Bridges Curriculum Overview

UCSF's approach to medical education engages students from the beginning of their training, in improving healthcare and answering some of the biggest questions in medicine. Launched in August 2016, the Bridges Curriculum helps ensure that UCSF medical students are prepared to become physicians and leaders committed to advancing health for all.

The curriculum is a three-phase, fully integrated curriculum delivered over four years and comprised of Foundations 1, followed by Foundations 2 and Career Launch.

Below is a sample overview of the curriculum schedule. For most up to date information, please refer to the Course and Schedule Information page.  

Foundations 1 is 18 months in duration and consists of the Foundational Sciences Blocks, Clinical Microsystems Clerkship, Inquiry Curriculum, and Physician Identity (PI) weeks. Students learn foundational science, health system science, and principles of discovery.

Foundations 2 is 14 months in duration, in which students complete their core clinical clerkships, and have the opportunity to enroll in short electives, known as Clinical Immersion Experiences. Students also participate in Foundations Sciences in F2 day (IDS 113) and step out of clerkships one day every other week to reintroduce foundational science topics.

Students take the Step 1 exam after completing Foundations 2, and are allotted approximately eight weeks to prepare for and take these licensing exams.  

During Career Launch, students choose electives based on their career interest. This final phase of the curriculum lasts approximately 14 months, and includes a 30-week block, known as Deep Explore, when students complete a required scholarly project. Career Launch concludes with a clinical Capstone course that prepares students to successfully start their residency programs. Learn more about Deep Explore in the Inquiry Curriculum.

Foundations 1:

Foundations 2:

Career Launch (Last Year of Medical School):