About the Curriculum

The practice of medicine is undergoing major changes. Many of these changes are part of a transformation that will alter the way health care is organized and delivered in the future. The Penn State curriculum is designed to reinforce the enduring tenets of the practice of medicine and address the broad and changing healthcare needs of society. The curriculum is learner-centered and has been developed to prepare our students for work in a more integrated healthcare system.

The Committee on Undergraduate Medical Education, composed of faculty and students, meets regularly to evaluate and modify the curriculum to keep pace with new knowledge and changes in healthcare delivery.

The curriculum for the first two years is interdisciplinary and integrated, and combines elements of traditional teaching with case-based learning. The third and fourth years are a continuum of clinical rotations and provides good foundation for internship experience.