• Students at Columbia University learn radiology in their second year.x ray doc image by JASON WINTER from Fotolia.com
  
  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, formal medical education normally requires four years of undergraduate study, four years of medical school, and an additional three to eight years of internship and residency training. Medical school courses require a basic foundation in the sciences and build upon that knowledge as it applies to human health. Although exact course requirements vary by school, all programs have requirements for lecture, laboratory and clinical courses.
  
  

Lecture

• The first two years of medical school lectures are founded on the basic sciences. These courses may include pathophysiology, histology, human development, psychiatric medicine, anatomy, dermatology and radiology. The third-year courses can include electives such as neurology, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, primary care, pharmacology and biomedical informatics. During the fourth year of medical school, students might complete lecture courses in advanced medical topics such as emergency medicine, chronic care or ambulatory care, and surgical subspecialties such as anesthesiology, neurosurgery, ophthalmology, orthopedic surgery, otolaryngology and urology. The lectures usually include clinical rotations.
  
  

Laboratory

• According to the American Association of Medical Colleges, laboratory course requirements include both gross and microscopic anatomy. These courses require students to learn the normal and pathological structures and processes from the cell to the entire body. Medical schools often require that students perform a full-body dissection during the first year of medical school. At the Ohio State University, students perform full-body dissections in groups of six. Other laboratory requirements might include reviewing pathological specimens such as tumors, reading radiology reports and collecting specimens for laboratory analysis. In some courses, computer simulations and computer-assisted instruction might take the place of traditional hands-on methods of laboratory instruction.
  
  

Clinical

• As medical students progress in their education, schools require clinical components. Students must demonstrate proficiency in conducting clinical assessments, which include taking a medical history, performing a physical examination and communicating with the patient. During the first year, this is done under the direction of a primary care physician. In the second year and beyond, clinical assessments take place in a specialty field, such as chronic disease or behavioral medicine.
  
  The third and fourth years of medical school focus heavily on clinical requirements and experience. During the third year, clinical coursework includes assisting with, performing with supervision and performing common medical procedures without supervision. In addition, students begin to learn case management, developing a professional clinical demeanor and interpretation of clinical laboratory data (Ohio State University).