Year 4 Curriculum

Critical Care and Core Sub-Internship are required selectives completed in Year 4. Students can pursue specialized Critical Care rotations, including Surgical ICU, Medical ICU, Neonatal ICU, Pediatric ICU, and Cardiac Critical Care. Sub-Internship options are available in Gynecology, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Neurosurgery, Surgery and Surgical Subspecialties.

Electives

The College of Medicine – Phoenix provides more than 200 fourth-year electives that help meet graduation requirements and support individual interests. Electives are offered across Phoenix-area hospitals, medical centers and private practices. Additional opportunities are available statewide, nationally and internationally through the Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VLSO) system for MS4 students.

Personal and Professional Development

The Personal and Professional Development (PPD) course spans Years 3 and 4 and prepares students for upcoming clerkships, residency readiness and long-term career growth. Each PPD week includes synchronous and asynchronous learning along with protected wellness time.

Scholarly Project Classes of 2026, 2027 and 2028

The Scholarly Project is a four-year sequence that develops skills in medical information literacy, research methods, teamwork, communication and ethical inquiry. Students explore these areas in depth by completing an individual, hypothesis-driven research project.

Scheduling and Evaluations

A required 4th-Year Curriculum orientation is held prior to the scheduling period. Students receive an overview of graduation requirements, policies, scheduling procedures and key deadlines.

Information for Faculty

Faculty who design and lead selectives and electives play a vital role in the mission of the College of Medicine – Phoenix. We value their expertise, commitment and partnership in preparing future physicians.