Electives and Selectives
°®ÎÛ´«Ã½ Long School of Medicine offers elective courses that have been designed to accommodate the diverse educational needs of our students and visiting students. Electives provide students with an opportunity to further develop their medical knowledge, clinical skills and professional identity. Electives are required for the successful completion of the MD degree program. The is designed to enhance a student’s ability to effectively plan their elective experiences. We encourage students to review the requirements for successful completion of the MD degree program to ensure that elective requirements are met.
Visiting students should first review the visiting student information for specific guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between elective and selective?
- Electives include credit and non-credit bearing courses that are not part of the required curriculum. This could include clinical rotations, research experiences, off-site rotations, and international experiences. Twenty weeks of electives are required for graduation.
- Selectives are taken after completion of the required clerkships. These experiences allow students to explore specialties and subspecialties while consolidating core knowledge and skills. Eight weeks of selectives are needed for graduation, and must consist of a four-week inpatient selective and a four-week ambulatory selective
What is an enrichment elective?
Enrichment electives are optional, non-credit, courses offered in addition to the required curriculum. These opportunities are recorded on the transcript and allow students to demonstrate their personalized interests outside of the required courses in the MD degree curriculum. Enrichment electives do not count toward the 20 weeks required. They offer learning experience beyond the requirements but can benefit career exploration.
Can I get elective credit for an away rotation (extramural elective)?
These opportunities are available in teaching hospitals, community clinics, and urban or rural sites. Away Rotations are offered by participating Host institutions as an extramural elective. Learn more about our Away Rotations.
What is required for preclinical and clinical studies?
See degree requirements for preclinical and clinical studies.
What specialties or career pathways are available?
Choose from Anesthesiology to Urology and many specialties and subspecialties in between. The LSOM has longitudinal career advising programs to support students in exploring specialty choices, providing shadowing opportunities and guidance for away rotations, and supporting development of applications for residency programs. LSOM career advising programs include Veritas and Specialty Advisors.
Learn more on our Career Advising page.
Who can I consult as I choose an elective or selective?
Schedule a meeting with a member of the Student Affairs team.
Where can I find the elective catalog?
Access the online. You may also find this Quick Start Guide helpful to get started. The elective catalogs are updated every spring semester, and a link will be published on this page. The elective catalog is designed to enhance a student’s ability to effectively plan their elective experiences. See the MS4 Schedule Planner to plan your year.