A broader examination of the UT Southwestern medical curriculum with individual course descriptions can be found at the Web page for Medical Education. Additionally, the curriculum Web site offers a detailed calendar of course dates and times for the current year including exam dates.

FIRST YEAR CURRICULUM
The first year curriculum is nine months long with a two-week winter break and one-week spring break.  Clinically oriented courses are indicated in italics.

Fall Semester
Medical Biochemistry (14 weeks)
Human Anatomy (18 weeks)
Clinical Ethics in Medicine (16 weeks)
Medical Embryology (3 weeks)
Medical Genetics (5 weeks)

Spring Semester
Medical Neuroscience (9 weeks)
Human Behavior and Psychopathology (15 weeks)
Medical Physiology (7 weeks)
Biology of Cells and Tissues (8 weeks)
Endocrinology and Human Reproduction (4 weeks)

Electives available in First and Second Years
Healer's Art
Literature and Medicine
Medical Philosophy
Philosophical Bioethics
Clinical Nutrition
Complementary Medicine
Gender, Race and Medicine
Global Health
Health Care Economics
Medical Spanish
Public Health
Epidemiology

SUMMER BREAK
An 11-week summer break between the first and second year allows students numerous opportunities to pursue interest inside or outside of their medical education.  Clinical preceptorships (in a variety of locations and specialties) and UT Southwestern basic science and clinical research opportunities are available, if desired.

SECOND YEAR CURRICULUM
The second year curriculum is nine months long with a two-week winter break and two-week spring break.  It integrates the disciplines of Microbiology (139 contact hours), Clinical Medicine (316 contact hours), Pharmacology (85 contact hours), and Pathology (225 contact hours) by body system.

Fall Semester
General Principles (12 weeks)
Cardiovascular System (2 weeks)
Hematopoietic and Lymphoreticular Systems (2 weeks)
Respiratory System (3 weeks)
Gastrointestinal System (3.5 weeks)

Spring Semester
Renal/Urinary System (2 weeks)
Musculoskeletal System (1 week)
Endocrine System (1.5 weeks)
Reproductive System (1.5 weeks)
Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems (3 weeks)
Skin and Related Connective Tissue (1.25 weeks)
Extremes of Life (1week)
Toxicology (1 week)
Multisystem Disorders (1 week)

Student usually take Step 1 of the United States Medical Licensure Exam (USMLE) at the end of the second year curriculum.  An optional three-week preparation course is provided.

THIRD YEAR CURRICULUM
The third year curriculum is 10 to 11 months long (depending on whether the student chooses to complete an elective rotation) with a two-week winter break and a two-week spring break.  Students request a schedule sequence for the third year; presented below is a typical schedule.  This schedule will vary according to the student's desires and availability.

Psychiatry (6 weeks)
Obstetrics and Gynecology (6 weeks)
Internal Medicine (12 weeks)
Family Medicine (4 weeks)
Elective or Time Off (4 weeks)
Surgery (8 weeks)
Pediatrics (8 weeks)

Students are exposed in various rotations to inpatient and outpatient, public and private clinical settings.  Locations are primarily in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, although locations in Waco and Tyler are also available for the Family Medicine rotation.

Students usually take both components of USMLE Step 2 after the third year but must sit for the exam prior to graduation.  Applications for residency programs are normally completed in the early fall of the fourth year.  The residency match is the third week in March.

FOURTH YEAR CURRICULUM
The fourth year curriculum is 11 months long with a two-week winter break and a two-week spring break.  A various number of weeks are allotted for residency interviewing, extra electives or free time.

Acute Care Clerkship (4 weeks)
Ambulatory Care Clerkship (4 weeks)
Internal Medicine Subinternship (4 weeks)
Neurology Clerkship (4 weeks)
Four Electives (4 weeks each)
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (2 weeks)

The Acute Care and Ambulatory Care clerkships and the Medicine Subinternship must be completed at UT Southwestern.  Electives and the Neurology Clerkship can be completed at any approved site in the DFW area or other areas in Texas, the United States or internationally.