Medical Curriculum
The medical curriculum is designed and delivered by the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences (UNDSMHS) basic science and clinical faculty. Our goal is to prepare students to become:
- Physicians who are able to investigate and evaluate one’s care of patients, to appraise and assimilate scientific evidence, and to continuously improve patient care based on constant self-evaluation and lifelong
- Physicians who apply foundational science concepts to the practice of
- Physicians who provide patient-centered care that is compassionate, appropriate, and effective for the treatment of health problems and the promotion of
- Physicians with interpersonal and communication skills that result in the effective exchange of information and collaboration with patients, their families, and health
- Physicians who demonstrate a commitment to carrying out professional responsibilities and an adherence to ethical
- Physicians who demonstrate an awareness of, and responsiveness toward, the larger context and system of health care, including the ability to call effectively on other resources in the system to provide optimal health
- Physicians who are skilled in functioning both as a team member and as a team leader, and demonstrate the ability to engage in an interprofessional team in a manner that optimizes safe, effective patient-centered and population-focused care
- Physicians who demonstrate the qualities required to sustain lifelong personal and professional growth
Students enrolling at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences generally earn their Degree after four years of The first phase of study (20 months) takes place on the Grand Forks campus and is focused on basic sciences, pathology and fundamental clinical skills.
During phase 2 (16 months), students are assigned to clinical rotations on one of four campuses: Grand Forks, Fargo, Bismarck or Minot. Students complete seven clerkships during phase 2: pediatrics, family medicine, surgery, psychiatry, internal medicine, neurology and obstetrics/gynecology. Students may choose to participate in a traditional clerkship format or alternately, students may choose to participate in either of the longitudinal clerkship programs: Rural Opportunities for Medical Education (ROME) or the Minot Integrated Longitudinal Clerkship (MILE). Students also complete Step 1 of the national licensing exams, choose elective experiences, and complete a Clinical Epidemiology course/research project during phase 2.
Students spend phase 3 at one of four campuses - Grand Forks, Fargo, Bismarck and Minot. One acting internship, and seven electives are required during 4th year. By the end of phase 3 (end of the fourth year), students are expected to complete the Patient Safety/Quality Improvement Course and pass the Step 2 national licensing exam.