Office of Student Affairs

Academic Handbook

The Academic Handbook has been prepared by the Office of Student Affairs and is filled with useful information such as the official policy statements on grading, advancement and dismissal, tips on how to study, a glimpse at the line-up of courses you will encounter in Year I, when and where you should seek help, and much more. In short, it is a complete guide to academic matters at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. For more detailed information about such issues as parking, security, campus health and other matters that involve the entire campus community, you may wish to consult the UMB Answer Book (http://www.umaryland.edu/student/sab/). Though not a substitute for your many advisors, we hope that you will find this handbook to be a comforting start.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
  • Dean's Message (PDF)
  • Mission Statement of the School of Medicine
  • Thoughts on Becoming a Physician
  • Educational Objectives of the School of Medicine
• Before You Arrive
  • Financial Aid
  • Housing
  • Freshman Registration and Orientation
• Preclinical Curriculum
  • Preclinical Curriculum Overview
  • Freshman Year
    • Curriculum Organization
    • Introduction to Clinical Medicine - Year Long
    • Block II - Structure and Development
    • Block III - Cell and Molecular Biology
    • Block IV - Functional Systems
    • Block V - Neurosciences
  • Sophomore Year
    • Curriculum Organization
    • Introduction to Clinical Medicine – Year Long
    • Block VI – Host Defenses and Infectious Diseases
    • Block VII – Pathophysiology and Therapetuics – I
    • Block VIII – Pathophysiology and Therapeutics – II
    • Study for USMLE Step 1 Exams
  • Preclinical Electives
    • Critical Issues in Health Care
    • Conflicts in Health Care
    • Homeland Security - Bioterrorism
    • Medical Spanish
    • Combined Accelerated Program in Psychiatry
    • Family Care Track
• Clinical Curriculum
  • Clinical Curriculum Overview
  • Junior Year
    • Family Medicine
    • Internal Medicine
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics and Gynecology
    • Pediatrics
    • Psychiatry
    • Surgery
  • Senior Year
    • Electives
      • International Electives
      • Second Summer Education Program (SSEP)
    • Subinternships
    • Area Health Education Center (AHEC)
    • Departmental Grand Rounds
• Residency Preparation
  • Residency Application
  • Sample CV (PDF)
  • Sample MSPE (PDF)
  • MSPE
• Special Academic Programs
  • Professionalism Program
    • Professionalism Project HELPERS-PRO
    • Student Advisory Committee
    • White Coat Ceremony
    • Student Clinician Ceremony
    • Humanism Honor Society
  • Research Opportunities
    • Office of Student Research
    • Medical Student Research Day
    • Award for Excellence in Research
    • The Office of Student Research Website
    • Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine
    • Student Grant and Stipend Applications
  • Combined Degree Programs
    • MD/PhD
    • Combined MD/MS and Year Off Fellowship Programs
    • Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery Residency – M.D. Program
• School Policies
  • Overview
  • Academic Committees
  • Tuition Policy
  • Essential Requirements for Admission, Academic Advancement and Graduation
  • Sexual Harassment Policy
  • Student Mistreatment Policy
  • Uniform Testing Policy
  • School of Medicine Grading Policy
  • Uniform Proposal for Relevant Small Group Attendance
  • Calculating & Recognizing Academic Performance
  • Grade Appeal
  • Academic Guidelines for Advancement and Dismissal
    • Advancement Criteria
    • Failure of a Course
    • Dropping Courses
    • Special Placement
    • Eligibility for Graduation
    • Policy on Probation
    • Academic Criteria for Dismissal
    • Appeals Process
    • Good Standing
    • Leaves of Absences
  • Health Policies
    • Immunizations
    • Exposure at UMB
    • Exposure at Other Sites
  • Professional Issues
    • On Presenting a Professional Image
    • Liability Insurance
    • Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
    • Background Checks
    • Judicial Review System
  • Statement of Ethical Principles - Judicial Review System
    • Preamble
    • Statement of Ethical Principles, Practices and Behaviors
    • By-Laws of the Judicial Board
    • Honor Code
    • Rules of Conduct During Examinations
    • Policy for Missed Examinations
    • Rules of Conduct for Assignments Other Than Examinations
• Institutional Support Systems
  • If You Get in Academic Trouble
  • Office of Student Affairs
    • How Can Student Affairs Personnel Be of Use to You?
    • Mailboxes
    • Student Lounge
    • Recruitment
    • How Should You Study In Medical School?
    • Textbooks
    • Career Advising
    • Academic Support Services
    • Pre-Medical and Medical Student Research Training Programs
  • Office of Medical Education
    • Pre-matriculating Summer Program
    • Academic Development Program
    • Resources Center
  • Health Sciences/Human Services Library
  • Student and Employee Health
  • Counseling and Psychotherapy
    • UMB Counseling Center
    • University Psychiatry
    • Physician Health Committee
    • Alternative Sources of Help
    • Student Guidelines For Addressing Concerns
• Student Activities
  • Starting a New Student Organization
  • Student Organizations
    • Academic Medicine and Research Interests Group
    • Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA)
    • American Medical Association - Medical Student Section (AMA-MSS)
    • American Medical Student Association (AMSA)
    • American Medical Women's Association (AMWA) Student Branch
    • Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association
    • The Better Half
    • Big Sib Program
    • Bioethics Club
    • C.H.A.T.
    • Christian Medical and Dental Society
    • Complementary Medicine Club
    • Diagnostic Radiology and Imaging Interest Group
    • Dunbar Mentoring Program
    • Emergency Medicine Interest Group
    • End of Life Care Interest Group
    • ENT Interest Group
    • Family Medicine Interest Group
    • Gertrude Stein Medical Society
    • Health Choices of Baltimore
    • Humanism Honor Society
    • Internal Medicine Interest Group
    • Jewish Medical Students Organization
    • Maryland State Medical Student Association
    • Medical BreakAway
    • Medical Students for Choice
    • Mountain Manor Initiative
    • Military Medicine Interest Group
    • Muslim Students and Scholars Association
    • Oncology Interest Group
    • Organization of Student Representatives
    • Otitis Musica
    • Pediatric Pals
    • Pediatric Education Designed by Students
    • Physicians for Human Rights
    • Physicians for Social Responsibility
    • Project H.O.P.E.
    • Psychiatry Club
    • Runners at Maryland Medical School
    • Student Interest Group in Neurology
    • Student National Medical Association
    • Student Sight Savers Program
    • Substance Abuse Outreach Program
    • Surgical Lifestyles in Continuing Education
    • UMB Asian Baptist Student Koinonia
    • Tar Wars
    • Wilderness Medical Society
    • The Women's Health Interest Group
  • Summer Jobs and Awards
  • Publications
  • Institutional Governance and Planning
    • Committee System - Where Does a Student Fit In?
    • Committee for Curriculum Coordination (CCC) & Subcommittees
    • Year I and II Committee
    • Clinical Years Committee
    • School of Medicine Council
    • A Student's View of the School of Medicine Council
    • Judicial Board
    • Ethical Advisory Committee (University Hospital)
    • Special Task Forces
  • Student Government
  • Follies
• Alumni
  • Degree Certification
  • Medical Alumni Association
• Getting Around
  • Alphabet Soup
  • Campus Map (PDF)
  • Webography
  • School Closing Policy and Extreme Weather Conditions
  • Important Phone Numbers

Acknowledgements

Editor*
Donna L. Parker, MD
Associate Dean, Office of Student Affairs

Managing Editor
Sonia Beasley
Office Manager, Office of Student Affairs

* Suggestions for organization, additions, and revisions are always welcome.

Last Revision: August 12, 2008

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