Advanced Studies Electives: UMass Medical Students
Required Sub Internships are assigned through the Advanced Studies E*Value Optimization Scheduling program in January along with a few type A and B1 approved electives. Required subinternships and electives received through the Advanced Studies EVOS application are automatically added to students’ People Soft schedules.
Electives: An elective is defined as a structured learning experience in a field of medicine or related fields approved by the faculty of the UMass Medical School, which is not specifically required as part of the basic medical school curriculum. To fulfill the requirements for graduation, each MD student must satisfactorily complete 24 weeks of elective time in addition to the required sub I (and Neurology Clerkship for students entering clinical years prior to May 2012) . **Please note: Students who particpated in the Core Clinical Experience transition year during AY 2011 - 2012 must complete an additional 8 weeks of A or B1 Electives. Additional elective requirements are outlined in the Student Handbook under “Requirements for the MD Degree.”
Electives applied toward graduation credit are normally Advanced Studies fourth-year courses taken after required third-year Core Clinical Experience (CCE) clerkships are completed. All Advanced Studies electives require prior approval by the Associate Dean for Student Affairs.
Proposed Educational Plan: Students are required to have a mentor approved Proposed Education Plan (PEP) on file in the Office of Student Affairs room S1-131 prior to May 1st. The PEP is designed to assist students and their Learning Communities Mentor or House Specialty Advisor in discussing the student’s goals and objectives for planning the student’s Advanced Studies education. The Associate Dean for Student Affairs will not approve any non-lottery electives not listed on the student’s PEP in Sections A and B.
People Soft Schedules: It is the student’s responsibility to arrange his/her Advanced Studies elective schedule. Students are not automatically approved for electives on their PEP form.
The Office of Student Affairs must have ‘approved’ UMMS elective paperwork on file prior to the start of the elective, in order to add non-lottery electives to the student’s schedule. Student Affairs maintains elective schedules on a daily basis. Only electives on the student’s schedule receive credit.
It is the student’s responsibility to check his/her online PeopleSoft schedule regularly to insure that an accurate elective program is on file. The Student/Faculty Self-Serve portal (PeopleSoft Schedules) can be found on the UMMS intranet website.
UMass students shall have preference over visiting students from other medical schools in scheduling UMass electives prior to May 1st of each year. After this date, electives for the coming academic year will be open to students from outside the University of Massachusetts Medical School, and elective enrollment will be on a first come, first served basis.
Adding and dropping Advanced Studies Courses: Forms for adding and dropping electives can be downloaded from the right hand side bar. Additional requirement for rescheduling or withdrawing from an Advanced Studies courses can be found in the student handbook in Section III, Academic Regulations.
Internal and External Electives: There are no rigid regulations regarding the proportion of time spent on intramural/internal versus extramural/external electives. Download instructions on how to apply for electives.
Internal Elective: An elective course offered by the University of Massachusetts Medical School or its affiliated hospitals. An array of Advanced Studies courses and their descriptions are posted on the Student Affairs Elective List website.
External Elective: UMMS students are encouraged to apply for Advanced Studies electives at any of the AAMC accredited schools or teaching hospitals. External electives are elective courses given at institutions other than the UMass Medical School or its affiliated hospitals.
The Visiting Student Application Service (VSAS) is an AAMC application designed to make it easier for medical students to apply for senior electives at U.S. medical schools and teaching hospitals. Please visit the Host Institution link https://services.aamc.org/20/vsas/public/schools/ for a current list of participating U.S, medical schools and hospitals.
If you are not applying to any of the VSAS participating medical schools and/or teaching hospitals, please use the AAMC’s Extramural Electives Compendium (EEC) to search for additional visiting student application information. The online ECC can be found at: http://services.aamc.org/eec/students.
International Electives: Students considering international electives must discuss their plans with Mick Godkin, PhD, Director for International Student Programs.
Enrollment Requirements: School policy requires a student take a minimum of eight (8) semesters of enrollment and allows for a maximum of twelve (12) semesters of enrollment in medical student courses to complete the MD Degree.
Students MUST be registered for a minimum of twelve (12) credit hours (12 weeks during clinical years) for that semester by two weeks before the start of the semester and must maintain a minimum enrollment of 12 credit hours during the semester in order to maintain active student status (be eligibility for course credit, malpractice insurance, financial aid, etc.) For additional information see “Matriculating Student Status” and “Number of Years to Complete the MD Degree” in the Student Handbook.
Elective Evaluations: For all electives on a students’ schedule within the UMass system: The Registrar’s Office will automatically send an evaluation form [electronically] to the Elective Coordinator for completion. The evaluation will be emailed midway through the elective.
For all electives on a students’ schedule outside the UMass system (External Electives): The Registrar’s Office will email an evaluation form to the student. It is the student’s responsibility to give this Evaluation Form to the elective coordinator for completion.
For all International electives, students should obtain an evaluation form from the Registrar’s Office before they leave for the elective. Students should have the Elective Coordinator complete the evaluation form and bring the completed form to Mick Godkin, PhD for UMass sign-off. Dr. Godkin will forward the form to the Registrar’s Office.
Exiting Curriculum Credit Hour Assignments: Each grade-granting course is assigned credits based on the following process. See Student Handbook for additional info.
Year 2-4 core clinical and elective experiences:
one week = one credits
Year 3-4 required sub-internships: one week = two credits
Additional electives may be taken with or without credit provided that the status is indicated prior to the start of the elective. Students who desire to take an elective for credit will have preference over students desiring the elective for non-credit.
Rev 11-6-12 jmr, Rev 12-5-12, Rev 3-5-13 jmr