COM Course Structure and Method of Delivery

Semester Credit Hour Policy

One (1) unit of credit is assigned for a minimum of 750 minutes of formalized classroom instruction that requires students to work an average of twice the amount of time for out-of-class assignments (1,500 minutes). For courses that include additional workshop and/or laboratory sessions, one (1) credit hour equals 25 clock hours of formalized instruction plus 12.5 clock hours for student out-of-class assignments. For clinical clerkships, one (1) credit hour is assigned for each 37.5 clock hour.

Semester Length Definition

CHSU College of Osteopathic Medicine defines a semester length as 20 weeks. Clinical Rotations are completed as assigned throughout the academic year.

Method of Course Delivery

OMS-I and OMS-II

The College of Osteopathic Medicine utilizes a two pass systems-based clinical application model which is based on the premise that a medical student needs to know and understand normal biomedical and clinical sciences before abnormal or pathological conditions can be addressed. Nutrition, clinical relevance, ethics, health policy, evidence-based medicine, and application of foundational knowledge, skills, and attitudes are added to enforce retention and retrieval. The curriculum includes systems-based courses, longitudinal courses, and inter- professional education courses. The teaching format utilizes Team-Based Learning (TBL), Simulated Patient Scenarios (SIM), Designated Study Assignment (DSA), Clinically Integrated Sessions-Lab (CIS), Immersive Learning Sessions – Lab (ILS), and Culinary Medicine Workshops (CMW) to deliver course content.

OMS-III and OMS-IV

Students in the third year are enrolled in required clinical rotations in the core disciplines of Internal Medicine, Surgery, Family Practice, Women’s Health, Pediatrics, and Psychiatry. The fourth year includes required clerkships in Emergency Medicine, Primary Care, Specialty and at least one in a community health clinic setting. Clinical clerkships for all required courses are in the central valley. Additional clerkship opportunities in the fourth year allow for students to audition/experience electives in the discipline of their choice.

Course Numbering System

The number assigned to a course is a general indicator of the year level of the course. The first two digits refer to the year level, the third digit indicates the course specialty/discipline, and the fourth digit designates the sequence of the course.