Students who do particularly well in a course receive a letter recognizing honors-level performance. Clinical students receive grades of honors pass, pass, conditional pass, or no pass. The grading system encourages cooperation rather than competition among students. Criteria for selection include scholastic excellence, integrity, capacity for leadership, and compassion. The honor of AOA membership remains with a physician throughout his or her career.
Some medical students choose to combine their clinical interests with special research projects.
Short-term projects with faculty are available. In addition to the M.D. degree, the College offers master's degrees in epidemiology, ethics and humanities in the life sciences, andsurgery. Premedical Opportunities Undergraduate students who demonstrate an interest in medicine and show academic promise have the opportunity to participate in premedical programs to enhance their undergraduate experience and to help prepare them for medical school. The Medical Scholars Program offers ten outstanding high school seniors contingent admission to the College of Human Medicine upon successful completion of their bachelor's degree at Michigan State University. Medical Scholars may complete any major area of study while fulfilling all the premedical requirements.