The Southwestern University School of Medicine curriculum employs a hybrid spiral curriculum wherein subjects are integrated into organ system blocks in the first two years. The curriculum design is programmed for key concepts to be repeatedly presented throughout the curriculum but with deepening layers of complexity or different applications. This integrated curriculum is delivered by means of plenary lectures, small group discussions and laboratory exercises.
On the third-year level, the subjects are delivered by subject blocks with emphasis on clinical triggers. The clinical skills are developed through the exposure of clinical materials from the skills laboratory, base hospital and affiliate centers. The fourth-year level is 52 weeks of clinical exposure from the base hospital and the affiliate centers.
