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OSA Academic Handbook
Offices of the DeanOffice of Student AffairsOSA Academic HandbookClinical Scheduling

Clinical Scheduling

Student Scheduling

The Offices of Medical Education and Student Affairs support student scheduling during the clinical phases of the curriculum. The 12-month Clerkship phase is scheduled during the Spring Term of the second year. Scheduling for the Advanced Clinical Phase begins in the Spring Term of the Clerkship phase. Students have at least one elective opportunity in the Clerkship Phase and the flexibility to build their own unique schedules in the Advanced Clinical Phase, within the framework of the Graduation Requirements, to meet personal and professional goals.

The Academic Year runs July 1 - Jun 30. Please check the appropriate Academic Catalog for active courses. Current students should login to see course availability.

Course Catalogs:  Currrent: 2025-2026 | Upcoming: 2026-2027
Clinical Academic Calendars: Current 2025-2026 | Upcoming 2026-2027
Helpful Resources: Residency Application Manual | Guidance for Choosing Electives | Specialty Resources | M4 Scheduling FAQs
Graduation Requirements: Policy | Degree Works

M3: Clerkship Scheduling and Timeline

Clerkship Scheduling

The 12-month Clerkship Phase includes:

• 8 core clerkships
• up to 2 electives (4 weeks each)

M3 Scheduling Dates for 2026-2027 (Spring 2026 for SOM28)

Dec 1, 2025: Mandatory Class Meeting | PPT
Dec 2-16 @noon : Preference survey available | Survey link
Jan 14: Schedules posted to Portfolio
Jan 14 - Jan 21 @noon: Swap/Adjustment period
Jan 23: Clerkship Scheduling complete
Mar ~11-16: Early elective survey: Blocks 11, 12, (01) [Survey or email] 
Mar 18-24 @noon: Elective Preference Survey (optional - Add/drop begins ~Apr 1)

Clerkship Scheduling Notes

Out-of-State, International, and Extramural rotations cannot be taken during the Clerkship Phase. If pre-requisites have been met, students may add a sub-internship during a scheduled elective month in the fourth quarter of the Clerkship phase.

Graduation requirements, specialty choice, and career and professional interests should be considered when scheduling these rotations. The Office of Student Affairs offers advice and guidance for scheduling.

 

M4: Advanced Clinical Phase Scheduling and Timeline

The Advanced Clinical Phase

The Advanced Clinical Phase (ACP) begins after the completion of the Clerkship Phase and includes sub-internships, elective courses and extramural (Away) rotations, as well as Transition to Residency.

All electives and sub-internships are four weeks in length. Graduation requirements, specialty choice, and career and professional interests should be considered when scheduling these rotations. The Office of Student Affairs offers advice and guidance for scheduling.

MS4 ACP Scheduling Timeline **TENTATIVE**

These dates are estimates, we will keep to the schedule as much as possible.
*Surveys due at Noon unless otherwise noted*
Email instructions will be sent for each step in the scheduling process.

Helpful links:

• Scheduling Survey FAQ
• Course Availability (Filterable) Blocks 11/12 | Blocks 01-10

Dec 9 @1:00-4:30: Mandatory Class Meeting (Leadership Hall)  | [PPT] | [Video] 
Jan 30 - Feb 06: Survey 1 (Subi or Key Elective) [link]
Feb 11: Sub-i or Key Elective posted
Feb 11-17: Survey 2 (AMBL) [link]
Feb 23: Ambulatory posted to Portfolio
Feb 24-25: sub-i adjustment Tuesday @8am-Wed @Noon
Feb 24-Mar 2: @noon: Survey 3* (Electives) [link]
Mar 6: Electives posted to Portfolio
Mar 9-Mar 11: @Noon: Swap period
Mar 11 - Mar 16: @Noon: Survey 4 (Sub-i 2) [link]
Mar 23: Sub-i 2 Posted
Mar 30: Formal add/drop process begins
Apr 27, 2026: Start of first Rotation

*Elective Survey 3 - Students who need EMER 530, rank it also

Scheduling Process

OSA/OME Assisted Scheduling - The Offices of Student Affairs and Medical Education provide assistance and resources to students in scheduling the elective rotations and sub-internships. ACP scheduling begins in Spring Term of the Clerkship Phase. OSA Deans are available for consultation regarding all clinical scheduling. OME aids in scheduling key rotations to ensure equity for all students in the scheduling process.

Student Self-Scheduling - After the OSA/OME Assisted-Scheduling is completed, additional schedule changes are completed using the self-scheduling formal add/drop process. The Add/Drop process is used for all ACP rotations as well as any electives/sub-internships scheduled in the Clerkship Phase. 

 

Ambulatory Requirement

The Ambulatory Requirement  Details

Questions regarding Ambulatory requirement should be emailed to Dr. Millstein.

 

Extramural (Away) Rotations

Advanced Clinical Phase Scheduling Process - Extramural (Away) Rotations

Detailed guidance on planning and applying for Away rotations can be found on the Advanced Clinical Phase page of the Residency Application Manual.

Registration at University of Maryland School of Medicine

Extramural rotations can only be taken in the Advanced Clinical Phase and cannot be scheduled as one of the elective options during the Clerkship Phase.

Once accepted by the host institution, students must register at UMSOM before the rotation begins. If registration is not completed prior to the start of the rotation, students will NOT receive graduation credit, will NOT be covered by liability insurance, and may be subject to professional consequences.   

NEW! To register specifically for Ambulatory & Global Health electives held off campus, students should complete the Off Campus Ambulatory & Global (Away) Elective Registration Form (below). Registration requires faculty approval. For your convenience, the Faculty & Department Contacts have been listed directly on the form. Students must attach a copy of the acceptance from the host institution to the Off Campus Ambulatory & Global (Away) Elective. 

 

Special Approval and International Electives

Electives Requiring Prior Approval to Schedule

Some rotations require prior approval to schedule as indicated in the course catalog.  Students must get approval from the Course Director prior to completing the Add/Drop form.   

International Electives

For students interested in an international elective, please visit our OSA Global Health Page, as well as the UMB Global Hub site.

How to Make Schedule Changes after the Scheduling Phase is Complete

Once schedules have been finalized and the Add/Drop process has started, use the following information to modify your current schedule.

Add/Drop Instructions

Add/Drop Forms and Instructions For Sub-Internships and Electives

   

Students must complete the add/drop form when making schedule changes (Add, Drop, or Reschedule).

  • Changes to core clerkships must be discussed with and approved by OSA/OME.
  • Changes to the Ambulatory Rotation require approval, see instructions below.
  • Transition to Residency is required and cannot be moved or dropped; accommodations should be discussed with an OSA Dean.
  • NOTE: Extramural Rotations (“Aways”) are added using the Extramural Rotation Form above; do not use the add/drop form for Away rotations.

Add/Drop Process

Students should review course availability and prerequisite requirements in the Course Catalog before completing the Add/Drop request form.

The submitted form will be routed to the Course Administrator for approval and the course will be added to the students MedScope schedule once received by OSA/OME. Any currently registered course for the same block will be automatically dropped.

Adding a Course

Students should use the Add/Drop Form (above) to add a course.

Requests to add a course must be submitted within 10 school days prior to the course's start date; requests submitted outside of this timeframe are not guaranteed to be considered.

Dropping a Course

Students can Drop an elective or sub-internship through their MedScope Portfolio (without completing the above form) within the following timeframes:

  • Electives must be dropped no later than two (2) weeks prior to the rotation start date.
  • Sub-internships must be dropped no later than four (4) weeks prior to the rotation start date.

A request to drop past the cutoff date can be made through OSA and will be considered only in extenuating circumstances after consultation with OME and the Course Director. 

Rescheduling a Course

Course administrators can reschedule a course to another block if there is availability and your schedule block is open. 

  • Email the course administrator to request a reschedule.
  • The Add/Drop form is not required.

Rescheduling requests are subject to the same policies as dropping a course.

Ambulatory Schedule Changes

Schedule Changes for the Ambulatory Rotation

The Ambulatory requirement can be met by completing one of the following courses; all require approval from the Ambulatory Course Director: 

AMBL 540 – (Co-registered with an approved on-campus selective; Catalog tag ‘Ambulatory’)
AMBL 541 – Off Campus Ambulatory rotation
AHEC 548 – Off Campus AHEC (AHEC Information)
FAPH 540 – Indian Health
ICME 543 - Global Health

Any changes to the Ambulatory Rotation schedules after the initial scheduling process is completed require approval from the Ambulatory Course Director and/or Administrator.

Ambulatory Course Director: Leah Millstein (lmillste@som.umaryland.edu)
Ambulatory Course Admin: Melissa McKenzie (mmckenzie@som.umaryland.edu)

How to Change an Ambulatory Rotation

AMBL 540 (On-Campus Elective) changes

  • Email Ambulatory Course Director for approval. 
       (space for the ambulatory component is limited independent of the elective space) 
  • Upon approval, use the Add/Drop form to add the specific elective/block. 
  • Once the elective has been added on MedScope/VN, email the Ambulatory Course. 
  • Administrator to have the Ambulatory Marker (AMBL 540) added. 
  • (Note: the Ambulatory Marker is required to receive Ambulatory Credit for graduation and can only be added with explicit permission by the course director.) 

 

AMBL 541 (Off-Campus Ambulatory) 

  • Indicate the Ambulatory Course Director as “faculty approver” on the form. 

 

AHEC 548 (Eastern, Western, Central AHEC) 

  • Email Ambulatory Course Director for approval. 
  • Upon approval, use the Add/Drop form to add the specific site/block.

 

FAPH 540 (Indian Health) 

  • Email Ambulatory Course Director for approval. 
  • Indicate the Ambulatory Course Director as “faculty approver” on the form. 

ICME 543 (currently called: Ambulatory Global Health) 

  • Email Ambulatory Course Director for approval. 
  • Indicate the Ambulatory Course Director as “faculty approver” on the form.