The application of a core curriculum and options to an undergraduate paediatric course: a personal view.

The time allocated to the undergraduate paediatrics curriculum has been reduced in recent years. It is therefore increasingly important to organize a structured curriculum that provides students with the necessary competences to care for sick children in the early years after graduation. In this paper, the educational strategy of a core curriculum and options is discussed and its application to an undergraduate paediatrics course is described. A core curriculum with options can be readily adapted to undergraduate paediatrics but it requires careful planning to provide the student with the necessary competences and a rewarding and enjoyable educational experience.