This is the individualized experience phase of the curriculum.  The broad major objectives which may be achieved by the elective program are:   

1. To allow students to explore areas for career selection.
2. To permit students to broaden their clinical experiences beyond their career choice.
3. To afford students the opportunity to obtain increased patient care responsibilities.
4. To make available to students experiences in areas not generally covered by the core curriculum.
5. To re-expose students to the basic medical sciences.
6. To offer the opportunity of some research experience.

• All elective courses should pertain to the general field of medicine.
   
• Electives may be spent in any of the approved electives contained in the Senior Course Catalog or in other approved extramural electives.
   
• Salaries, stipends, or other remunerations to students are not permitted as part of any elective course taken for academic credit.  It is permissible for students to be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the course of taking certain electives or of the location and circumstances require that a second residence be maintained for the elective.  There should be no net financial gain to the student as the result of taking the elective course.
   
No academic/elective credit will be given for research done while a student is on a leave of absence from the School of Medicine.  Students on a leave of absence are on an "inactive" status and are not eligible to participate in any program for medical school credit.
   
• The holding of an advanced degree or graduate credit shall not entitle a student to waive any elective requirement of the curriculum unless approval of such a waiver has been requested and granted by the Dean of the School of Medicine.
   
• Electives may not be utilized to remove previous unacceptable performance incurred in preclinical years or core clerkships.
   
• Electives may be taken at the University of Alabama School of Medicine or in other specified locations.  These other locations or institutions in which electives are approved must meet the following criteria:
   
• They are recognized schools of medicine acceptable to the Associate Dean for Students.
   
• They are community hospitals with recognized formal affiliations with one or more acceptable schools of medicine.
   
• They are other medical institutions with ongoing medical student teaching programs of recognized educational quality.
   
• Other institutions that do not meet the above qualifications, individual preceptors who are not members of the faculty of the University of Alabama School of Medicine and preceptors of private practice electives will be acceptable only after written approval of the Associate Dean for Students.
   
• Each extramural elective course must be specfically approved by the Associate Dean for Students.
   
• Approval of any extramural patient care elective is contingent upon the finding that the institution or preceptor:
   
• Agrees to accept the student for a specific elective program.
• Will provide close academic supervision of the student.
• Will furnish an evaluation report after the student completes the elective.
• Is willing to assume an obligation to treat the student as an agent of the institution or preceptor with regard to all aspects of the student's dealing with patients.
• Will not discriminate because of race, sex, or nationality.
 
• A student taking a patient care elective is instructed to assume the position as an agent of the responsible supervisor.

• Once an elective course has been scheduled, the student is obligated to fulfill his commitment.  A change in schedule or cancellation requires four (4) weeks prior notice to the Scheduling Coordinator.  Failure to comply with this requirement will ordinarily result in the automatic entry of a grade of failure (F) for the subject course.

• Any other course of study approved by the Dean may be undertaken to fulfill requirements for electives.

• Special programs other than those already established will be permitted only upon approval of a written petition from the faculty sponsor or advisor of the student to the Associate Dean for Students.  The petition should clearly outline the course of student and should provide justifcation for the proposed exceptions.

• Attendance on electives is mandatory.  On a four (4) week elective, the student cannot be absent over two (2) days and still get 4 weeks credit.  If the student misses over 2 days, only partial credit, determined by the Associate Dean for Students, will be given.

Electives may be utilized, in whole or in part, for basic science or clinical research.  Students an utilize the Associate Dean for Students, or other members of the faculty to obtain advice regarding potential research options or in locating a faculty sponsor who will assist him or her in planning a research experience.  This sponsor must be a member of the faculty of the University of Alabama School of Medicine.  This sponsor assumes the responsibility of meeting requirements with regard to human use or the use of experimental animals in the investigation.  

The sponsor of a research elective is expected to prepare a written report of the student's performance to be submitted at the comletion of the elective.  Elective courses may be applied toward requirements for MD and PhD degrees if the student is registered in the Graduate School and if the course has been approved by the Dean of the Graduate School for graduate credit.