UC Berkeley-UCSF Joint Medical Program
Encyclopedia
The UC Berkeley-UCSF Joint Medical Program (JMP) is a joint degree program in the University of California
system, between the UC Berkeley School of Public Health and the UCSF School of Medicine. The JMP begins with three years at UC Berkeley, where students complete the basic science component of their medical education while concurrently completing a Masters of Science
in health and medical sciences. Students then matriculate to the UCSF School of Medicine for two years of clinical clerkships at UCSF-affiliated hospitals. At the end of this 5-year program, students graduate with an M.D.
from UCSF and an M.S.
from UC Berkeley.
, physical diagnosis skill building and more specific components of patient care including geriatrics, psychiatry, human growth and development, maternal and child health. Clinical preceptorships begin in the fall of the first year and continue throughout the 3 years.
Course, during the summer before the first year of the program, combines traditional lecture-based instruction with an introduction to case-based learning, and has a laboratory component. There is also a thematic seminar series and Board
preparation review sessions.
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
system, between the UC Berkeley School of Public Health and the UCSF School of Medicine. The JMP begins with three years at UC Berkeley, where students complete the basic science component of their medical education while concurrently completing a Masters of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in health and medical sciences. Students then matriculate to the UCSF School of Medicine for two years of clinical clerkships at UCSF-affiliated hospitals. At the end of this 5-year program, students graduate with an M.D.
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
from UCSF and an M.S.
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
from UC Berkeley.
Admissions
Applicants submit their primary applications to the UCSF School of Medicine through the normal AMCAS application process. After a preliminary screening, a secondary application is requested, which includes a supplemental application to the JMP. An additional round of screening leads to invitations to visit the JMP for interviews. Successful applicants are then accepted on a rolling basis. Accepted applicants are often requested to definitively accept their place in the class earlier than other medical schools because of the early summer start date. The JMP class has 16 students each year.Curriculum
The first three years spent at UC Berkeley is composed of the following components: Case-based learning; Clinical Skills; Masters Thesis; and Focused Mini Blocks. The last two years are spent doing clinical clerkships at UCSF with 3rd and 4th year students from the traditional program.Case-based learning
JMP core course content is taught through the Contextually Integrated Case-Based Curriculum (CICBC), which incorporates biology, public health, ethics, and the social and cultural contexts of human health and disease in a series of 80 clinical cases. Working in small groups of 6-8 along side faculty, JMP students use these clinical cases, (in conjunction with lab and clinical skills experiences) to master the knowledge and skills required for their matriculation to UCSF at the end of their 3rd year.Clinical Skills Curriculum
The Clinical Skills curriculum provides basic instruction about interviewing skills, the doctor-patient relationshipDoctor-patient relationship
The doctor-patient relationship is central to the practice of healthcare and is essential for the delivery of high-quality health care in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. The doctor-patient relationship forms one of the foundations of contemporary medical ethics...
, physical diagnosis skill building and more specific components of patient care including geriatrics, psychiatry, human growth and development, maternal and child health. Clinical preceptorships begin in the fall of the first year and continue throughout the 3 years.
Masters Thesis Curriculum
The M.S. degree is an academic degree in Health and Medical Sciences and requires writing a research thesis. The topic must be health-related and the research supported by a coherent and scholarly program of study approved by the Master's Faculty. In additional to the thesis research project, Masters classes are also taken throughout the three years at UC Berkeley.Focused Mini blocks
Minimal additional course material has been integrated around the core case-based learning. The summer Human AnatomyHuman anatomy
Human anatomy is primarily the scientific study of the morphology of the human body. Anatomy is subdivided into gross anatomy and microscopic anatomy. Gross anatomy is the study of anatomical structures that can be seen by the naked eye...
Course, during the summer before the first year of the program, combines traditional lecture-based instruction with an introduction to case-based learning, and has a laboratory component. There is also a thematic seminar series and Board
USMLE Step 1
The USMLE Step 1 is the first part of the United States Medical Licensing Examination. It assesses whether medical school students or graduates can apply important concepts of the sciences fundamental to the practice of medicine. US medical students typically take Step 1 at the end of the second...
preparation review sessions.