The Newly Adopted Integrative Curriculum at Chungbuk National University Medical School

Abstract

Purpose: Entering a new century in the year 2001, Chungbuk National University Medical School(CNUMS) decided to adopt a fully integrative curriculum. This plan has been executed from 2002 to 2005. we are now at a point to assess this new curriculum and further improve it for the future. Methods: We studied ‘Curricula for Undergraduate’ from Chungbuk National University and ‘The Present Educational Status of Medical College’ the Dean’s Council of Korean Medical College published from 1987 to 2005. Results: All lectures consisted of integrated lectures between the basic and clinical medical sciences. First and second year lectures focused on the horizontal integration of basic and clinical medical sciences, respectively. Also lectures between the first and second years formed longitudinal integration and purposeful repetition. Practical Classes were comprised of essential major clinical medicines and elective clinical medicines. Generally, lectures were reduced to introduce active learning subjects including problem-based learning(PBL), communicational skills, objective structured clinical examination(OSCE)/clinical performance examination(CPX), basic clinical skills, community medicine, and health and society. Conclusion: The curriculum of CNUMS was changed from the traditional department-centered lectures to integrated organ-centered integrated lectures and practical classes. However, further innovation is required on the inside of curriculum.