A Study on the Development of Social Medicine Curriculum

Chun, Woo Taek; Kim, Sun; Yang, Eun Bae

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to develop social medicine curriculum model and to propose its management device. The study developed the curriculum model and its management plan as follows; First, the social medicine curriculum can be implemented starting from the first semester of first year through the first semester of fourth year, and is splitted up into two semesters for each year of medical school. Second, a semester consists of sixteen weeks, giving two hours course per week. Third, the sixteen weeks curriculum should be composed of sub courses which lasts at least four weeks each. Forth, the elective course of social medicine is of four blocks in total, and runs from second semester of the second year through first semester of the fourth year. This means the elective courses in the first semester are opened to third and fourth year students. And the elective courses in the second semester are opened to second and third year medical students. Fifth, the minimum number of elective courses should be more than four courses per semester. Sixth, the credits for core and elective social medicine courses are one point each for any lectures or laboratories carried out in the following way; one hour course provided for sixteen weeks or two hours course provided for eight weeks. The social medicine education stands firm as one of the core subjects in twenty-first century medical education. Thus, the effectiveness and systematic development of the program as well as running it will be the most important criterion for determining the competency of a medical school.