Required Electives

• Students are required to take and pass five elective blocks. 
• All five may be clinical electives with UCR local affiliates, University of California affiliates and/or away rotations through VSLO.
• Research and Scholarly Activity blocks
  • No more than total of two blocks (eight weeks) of non-clinical rotations
  • Must fill out the appropriate request forms (Appendix 12)

Electives Outside of the University of California, UC Affiliates systems and VSLO

Requires complete affiliation agreement prior to submission of extramural elective request form to fourth year coordinator

• The dean of student affairs must attest that the student is in good academic standing; not on probation.
• The educational experience must be unique or equivalent to those found at UC schools and affiliates.
• A faculty administrator with contact information must be identified at the proposed site.
• Written goals and objectives must be provided.
• Teaching and learning activities must be identified.
• UCR SOM evaluation form.
• The student must submit the extramural elective form to the 4th year coordinator, and it must be approved by the year four clerkship director.
• Student contact information during the elective must be supplied.
• It is highly recommended the student utilize the AAMC affiliated Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) when investigating and applying for Student Initiated Electives (see below).
• Regarding international learning opportunities, the student shall utilize the AAMC affiliated Global Health Learning Opportunities (GHLO) (pronounced "glow") when investigating and applying for student initiated electives via VSLO.

Electives Within the UCR System

• Experiences and opportunities within affiliated partners, both inpatient and outpatient are available.
• The fourth year clerkship coordinator has a listing of previously performed electives. This will give you an idea of the variety of experiences that have been completed, and is your first point of contact.

Research Electives

To obtain credit for a research elective, the student must have previously completed the CITI module, obtain pre-acceptance of the student’s objectives for the research project from Senior Associate Dean, Research David Lo, present a two-week “mid-evaluation” of the project to the research mentor, and present the final project at the end of the four-week rotation.

These projects should be continuation of experiences that allow a written summation of the learning outcomes. Non-clinical elective maximum is eight weeks (two blocks) for academic year. Other details apply. See Appendix 12 for more information and research elective form.

Scholarly Activity Electives

Non-clinical elective maximum is eight weeks (two blocks) for academic year

Student must turn in UCR Scholarly Activity Evaluation Form and project deliverable within one week of elective completion

All scholarly activities should be with UCR faculty members. If not a UCR faculty member, student must submit for approval from clinical clerkship committee by emailing fourth year coordinator

This form is not required for the following non-clinical electives based with UCR faculty:

• Radiology, Academic Medicine Leadership - Dr. Willis
• Undergraduate Medical Education (UME) - Dr. Gavin
• Research - Dr. Lo (please use research form)
• Reading elective - Dr. Willis and Elisa Cortez
• LACE capstone projects - must be mentored by Dr. Bajwa

Academic credit will not be given for electives for which you are paid or on leave of absence. Each week of credit must correspond to at least 40 hours of course work

Academic credit will not be given for any work conducted prior to the start of fourth year. No retroactive credit UCR mentors must have a UCR faculty appointment. Non UCR mentors must hold a faculty appointment at their institution.