Curricular Time Pre-clerkship Years Policy

It is the policy of the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix (COM-P) that students in the pre-clerkship curriculum be scheduled for curricular activities of no more than 30 hours, excluding make-up sessions for time missed and examination time. Any unscheduled time can be utilized at the discretion of the students** to allow unscheduled time for dedicated self-directed learning*. The introduction to medicine block (ITM), personalized active learning (PAL) block and transition to clerkships block are exempt from this policy. Curricular hours are tracked by the pre-clerkship curricular office.

Exceptions can be made to this policy only with curriculum committee approval and not to exceed an average of 30 hours per week during each block. 

*Self-directed learning is defined by the Liaison Committee for Medical Education (LCME) to Include all of the following components as a single unified sequence that occurs over a relatively short time: 1) the medical student’s self-assessment of their learning needs; 2) the medical student’s independent identification, analysis, and synthesis of relevant information; 3) the medical student’s appraisal of the credibility of information sources; and 4) the facilitator’s assessment of and feedback to the student on their information seeking skills. (Element 6.3)

**Example activities that students may choose to engage include, but are not limited to: additional self-directed learning time, learning/mastery of curricular content, participation in certificate of distinction, participation in dual degree program, additional time working on scholarly project. 

Curricular Time Pre-clerkship Years Best Practice Document