The third (M3) year consists of clinical clerkships in six core disciplines and the Essentials of Clinical Practice & Professionalism course. In each clerkship, students develop competencies specific to the disciplines as well as to the practice of medicine in general. Care of hospitalized and ambulatory patients gives students their first experience with both the time commitment and the emotional demands of the physicians's life. The habits of information gathering and study developed in the basic science years are now brought into play in "real time" situations, further preparing students for the life-long learning required by their profession.
Students also take Neurology in the M3 year and may choose to fill their unscheduled time with electives. M3 Surgical Electives are also being offered as an opportunity to expose students to surgical specialties in a two week experience.
The Graduation Competency Examination, a graduation requirement, takes place at the end of the M3 year.