Dental Surgery (DDS)

For those individuals who are not familiar with the problem-based pedagogy which is an integrated curriculum, the content of the curriculum listed above is based on what was traditionally housed in the following courses.

Five units of selective courses are required in addition to the above.

Advanced Placement Doctoral Dental Degree

The Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC offers a unique pathway for talented students to earn a bachelor’s degree in Dental Hygiene (DH) on their way to a Doctor of Dental Science (DDS) degree. Successful candidates for the six-year DH to DDS Pathway will immediately transition to the DDS degree program following graduation from the Dental Hygiene program.

Admission Requirements

(1) Application materials for the American Dental Education Association Dental Hygiene Application Service (ADEA DHCAS) are due by March 1 of the year in which enrollment are desired. (2) Applicants must complete the Dental Hygiene prerequisite and USC General Education course work prior to entering the program. (3) The Dental Admissions Committee makes the final selection of students admitted for the pathway. Five to ten students are accepted each year. (4) Prior to enrollment in the DDS program, applicants must submit an application through the American Dental Education Association’s Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (ADEA AADSAS). The AADSAS application must be submitted by the February 1 deadline during the applicant’s senior year. Applicants must also take the Dental Admission Test (DAT) and achieve a score of 15 or higher in all tested categories. DAT results must be submitted by the applicant’s senior year of Dental Hygiene studies.

Additional requirements include: Successful graduation from the Dental Hygiene program with a minimum overall GPA of 3.0; a letter of recommendation from the Dental Hygiene program director and recommendations from two additional USC faculty members; certification that the student has maintained the school’s professional standards and ethical requirements.

Advanced Standing Program for International Dentists

This program is designed to teach qualified dentists from other countries the knowledge and skills available in the United States. Time necessary to complete the program depends upon the doctor’s ability; a minimum of two years is usually required. About eight months will be devoted to fundamental, technical and academic procedures. The remaining time is devoted to clinical training as necessary to achieve graduation qualifications. Graduation from the Advanced Standing Program for International Dentists leads to a DDS degree but does not give automatic licensure to practice dentistry. However, graduates are eligible to take the State Board Dental Examinations in most of the United States. (A few states still require U.S. citizenship.)

Additional information may be requested from the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, Office of Admissions , 925 W. 34th Street, Room 201, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0641, (213) 740-2841, email: uscsdadm@usc.edu or access the school’s Website at dentistry.usc.edu.

Admission

Prospective students must apply to the Advanced Standing Program for International Dentists through the ADEA Centralized Application for Advanced Placement for International Dentists (ADEA CAAPID℠). The application is available online only. You can access the ADEA CAAPID℠ application at portal.caapid.org.

Selected applicants will be interviewed and tested in October and accepted based on the following requirements: (1) completion of the formal application (before August 15 for admission to the program in April). A $145 processing fee must accompany the application. (2) Successful completion of the National Board Part I examination of the American Dental Association (ADA). A score of 75 percent must be attained in each category. Higher scores are advantageous in evaluation of the candidate’s academic level. (3) Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit scores from the National Board Part II and competitive scores on both the quantitative and verbal sections of the Graduate Record Examinations. For information about the GRE test visit ets.org/gre. (4) Applicants for the Advanced Standing Program for International Dentists must demonstrate English-language proficiency by submitting either Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores. Competitive applicants should submit an Internet Based TOEFL (iBT) score of 100, or an IELTS score of 7, with at least 6 on each band. Official scores must be received directly from the testing service and dated no earlier than two years (24 months) prior to the start of the student’s intended first term at USC. For TOEFL, the institution code for USC is 4852 (no department code is required). To submit IELTS scores, please choose USC from the list of available institutions. Additional information about these exams can be found at ets.org for the TOEFL and at ielts.org for the IELTS. (5) A small group problem-based interview evaluation session with members of the School of Dentistry. (6) Two letters of recommendation from dental school faculty submitted with the CAAPID application. (7) A brief but accurate account of clinical experience and a personal statement submitted with the CAAPID application. (8) Documentary proof of license to practice from a Ministry of Health or proper governing body. (9) Satisfactory completion of and competence in the following academic and artistic entrance examinations to be given to invited applicants in October: (a) fixed prosthodontics (practical); (b) operative dentistry (practical). In addition, a separate written examination may be administered. (10) Complete official documents (transcripts) of all college and university course work, including dental education in the original language accompanied by certified English translation when necessary. (11) Certification of dental degree. Candidates chosen will be those who demonstrate the best qualifications in all academic and practical skills. (12) Submit a course-by-course World Education Services evaluation. (13) As a precondition of enrollment, accepted students must undergo a background screening conducted by Certiphi Screening, Inc. to help ensure patient safety and compliance with state laws and regulations and all students must provide evidence of sound health and meet the school’s health requirements.

Student Visas

The I-20 Student Visa is issued to the applicant only after complete admission and acceptance has been granted. Before the papers can be processed, the applicant must present a copy of the I-94 form (white sheet in the passport) and a notarized statement of financial support for tuition and expenses for one year ($120,000) to the Advanced Standing Program for International Dentists. These materials must be submitted at the time of application. The International Admission Office will issue the I-20 visa upon receipt and approval of these documents.

Financial Assistance

The United States government requires all international applicants to provide proof of ability to pay tuition and living expenses before a formal letter of admission or the forms needed to obtain a visa will be issued.

International students are not eligible to participate in U.S. federal financial aid programs. Please contact the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC Office of Financial Aid to discuss other financing options at (213) 740-2841, uscsdfa@usc.edu or visit usc.edu/admission/fa/loans/private.html.

Curriculum

Each candidate for the DDS degree should complete the course of instruction in two years, however, some individuals may need more time. The first four to eight months will be spent in preclinical exercises to acquaint the student with the fundamental technical procedures used at USC. The balance will be used for clinical procedures related to diagnosis and treatment of patients.

Grade Point Average Standards

Since this is a short program and highly concentrated, a GPA of 2.0 (A = 4.0) must be maintained each trimester. Therefore, each applicant will be provisionally accepted. If a doctor is unable to maintain an average GPA of 2.0, he or she will be asked to resign.

Each trimester, Advanced Standing Program for International Dentists students are evaluated by the student professional performance evaluation committee. From these meetings, recommendations are made regarding advancement, special programs and disqualification.

Graduation Requirements

In order to receive the Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree, students in the Advanced Standing Program for International Dentists must: (1) successfully complete all the required courses and clinical patient care assigned in trimesters VI, VII, VIII, IX, X and XI of the Problem Based Learning DDS curriculum; (2) pass Part I and Part II of the National Dental Board Examinations; and (3) achieve all of the competencies defined for the DDS curriculum and complete all required clinical performance evaluations. All assessments of progress to degree completion will be equivalent for all students seeking the DDS degree.

In addition to meeting the academic requirements indicated above, students must have a completed administrative clearance form on file in the Office of Academic Affairs before a degree can be conferred. This administrative clearance indicates that the student has met financial and other obligations to the university and to the student’s patients.