Curriculum
Patient-centered and science-driven
The curriculum for students pursuing an M.D. degree at Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine is unlike any other. The focus is on patient care and clinical experiences that expand upon classroom learning. In addition, biomedical research will deepen your understanding of medicine.
Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine has the highest ratio of patients to medical students anywhere in the world, making a variety of clinical experiences readily available.
1:54
"I see teamwork on a daily basis"
Curriculum at a glance
Our four-year medical school curriculum is divided into three phases, Pre-Clerkship (18 months), Clerkship (18 months), and Post-Clerkship (12 months). This unique schedule allows for you to begin the eight core clinical clerkships early, about halfway through your second year of medical school.
Pre-Clerkship
The Pre-Clerkship phase spans the first 18 months of medical school. During this phase, you will study foundational basic sciences and pathophysiology in a series of academic courses we call "blocks." You will also have dedicated study time to prepare for the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1.
Clerkship
The Clerkship phase begins during the last six months of your second year of medical school. During this phase, you will apply your basic science knowledge from the pre-clerkship phase to the care of patients in a variety of core disciplines.
Post-Clerkship
The final 12 months of medical school are considered the Post-Clerkship phase, which includes a subinternship, several rotations at Mayo Clinic and other external institutions, and courses designed to prepare you for residency, including Transition to Residency and Internship Bootcamp.
Academic enrichments
Woven throughout the curriculum are numerous opportunities to customize your education to meet your individual goals and aspirations. We call these academic enrichment opportunities.
Hafsa Cantwell, M.D.
The selective rotations in early medical school exposed me to dermatology, which was a specialty I may not have considered without this early clinical exposure. I was exposed to a variety of clinical dermatology from outpatient to the inpatient setting, which ultimately drew me to complex medical dermatology.
Hafsa Cantwell, M.D.
Medical School Graduate, Assistant Professor of Dermatology, Senior Associate Consultant, Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic
Graduate outcomes
As a graduate of Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, you will be extremely well-prepared for your next steps.
By graduation, you will:
- Expand your breadth of medical knowledge and skills needed to be well-versed in many fields of medicine
- Establish patterns of independence and initiative for lifelong learning
- Confidently be able to perform more than 30 specific procedures of technical skill
- Demonstrate the medical knowledge and clinical skills necessary to enter graduate medical training programs
are chosen for a Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education residency
go on to become staff members at Mayo Clinic after residency or fellowship training