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Curriculum

SJV PRIME+ BS/MD students will pursue one of four degree options for their undergraduate degree, all of which include coursework that will effectively prepare students to be successful in medical school. While course requirements may vary across degree programs, all students will be required to complete the MedEd Core Curriculum. This pre-medical pathway has been designed to provide students with a strong foundation for practicing medicine and becoming experts in health issues that are unique to the San Joaquin Valley community. All required courses must be successfully completed with a standard letter grade of a C or better.

Complimentary to the academic curriculum, students will also be expected to participate in a wide range of co-curricular activities that will focus on exploring health inequities and prepare students to work directly with the region’s medically underserved communities. Co-curricular requirements include the following:

  • Enrollment in Introduction to Medical Learning (IML) undergraduate education courses
    • IML Year 1 (USTU-90)
    • IML Year 2 (USTU-90)
    • IML Year 3 (USTU-190)
    • IML Year 4 (USTU-190)
  • Participation in mentoring sessions with medical education faculty (4 sessions per semester)
  • Participation in clinical shadowing/community-based volunteer placements (x hours)
  • Completion of the capstone (4th Year)
  • Completion of culminating research experience (Year X)

 

Eligible Major Requirements

These guidelines detail specific policies by chosen major. They encompass factors like selecting courses, meeting prerequisites, determining grading standards, and other crucial directives tailored to your major.

 

Med Ed Core Course Requirements & Sequence

  • Mario re-doing this section

 

Co-Curricular Requirements

Introduction to Medical Learning (IML) Undergraduate Education Courses

Draft brief description of the course series as a whole

 

Introduction to Medical Learning (IML) Year 1 (USTU-90)

This is a 1-unit course designed to introduce students to health care and provide the necessary skills to succeed as future health professionals. The course covers various aspects of healthcare delivery and explores the roles of physicians and other healthcare professionals in patient care. Students will also learn about the composition of healthcare teams and their collaborative efforts. The course aims to guide students in identifying pathways to pursue a career in healthcare.

Sample syllabi from past semesters can be found here

 

Introduction to Medical Learning (IML) Year 2 (USTU-90)

Intro to Medical Learning 2 (IML2) will begin introducing students to the community engagement component of the SJV PRIME+ pathway. Throughout the academic year, this course will provide opportunities to understand the importance of community engagement within the health care system.

This will be accomplished through a combination of:

  • Classroom Seminars
  • Service Learning / Community Engagement
  • Experiential Learning
  • Community Engaged Research

 

Introduction to Medical Learning (IML) Year 3 (USTU-190)

This course is currently under development.

 

Introduction to Medical Learning (IML) Year 4 (USTU-190)

This course is currently under development.

 

Mentoring Sessions

The mentoring program is designed to provide support, guidance, and exposure to health care systems, health care teams and the experiences of medical professions in health care. Structured meetings and clear expectations ensure regular interaction between mentors and mentees, focusing on areas such as academic guidance to medical school, and exposure to healthcare professions.

Students enrolled in the mentor program are expected to adhere to the following guidelines:

  • Check email regularly for mentor program updates
  • Respond to requests or questions from program/mentor within 24 hours
  • Mentor groups and meetings are confidential and supportive spaces
  • Show up to all mentor meetings on time, with camera and microphone on
  • Be present and engaged in the conversation, ask questions
  • Check in with mentor about challenges (academic or personal), as needed

 

Clinical Shadowing/Volunteering (In Progress)

 

Culminating Research Experience

This section is under development.

 

Capstone Project

This section is under development.

 

Course Repetition Policy

https://registrar.ucmerced.edu/policies/course-repetition

Degree credit for a course will be given only once, but the grade assigned at each enrollment shall be permanently recorded on the academic record.

UNDERGRADUATES: A student may repeat only those courses in which a grade of D, F, or Not Passed was received. Courses in which a grade of D or F has been earned may not be repeated on a Passed/Not Passed basis. The only exception to this is WRI 001. WRI 001 may be repeated in which a grade of C-, D, F, or Not Passed was received.

In computing grade point average of an undergraduate who repeats courses in which the student received a D or F, only the most recently earned grade and grade points shall be used for the first 16 units repeated. In the case of further repetitions, the grade point average shall be based on all grades assigned and total units attempted.

If a student repeats a course where a previous passing grade was received it will be considered an illegal repeat and credit for the most recent attempt of the course will be excluded from the GPA and units.

Any undergraduate student who wishes to repeat a non-repeatable course can take the course for a second attempt without further permission, as long as the student did not receive an incomplete in the previous attempt. In order to take a course for a third attempt or if an incomplete grade was previous assigned, the student will need to contact the school or program that offers the course they wish to repeat. They will provide further instructions about the correct process to obtain permission (in the form of an override), if approved. If a grade of incomplete was previously assigned, the undergraduate student will need to contact their academic advisor for approval.

 

Registration and Course Withdrawal

Students are encouraged to review the Add/Drop/Withdraw grid provided each term to stay informed about all course deadlines. To learn more, please visit the following link for additional details: Add/Drop/Withdraw | Office of the Registrar (ucmerced.edu)

 

Transfer Unit Protocol

Transfer units can only count towards lower division STEM MedEd Core requirements (course number 90s and below); however, all transfer units can count towards the total graduation unit count (120 units).

med ed science core classes

 

Summer Requirements (In Progress)

  • Research (under development)
  • Decompression Plan (under development)

Following acceptance into the SJV PRIME+ pathway, students will be expected to complete the program’s summer requirements prior to the fall 2024. Requirements include the following:

  • All students must take placement exams (Mandatory)
  • Attendance and participation in the SJV PRIME+ New Student Orientation (July)
  • Submission of high school transcripts
  • Submission of all AP score exams
  • Participation and enrollment in UC Merced’s Summer Edge Program (insert dates) *
  • Enrollment and completion of UC Merced summer courses*

These requirements have been established to support students’ successful transition into the SJV PRIME+ pathway.

*This requirement is not applicable for all students, and is dependent on student’s placement scores in Chemistry and Calculus