Extended Curricular Program (ECP)

Overview and Policies

The Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (MSUCOM) offers an Extended Curricular Program (ECP) to its students. The College offers this program for students who want to take their pre-clerkship curriculum in a nine semester sequence over three years rather than six semesters in two years. Students choosing to extend their program from the outset take a standard program that allows them to complete their basic science requirements and some Systems Biology courses over two years and finish their Systems Biology courses during the third year (See ECP Curriculum). Those students who extend their program later in the pre-clerkship curriculum will have an alternative program developed to meet their particular needs.

There are a variety of reasons why a student might want to extend his/her curriculum. These include academic difficulties, family obligations, financial matters, health issues, research interests and need for off-campus employment. The ECP is beneficial for the student because it offers increased time and greater flexibility during his/her pre-clerkship years due to a decreased course load. The student may use the increased time and greater flexibility to: 1) gain a better understanding of course material; 2) accommodate personal demands on his/her time; and 3) incorporate electives, research interests, and other enrichment opportunities into his/her schedule.

Although the ECP may be advantageous, there are possible disadvantages that a perspective ECP student, and in particular, a student who extends his/her program later in the pre-clerkship curriculum, should be aware of before deciding to enter the program. First, the course sequence may be less than optimal. The ECP student may face schedule overlaps where some courses will be meeting at the same time. The ECP Advisory Committee is very well aware of this possible complication and will make every effort to help the student design a program where there is little or no overlap in his/her scheduled courses. Second, by entering the ECP the student is increasing the amount of time he/she spends at MSUCOM in pursuit of the D.O. degree. Increasing time in the pre-clerkship curriculum increases cost of living expenses by at least one year as well as possibly increasing overall tuition for the five years in the MSUCOM program. Lastly, an ECP student may sometimes feel that he/she does not belong to any one class and therefore lacks the support system that is present by being a member of a class. The ECP Advisory Committee along with the Offices of Academic Programs and Student Services as well as the students in the regular MSUCOM curriculum will make every effort to see that an ECP student is made to feel at home in and have the support of the class with which he/she will graduate.

Students who receive financial support through the National Health Services Corps (NHSC) should be aware that NHSC will not support a student in the ECP. Thus, students supported by NHSC funds should secure other forms of financial support prior to entering the ECP.

A student who elects to go in the ECP, or is directed to do so by the Committee on Student Evaluation must complete the ECP Contract available in the Office of Student Services. The student will then be contacted by the Associate Dean for Student Services who will assign the student to an ECP Advisory Committee member who will serve as his/her mentor and help the student develop his/her curriculum. In order to ensure program compliance, each subsequent semester the student will meet with his/her ECP Advisory Committee member mentor who will oversee his/her program. If a student wants to deviate from the standard ECP program, he/she will need special permission from the ECP Advisory Committee. While a student is on the ECP, he/she will pay the ECP tuition. However, when entering the clerkship portion of the curriculum, his/her tuition will return to the regular tuition that is charged to all students enrolled in MSUCOM.

The ECP offers the student an alternative curriculum to accommodate academic and personal needs. If you have any questions, or concerns, please contact the ECP Advisory Committee or the Associate Dean for Student Services.