The Vermont Integrated Curriculum (VIC) provides primary education in genetics, epidemiology, ethics, social and biological variations of culture, and health care systems in addition to a solid foundation in basic health science knowledge and clinical skills.

Now recognized as one of the most innovative approaches to medical education in the country, the VIC fully integrates basic science and clinical education, and increases the time students spend investigating important areas such as epidemiology and ethics, social and biological variations of culture, and health care systems in addition to a solid foundation in basic health science knowledge and clinical skills. 

Also included are programs in leadership skills, professional development, research and teaching skills. Assessment provides continuing feedback on students’ progress and certifies competency to move forward in the curriculum.

The VIC is divided into three levels of increasing complexity and breadth of study. Instruction progresses from being teacher-directed to being student-directed, encouraging graduates to develop strong life-long learning habits.

The purpose of Level One/Foundations is to have students develop a fundamental understanding of health and illness as framed by systems from a single gene to entire populations.

Level Two/Clinical Clerkships progressively build clinical skills for students through daily care of patients within different medical specialties in both ambulatory and hospital environments.

During Level Three/Advanced Integration the student applies prior competencies to the supervised management of patients and to the teaching of peers, patients, and more junior students. Students are also expected to gain an understanding of the impact of economic, social, and political systems on systems of patient care.