Student Education Resources
Trinity School of Medicine – Doctor of Medicine (MD) Degree Program Academic Curriculum
Term 1: Anatomy I, Biochemistry, Intro to Clinical Medicine I, Histology, and Physiology I
Term 2: Anatomy II, Genetics, Intro to Clinical Medicine II, Intro to Pharmacology Neuroscience, and Physiology II
Term 3: Behavioral Science, Biostatistics, Immunology/Microbiology, Intro to Clinical Medicine III, Pathology I, Pharmacology I
Term 4: Intro to Clinical Medicine IV, Microbiology, Pathology II, Pharmacology II
Term 5: Basis of Disease, Intro to Clinical Medicine V
Term 2: Anatomy II, Genetics, Intro to Clinical Medicine II, Intro to Pharmacology Neuroscience, and Physiology II
Term 3: Behavioral Science, Biostatistics, Immunology/Microbiology, Intro to Clinical Medicine III, Pathology I, Pharmacology I
Term 4: Intro to Clinical Medicine IV, Microbiology, Pathology II, Pharmacology II
Term 5: Basis of Disease, Intro to Clinical Medicine V
Grading
The Unified Examination
Students are administered three unified examinations per term (every five weeks). The unified examination is a single test that contains different sections corresponding to each course from the term. Each section is graded individually and serves as the examination score for the respected course. Each unified examination is worth approximately 25% of the final course grade.
Quizzes
The sum of all in-class quizzes usually comprises 25% of the final course grade.
National Board of Medical Examiners Shelf Exam (NBME Shelf)
The NBME Shelf Exam is an American standardized test that covers each Basic Science class. In order to pass, the student must score higher than 7th percentile. The Shelf Exam replaces the third unified examination in Term 2 and Term 4 and is worth 25% of the final course grade.
Term 2 NBME Shelf
The Comprehensive Examination (“The Comp”)
The Comprehensive Examination is given at the end of Term 5 and covers all Basic Sciences material. The exam is used to gauge how the student will perform on the USMLE Step 1.
The United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 (USMLE Step 1)
The student writes the USMLE Step 1 after completing all Basics Sciences courses. The student must pass the USMLE Step 1 to be legally licensed to do clinical work in the United States.
Students are administered three unified examinations per term (every five weeks). The unified examination is a single test that contains different sections corresponding to each course from the term. Each section is graded individually and serves as the examination score for the respected course. Each unified examination is worth approximately 25% of the final course grade.
Quizzes
The sum of all in-class quizzes usually comprises 25% of the final course grade.
National Board of Medical Examiners Shelf Exam (NBME Shelf)
The NBME Shelf Exam is an American standardized test that covers each Basic Science class. In order to pass, the student must score higher than 7th percentile. The Shelf Exam replaces the third unified examination in Term 2 and Term 4 and is worth 25% of the final course grade.
Term 2 NBME Shelf
- Term 2 NBME Shelf Exams: Medical Physiology, Clinical Anatomy, and Medical Biochemistry/Genetics
- Term 4 NBME Shelf Exams: Pathology, Medical Pharmacology, and Medical Microbiology
The Comprehensive Examination (“The Comp”)
The Comprehensive Examination is given at the end of Term 5 and covers all Basic Sciences material. The exam is used to gauge how the student will perform on the USMLE Step 1.
The United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 (USMLE Step 1)
The student writes the USMLE Step 1 after completing all Basics Sciences courses. The student must pass the USMLE Step 1 to be legally licensed to do clinical work in the United States.