Clinical Elective Clerkships

Please note that we are not currently accepting international students for elective clerkships.

All eight community campuses offer Clinical Elective Clerkships to MSU College of Human Medicine students and visiting students.

MSU College of Human Medicine students should work through their community assistant dean’s office to schedule electives within the College of Human Medicine system or outside the college system using  Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) to schedule electives with educational institutions participating in VSLO. Not all institutions participate in VSLO, so students should check with their community assistant dean’s office for assistance.

Visiting students, please see information below regarding the application process.

Elective Descriptions by Campus

Medical Professional Liability Coverage

College of Human Medicine students are covered by medical professional liability coverage while on away electives.

Visiting students must provide proof of medical professional liability in the amount of $1,000,000/$3,000,000.

Clerkship Readings

Some electives may specify required readings, which are updated on a regular basis. If readings are required, a reading list will be provided at the beginning of the elective.

Evaluation

Elective clerkship preceptor(s) will submit a clinical performance evaluation at the conclusion of the clerkship. Faculty are also encouraged to provide ongoing feedback throughout elective clerkships. Additional student evaluations, which will be discussed with students in advance, may include written or oral examinations, oral presentations, papers, or observed clinical assessments.

If a visiting student's school requires the completion of a specific evaluation form, this form should be provided to the community contact person at the beginning of the elective clerkship.

Clerkship Time Periods

Elective clerkships are four weeks in length. Elective time periods are available through the community assistant dean's office. Requests for dates that differ will be accommodated if possible.

Visiting Students

Michigan State University College of Human Medicine accepts applications at all of our seven community campuses from visiting students interested in our electives. During the 2019-20 academic year, the College of Human Medicine Flint, Grand Rapids, Lansing and Southeast Michigan campuses will be using the AAMC Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) to receive applications from students enrolled in a U.S. LCME-accredited medical school (M.D. students) or a VSLO-participating COCA-accredited AACOM member college (D.O. students). The College of Human Medicine Midland, Traverse City, Upper Peninsula campuses will receive applications directly from students as outlined below.

Application submission dates vary among our four campuses using VSLO. Please check VSLO for these campus-specific dates. To apply to one of these four campuses, please complete and submit a VSLO application for your preferred electives and dates. In addition to the VSAS application, we also require completion of this supplemental application. Please download, complete and upload the supplemental application into VSLO.

For more information, please visit Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO), contact VSLO or call (202) 478-9878.

For visiting students to whom VSLO is not available or for students interested in electives at our Midland, Traverse City, Upper Peninsula campuses, see our community campus web sites (listed above) to learn about their respective electives and find application information below.

Elective Applications

Requirements for Visiting Students

  • Have met prerequisites by completing his or her own school's required clerkship in the elective discipline being requested
  • Any additional prerequisites will be clarified when the elective is scheduled
  • Attained senior status prior to enrollment
  • Third-year students may apply if prerequisites have been completed but preference will be given to senior applicants
  • Please note that we are not currently accepting international students for elective clerkships.

Education