Preclinical Sciences

American University of Antigua College of Medicine (AUA) uses a unique curriculum, Curriculum Next, that is based on recent curriculum developments in US medical education. The structure of this curriculum is organ-system-based, preceded by a foundations block in which students are taught the discipline-based sciences underlying the organ systems.

The format of this education is primarily small-group active learning — including modified case-based and problem-based studies — as well as large group active learning techniques such as team-based learning and flipped classroom lectures.

Students spend the first year learning about the normal structures and functions of each organ system. In year two, students focus on disease-based pathologies of the same organ systems.

Small-Group Learning 

In the first academic period, AUA places students into small groups, typically 10 students or less. Each group has its own small-group learning center to assist with the learning activities. Each setting is equipped with the digital tools necessary to access learning resources, and serves as an academic base of operations for the individual student groups. By having a permanent study center within campus and a close-knit group of classmates and facilitators, students keep each other accountable, support each other, and get a medical education that maintains the highest standards while still being able to be adjusted to suit a student’s individual learning style.

In the first year, students focus on the normal foundations of anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and cell biology behavior in the eight organ systems. In the second year, the emphasis is on pathophysiology, microbiology and pharmacology of those same organ systems. Clinical skills are also incorporated into the preclinical curriculum.

Students need to complete 86 credits from Year 1, Year 2, and the Basic Science Integration Course (BSIC). This curriculum is effective as of Fall 2020. All courses are graded on a pass/fail system: Honors (H), High Pass (HP), Pass (P), and Fail (F).

FIRST ACADEMIC YEAR

• Med 1 (Period 1)

  Course	No. of Credits
  Preclinical Science I	19
  This yearlong course in the preclinical sciences is based on an integrated, organ-system-based structure and gives the student an understanding of the embryology, anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, neuroscience and behavioral science, and introduction to clinical medicine, in the context of organ systems of the human body.

• Med 2 (Period 2)

  Course	No. of Credits
  Preclinical Science II	19
  This yearlong course in the preclinical sciences is based on an integrated, organ-system-based structure and gives the student an understanding of the embryology, anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, neuroscience and behavioral science, and introduction to clinical medicine, in the context of the organ systems of the human body.