Doctor of Medicine

The College of Medicine admits approximately 180 students each year into the M.D. degree program. Students receive a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree upon completing the college's academic and professionalism requirements. The education consists of two years of foundational pre-clerkship instruction, one year of core clinical clerkship instruction, and one year of advanced clinical clerkships and clinical elective rotations. An accelerated track allows a select group of eligible students to finish their degree in three years and join one of the participating residency programs at MUSC. Additionally, a parallel clinical track at the MUSC-AnMed Clinical Campus provides students with the chance to complete a primary-care focused clinical curriculum for the third and fourth years in a community-based setting.

All students are taught, mentored, and supervised by MUSC faculty members. The M.D. degree program's curriculum, instruction, and assessment are founded on the program objectives, which are the COM Institutional Learning Objectives (ILOs).

FLEX Curriculum

All courses within the M.D. Degree's required curriculum must be passed to graduate. The program doesn't calculate grade point averages or produce class ranks.

Phases

Pre-clerkship Phase

The Pre-clerkship Phase is structured in organ system blocks. It seamlessly integrates learning about both normal and abnormal conditions, effectively covering the spectrum of human health and disease using engaged learning formats. During this phase, learners participate in early clinical experiences with real patients and in simulation settings, promoting the application of basic science concepts in each block.

FLEX Phase

During the FLEX Phase, learners select a scholarly concentration aligning with their educational needs, professional interests, and career goals. Options for concentration pathways include research, humanities, global health, and medical education. Alternatively, eligible students may choose an accelerated parallel pathway for earlier graduation, which then leads to a residency position at MUSC.

Immersion Phase (Year 3)

The Immersion Phase (Year 3) consists of seven core clinical clerkships: family medicine, internal medicine, neurology and rehabilitation medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry, and surgery. In addition, students select two specialties for further immersion.

Enrichment Phase (Year 4)

The Enrichment Phase (Year 4) features required advanced clinical rotations. This includes critical care, emergency medicine, an acting internship (externship), a diverse range of electives, and the "Internship 101" capstone course. The intention of this phase is to prepare learners for the increased responsibilities they will encounter in their chosen specialties.

Year 1, Fall A (8/18/25-12/19/25)

MDCOR711 Clinical Skills 1 3
MDCOR720 Foundations of Health 8
MDCOR722 Foundations of Disease 9
MDCOR725 Cardiovascular System 9
IP711 IP Foundations and TeamSTEPPS 1
Semester Total 30

Year 1, Spring (1/5/26-5/1/26)

MDCOR712 Clinical Skills 2 3
MDCOR727 Respiratory/Renal Systems 7
MDCOR728 Gastrointestinal 9
MDCOR731 Reproductive/Endocrine System 8
IP ### IP Concentration Course 1
Semester Total 28

Year 1, Summer A, Trailer (5/4/26-8/14/26)

MDCOR713 Clinical Skills 3 3
MDCOR733 Women and Pediatric Health 5
MDCOR735 Ethics and Biostatistics 3.5
MDCOR736 Autoimmunity and Hematology 5
Semester Total 16.5

Year 2, Fall A (8/18/25-12/19/25)

MDCOR714 Clinical Skills 4 3
MDCOR739 Sensory and Motor Systems 13
MDCOR741 Special Senses and Cognition 8
MDCOR742 Behavioral and Geriatric Health 4.5
Semester Total 28.5

Year 2, Spring (1/5/26-5/1/26)

MDCOR750 USMLE Step 1 Board Review 2
MDCOR866  Transition to Clinical Medicine  1 

Choose from the following concentrations:

Global Health
MDCOR764 FLEX Scholarly Concentration-Global Health 5.5
MDCOR 766  FLEX2 Scholarly Concentration-Global Health   5.5 

Health Humanities
MDCOR760 FLEX Scholarly Concentration-Health Humanities 5.5
MDCOR 762  FLEX2 Scholarly Concentration-Health Humanities   5.5 

Physician as Teacher
MDCOR768 FLEX Scholarly Concentration-Physician as Teacher 5.5
MDCOR 770  FLEX2 Scholarly Concentration-Physician as Teacher   5.5 

Research
MDCOR772 FLEX Scholarly Concentration-Research 5.5
MDCOR 774  FLEX2 Scholarly Concentration-Research   5.5 
Semester Total 14

Year 2, Summer A, Trailer (5/4/26-8/14/26)

CLRK Clerkship* (6-weeks) 8
CLRK Clerkship* (6-weeks) 8
CLRK Clerkship* (6-weeks) 8
Semester Total 24

Year 3, Fall A (8/18/25-12/19/25)

MDCOR853 Ethics in Clinical Care 3A 1
MDCOR 835   Topics in Clinical Medicine 1 
MDCOR872 Geriatric Medicine 3A 0.5
CLRK Clerkship* (8-week) 10
SLCT Selective (2-week) 2.5
SLCT Selective (2-weeks) 2.5
Semester Total 17.5

Year 3, Spring (1/5/26-5/1/26)

MDCOR854 Ethics in Clinical Care 3B 1
MDCOR873 Geriatric Medicine 3B 0.5
CLRK Clerkship* (6-weeks) 8
CLRK Clerkship* (6-weeks) 8
CLRK Clerkship* (6-weeks) 8
Semester Total 25.5

Year 3, Summer A, Trailer (5/4/26-8/14/26)

MDCOR865 Clinical Competency Exam 3 1
ELEC Critical Care Elective (4-weeks) 5
XTRN Externship (4-weeks) 5
Semester Total 11

Year 4, Fall A (8/18/25-12/19/25)

MDCOR859 Ethics in Clinical Care 4A 1
EMED822 Essentials of Emergency Medicine 2.5
ELEC Electives (12-weeks) 15
Semester Total 18.5

Year 4, Spring (1/5/26-5/1/26)

MDCOR626 Internship 101 2.5
MDCOR862 Ethics in Clinical Care 4B 1
MDCOR874 Geriatric Medicine 4 1
ELEC Electives (12-weeks) 15
Semester Total 19.5
Curriculum Total 233

* All third year students are required to take seven clerkships in the following disciplines. These clerkships may be completed in any sequence over Summer, Fall and Spring of the third year.

  • Family Medicine
  • Internal Medicine
  • Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine
  • OB/GYN
  • Pediatrics
  • Psychiatry
  • Surgery