University of Illinois at Rockford - College of Medicine

The M4 year includes 20 weeks of selectives (four, four-week rotations), three of which are chosen from the medical subspecialties (cardiology, gastroenterology, hematology/oncology, infectious diseases, advanced internal medicine in an ambulatory setting, nephrology, neurology and pulmonology), and one of which is a required family medicine selective, plus 16 weeks of electives. Eight weeks of discretionary time are available which students may use for preparation for USMLE Step 2 CS and CK, residency interviews or vacation. Students must pass Step 2 CS and CK of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) in order to graduate. A mock Step 2 CS standardized patient experience is offered at the beginning of the M4 year to prepare students for the clinical skills part of the Step 2 examination.

Individual electives in the M4 year are either two or four weeks in duration. Rockford students may also choose elective experiences at other U.S. medical schools and/or to study abroad. The College of Medicine at Rockford is one of the few U.S. medical schools belonging to the International Network of Community-Oriented Educational Institutions for Health Sciences. Students are encouraged to see and experience medicine in varying contexts, including Third World settings via fellowships in cooperation with Network institutions and others.