MD Program Graduation Requirements Policy

*This policy has been adjusted for current students due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Students should reference the revised academic requirements. For questions, contact the Curriculum Office.*

Policy Statement
The awarding of the Doctor of Medicine degree is contingent upon student meeting the essential requirements, technical standards, successfully completing the School’s academic requirements and demonstrating the attitudes and behavior appropriate to a career in medicine as established by the Faculty Council on Academic Affairs (FCAA).  

No exceptions to these requirements are permitted, and a pattern of documented concerns about a student’s performance and professionalism indicating an unsatisfactory performance when the record is viewed as a whole, even when passing grades have been achievedmay result in the student’s being dismissed from the School of Medicine. 

Upon satisfactory completion of all graduation requirements of the School of Medicine, the Doctor of Medicine degree is awarded to those candidates who: (1) have given evidence of good moral and ethical character; (2) have satisfactorily completed all requirements of the curriculum; (3) have fulfilled all special requirements; and (4) have discharged all indebtedness to the University of Washington and WWAMI partner universities. No student with an unremediated professional behavior or conduct violation (or concern) will be granted the MD degree. 

Requirements, Procedures and Guidelines
All students must complete the following required components as defined by the Faculty Council on Academic Affairs to successfully obtain the MD program degree. 

  • All academic requirements (See requirements by phase)
  • Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE): 
    • Foundations Part I & II 
    • Patient Care Phase 
  • Mastery of Professionalism benchmarks 
  • Mastery of Clinical Skills developmental benchmarks 
    • Interview skills, including taking patient histories 
    • Diagnostic and physical exam skills 
    • Clinical reasoning and interpretation skills 
    • Communication skills (with patient and colleagues) including both written and oral case presentation skills 
    • Professionalism and ethics 
  • Scholarly project (Independent Investigative Inquiry) 
  • United States Medical Licensing Examinations: 
    • Step 1 
    • Step 2-Clinical Knowledge 
  • Essential Compliance Requirements  

Effective: Current
Last updated: March 31, 2021
Policy Contact: UW School of Medicine, Curriculum Office, somgov@uw.edu; Education Quality Improvement Office, eqi@uw.edu