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The MCG 3+ curriculum emerged from a multi-year curricular redesign initiative that began in 2019, when faculty and curriculum leaders came together to re-envision medical education with a central goal: to prepare students for residency training and long-term professional success.

Building on the successful integration of foundational and clinical sciences in the first eighteen months of medical school, the redesigned curriculum emphasizes case-based learning, early clinical exposure during the Pre-Clerkship phase, and increased flexibility during the Clerkship and Enrichment phases.

Launched in Fall 2020, the MCG 3+ curriculum reflects lessons learned from innovative educational models already in place across MCG’s regional campuses, including case-based learning at the Medical Partnership campus in Athens and longitudinal integrated clerkships at the Rome campus. These experiences informed a curriculum that balances structure with choice, ensuring consistency in educational outcomes while allowing students to tailor their training to their professional goals and evolving professional interests.

As part of the 3+ curriculum, students complete the core MD curriculum in three years and then select from career-enhancing pathway options to complete their degree. Beginning with the Class of 2024, students choose from multiple pathway options designed to support different professional interests, including clinical practice, research, residency preparation, and service-oriented careers. Each pathway is structured to enhance readiness for graduate medical education while maintaining alignment with MCG’s mission to improve health outcomes for the people of Georgia.

All pathway options are developed, reviewed, and overseen through established curriculum governance processes to ensure alignment with MCG’s educational standards, competencies, and accreditation requirements. Together, the Pathway Programs reflect MCG’s commitment to a flexible, forward-thinking medical education model—one that prepares students not only to graduate, but to transition confidently into residency training and the evolving practice of medicine.