer semester completing the Hospital-Team Experience. This experience provides a greater understanding of the roles of patient care professionals and the hospital community as a team caring for the patient.

Year 3

Students will join a new docent team consisting of Year 3 – 6 students and a variety of health care professionals. At this time, students move from classes primarily on the UMKC Volker Campus to the Hospital Hill Campus for intensified basic medical science courses that will prepare students for increased clinical responsibilities.

As a part of the docent team experience, students will spend one-half day per week assisting with the diagnosis and treatment of patients in outpatient clinics at two partner hospitals. The clinical assignment provides continuity of patient care, as well as a wealth of clinical experience.

Year 4-6

In addition to finishing any remaining requirements for the undergraduate degree, students in Years 4-6 continue to participate in clinical assignments and have a number of experiences to complete the curriculum.

  • Students will be immersed in a one-month rural Missouri preceptorship that provides experiences in societal and health care concerns unique to non-urban primary care settings.
  • Two months a year, students join their full docent team for daily ward rounds called docent rotation. This docent rotation, month-long clinical rotations and continuing care clinic make up most of the final three years.
  • Clerkships in Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Pediatrics, Psychiatry and Surgery are the required medical school clerkship offerings in the final two years.

* 3-12 credit hours will come from general degree requirements and/or core major requirements.

**Students may take 6-7 electives in Year 6. They must choose three clinical electives from nine designated categories. One of these electives must be a critical care elective.