Hey guys! I have one question about medical school - Does medical school have only one class going on at a time or are they all simultaneously? For example, does anatomy only take up 5 weeks but it’s the only class going on, then you’re on to biochemistry, then physiology, neuroscience, and so on? Or does it all happen simultaneously?
Different schools arrange their schedules differently.
Some have a traditional schedule like you’d see in undergrad with students taking multiple semester (or trimester) long modules at the same time; other use block scheduling–which is what you’re describing.
Block scheduling comes in variety of approaches. Some are organ/systems centered; others focus on a specific discipline.
Under a organ/system centered block (also called an integrated block system), multiple topics will be include in each block. An infectious disease block will cover microbiology, pharmacology, immunology, epidemiology and pathology. A neuroscience block will cover neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, neuropharmacology, neuropathology, behavioral neuroscience as well as neurological and psychiatric illnesses.
But even under a block schedule, students will be taking other on-going classes beside the main block–like ethics, professionalism, communication skills, basic clinical skills, independent research projects.
Curricula and often sample class schedules are posted on line for most medical schools. If you’re interested in seeing how a particular school structures their studies, google: [name of med school] + curriculum
@WayOutWestMom thank you so much. It helped a lot.