The curriculum at Ross University School of Medicine (Ross Med) is designed to help you master medical sciences concepts as you apply them in real-world settings—so you’re prepared for success as you complete your United States Medical Licensing Exam® (USMLE®) and medical school residency.
First, you’ll build an academic foundation through our Medical Sciences curriculum as you apply classroom learning to patient simulations and community health visits. Then, you’ll dive deep into practicing medicine through your Clinical Education rotations.
Ross University School of Medicine's first-time residency attainment rate for 2022-23 graduates.1
Ross Med graduates attained residencies in 2023.
Ross Med students' five-year cumulative USMLE Step 1 first-time pass rate.2
1First time residency attainment rate is the percent of students attaining a 2023-24 residency position out of all graduates or expected graduates in 2022-23 who were active applicants in the 2023 NRMP match or who attained a residency position outside the NRMP match.
2First-time pass rate is the number of students passing the USMLE Step 1 exam on the first attempt divided by the number of students whose first attempt was 2017-2021. In order to sit for the USMLE Step 1 exam students must successfully complete the Medical Sciences curriculum and earn a satisfactory score on the NBME CBSE exam as listed in the student handbook.
Curriculum Timeline
Program Objectives and Competencies
Ross Med prepares you for practice in the modern, ever-changing health care environment by extending the six core competencies of ACGME through all four years of training.
Medical Sciences
Your first two years as a Ross Med student include five semesters of medical sciences coursework, completed on our beautiful campus in Barbados.
From your first semester, you'll engage in hands-on training and experiences that apply your classroom learning to real-world practice. Receive training in a variety of healthcare environments where you'll have the opportunity to grown both patient care and medical service skills.
Clinical Education
After finishing the medical sciences curriculum, you'll spend two years completing your clinical rotations at affiliated hospital in the U.S. Ross Med students have the opportunity to remain at one location throughout the core clinical education curriculum—which could mean less stress for you as you focus on patient care.
Things to Know About RUSM's Doctor of Medicine Curriculum
North America Preparation
Our curriculum is designed to prepare our graduates to practice in the United States and Canada, where most of our students originate and plan to return for practice.
Basic Sciences Curriculum
Our basic sciences curriculum, called Medical Sciences, is an organ systems-based curriculum that organizes the teaching of medicine by systems within the body, like the digestive or respiratory systems. This approach, which mirrors how medicine is actually practiced, gives you a big picture look at the physiological, anatomical, and biochemical processes of an organ system all at once.
RUSM's Mission for Student Success
RUSM offers an MD Program designed to further cultivate success, provide support, and empower you to advance through Medical Sciences at a pace that aligns with your personal study needs. Learn more by reading the Academic Catalog
Simulation Institute
Ross University School of Medicine Simulation Institute provides a multifaceted and immersive learning environment, fostering the development of competent and compassionate physicians. Our emphasis on practical skills, patient-centered care, and immediate, constructive feedback equips you with the essential skills and experience to provide safe and effective patient care of the highest quality.
Transfer Your Credits to Ross Med
Wondering if you can transfer to Ross Med? We accept transfer students from diverse educational backgrounds into both our medical sciences and clinical education curriculums.
The Ross Med curriculum provides the convenience of single-location clinical tracks, allowing you to remain in one geographic location for the duration of your clinical clerkship rotations. You’ll stay on schedule and be prepared for residency success when you transfer into our clinical education program.