Electives

The Mentoring and Advising Program provides an excellent guide to prepare for each specialty. This highly recommended guide includes recommendations for electives based on your specialty interest. For unique situations and other questions, please talk with your career faculty advisor and lead advisor.

Electives are generally four weeks long, representing four academic credits. An elective of two weeks in duration earns two academic credits. A full-time elective entails a full academic day with at least five days per week averaged over the course of the elective and may include weekend duty, night call, and/or weekend call.

Four-week special electives must be a minimum of 24 calendar days (or 18 weekdays) in duration to earn four academic credits. Two-week special electives must be a minimum of 11 calendar days (or nine weekdays) in duration to earn two academic credits.

Students select from five categories of electives:

• Clinical Practice (CP) Electives
  Students develop patient care skills and familiarity with the fundamental principles of practicing in a particular specialty.

• Advanced Clinical (AC) Electives
  Students actively participate in a robust clinical experience as an integrated member of a healthcare team. These electives also allow for reflection on professional development and career pathways.

• Advanced Science Research (AS) Electives
  Students pursue a review or scholarly research experience in the biomedical sciences and explore its relevance in clinical medicine.

• Professional Development (PD) Electives
  Students develop knowledge and skills outside of the traditional medical school curriculum that advance their success in medical practice

• Special Electives
  Students can pursue unique opportunities that are available outside of the IU School of Medicine electives catalog. These require advance discussion and planning with your advisors and the Medical Student Education office. A Special Elective Proposal Form must be completed to receive credit. Special electives can be any of the course types listed above.

A maximum of two career exploration electives (four academic credits) may be used to fulfill graduation requirements. Phase 3 students interested in taking a career exploration elective may only do so with special approval as a special elective. Since career exploration electives are primarily shadowing experiences, these courses do not count as Clinical Practice or Advanced Clinical electives. However, a maximum of four academic credits from these electives do count towards the total weeks of required electives.

No. Electives classified as Clinical Practice, Advanced Clinical or Professional Development may not be taken more than one time. Electives classified as Advanced Science Research may be taken up to two times (8 total weeks) unless otherwise noted on the elective description.

Yes! Students may take more than the minimum requirement for electives, but additional electives beyond the requirement must be completed prior to certification of your graduation.