SEARCH

MD Program - University Park Curriculum

MD Program University Park Curriculum Landing Hero with Page Title

Penn State College of Medicine MD students research adaptive immune response during class in the University Park Curriculum on Aug. 29, 2018. Three students wearing medical coats are seen looking downward at something on a table. A whiteboard filled with notes is visible in the background.

MD Program: University Park Curriculum

Navigation Menu

MD Regional Campus Header H2

Medical Education at University Park

MD Regional Campus Intro Row Copy with CTA

Penn State College of Medicine has a tradition of excellence in education that is scientifically and clinically rigorous with a deep foundation in scholarship and humanistic care.

Building on our experience, and benefiting from the resources offered at University Park, we invite you to learn in an environment that fosters inter-professional team skills, curiosity and a commitment to the calling of medicine.

Learn more about University Park at one of our "Closer Look" information sessions.

MD Program University Park Recruitment Video

Learn more about Penn State College of Medicine's University Park Curriculum in this video.

View accessible video with audio description and transcript here.

MD Regional Campus About the Program

About the Curriculum

Patient-based Experiences

Immersion with patients and health care systems from the first days of medical school, integrated with active small group discussions, will drive your professional development as you explore the basic and clinical sciences, health systems science and the health humanities.

Individualized Mentoring

Our small class size allows for one-on-one mentoring from our core faculty as well as longitudinal learning relationships with a diverse group of health professionals in our clinical practice and community service sites. This entire program of individualized “coaching” will ensure you are able to take full advantage of your experiential learning opportunities.

The Centre Medical Science Building in State College is one place where Penn State College of Medicine's University Park Curriculum MD students study. The image shows the front of the building in the sunlight, and the building's sign is visible.
The Centre Medical Science Building in State College is one place where Penn State College of Medicine's University Park Curriculum MD students study.

Experiential Learning

We all learn best when we can connect skills and knowledge to our own experience. The University Park Curriculum is designed for you to anchor and motivate your learning in the patients and healthcare communities that you encounter, supported by colleagues, faculty and ready access to the rich resources of the College of Medicine and Penn State.

Community Engagement

You will collaborate with patients, community representatives and systems sites to learn and develop community-based solutions that improve healthcare outcomes.

A Culture of Respect and Humanistic Care

Penn State College of Medicine was the first medical school in the nation to have a Department of Humanities and we remain committed to fostering the development of humanistic, curious health care professionals. The University Park Curriculum has been specifically designed to support and enhance the role of the health humanities through patient experiences, integrated small group reflection, and faculty mentorship.

MD University Park Curriculum Video

In this video, Penn State College of Medicine students talk about the University Park Curriculum.

View accessible video with audio description and transcript here.

Why University Park code block

Why the University Park Curriculum?

The University Park Curriculum has been developed to build on the strong tradition of the Penn State College of Medicine, recognizing the unique opportunities provided by the combination of:

  • a community-based health care system;
  • a diverse, research-intensive university; and
  • medical school faculty dedicated to creating innovative and meaningful educational programs.

The full integration of the basic and clinical sciences with health systems science and health humanities, along with community engagement and active, experiential learning strategies, form the centerpiece of the educational mission of the University Park Curriculum.

I chose to come to University Park because I was searching for a curriculum that combined collaborative learning, early patient interaction and close mentorship. I have found that this program checks all those boxes while also providing a support network of faculty and fellow students who are eager to listen and share advice. At a small campus, everyone is rooting for each other’s success.

- Michelle Le, Class of 2024

Tabs

Nested Applications

MD University Park Applying Tab

Applying to the University Park Curriculum

How do you select the group of first-year students for the University Park Curriculum track?

We invite all Penn State College of Medicine applicants interested in the University Park Curriculum Track to indicate this on the secondary application. Those interested applicants who are invited for interviews will be able to meet UP students and faculty and participate in admission activities specific to the University Park Regional Campus. We believe this experience will enable interested students to better understand the unique features of the University Park Curriculum and help the selection committee evaluate how the applicant might fit into its small, team-oriented, self-directed educational setting. The College of Medicine then extends offers to the selected students.

When will you make a decision about whether I have been selected?

We anticipate making offers to candidates during March and April of each year for the following summer.

How soon should I make my decision to attend if I am offered a position in the University Park Curriculum?

We recommend that you accept your position and provide a deposit as soon as you have decided that Penn State College of Medicine’s University Park Curriculum is your choice for your medical school education.

If I am offered a position in the University Park Curriculum but decide not to choose it, will my decision affect my acceptance into Penn State College of Medicine’s central curriculum in Hershey?

No. All students offered admission to the University Park Curriculum have already been accepted to Penn State College of Medicine’s central curriculum. Declining an offer for the University Park Curriculum will not change the acceptance you already have to Penn State College of Medicine’s central curriculum in Hershey.

MD University Park Curriculum Student Leaders Datatable

University Park Curriculum Student Leadership

MD University Park Latest News

Latest News from the University Park Curriculum