Eligibility (Spring 2025)
Student-Designed Special Topics Week: March 17 – 23, 2025 (MS1 and MS4 students)
Special Topics Week (Lottery): April 28 – May 4, 2025 (MS3 and MS4 students)
There will be two Special Topics weeks in the Spring. The first (March 17 – 23) is a Student-Designed Special Topics only; no faculty-designed courses are available. During the second week (April 28 – May 4), selections will be made by lottery, and changes will be made during the drop/add period. You can also choose to create a Student-Designed Special Topic during the second week (April 28 – May 4).
Special Topic courses are 1-week mini-immersion courses that allow students to explore topics of interest. Special Topics courses are required for graduation (4 weeks for Regular MD, Rural, and Primary Care Track; 2 weeks for MSTP and OMFS).
Lottery Dates for MS3/MS4 Special Topics Week (April 28 – May 4, 2025)
| Lottery Opens | Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at 5 p.m. |
| Lottery Closes | Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at 8 a.m. |
| Lottery Results posted | Tuesday, March 18, 2025, by 5 p.m. |
| Drop/Add opens | Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at 5 p.m. |
| Late drop fee begins | Courses dropped within two weeks of the official course start date (always a Monday) are assessed a $45 late drop fee |
| Deadline to add a course | Wednesday at 4 p.m. prior to official course start date |
| Deadline to drop a course without a WP (withdrawn passing) or WF (withdrawn failing) recorded on transcript | Wednesday at 4 p.m. prior to official course start date |
Entering Your Preferences in the Lottery
Use the Scheduling Lottery link to enter your preferences in the lottery during the posted timeline (see lottery dates).
Making Changes
Before the lottery deadline
Once the lottery is open, you can make changes to your preferences in the lottery anytime before the deadline – even if you already saved preferences previously. The saved rank order at the time of the deadline is used for the lottery. If you do not enter the Special Topics Lottery, you will not be assigned a Special Topics course.
After the course is posted to your schedule
Use the Online Schedule Change Request system (OSCR) to adjust your schedule after lottery results have been posted. You can search for courses in Course Availability.
Course Requiring Permission
Check Course Availability (CAVE) to confirm availability of your desired ST course. Use the Online Schedule Change Request system (OSCR) from the Current Students page to register for a written permission course. You will be required to upload a copy of the written permission from the course instructor.
- Submit an Online Schedule Change Request (OSCR). You must first submit the request before you are able to upload supporting documentation.
- After submitting your request, view your request by navigating to the Home screen in the OSCR system.
- Select “Add or Remove Document” and upload a copy of the email or other written permission for the course.
Student-Designed Courses
Student-designed courses must first be approved by Undergraduate Medical Education. You can find the special topics request form on the curriculum page. When your course is approved, you will receive an email from UME with a copy of your signed course form. Use the Online Schedule Change Request system (OSCR) from the Current Students page to register for your student-designed course. You will be required to upload the approved/signed course form.
- Submit an Online Schedule Change Request (OSCR)
- After submitting your request, view your request by navigating to the Home screen in the OSCR system. You must submit the request first.
- Select “Add or Remove Document” and upload a copy of the approved course form.