Mar 28, 2024  
USC Catalogue 2020-2021 
    
USC Catalogue 2020-2021 [ARCHIVED CATALOGUE]

Dental Surgery (DDS)


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Programs by School

 

The Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) program covers 11 consecutive 14-week trimesters. The course of study maximizes the interrelationship of all basic sciences and clinical detail sciences required by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association.

USC’s reputation for excellent preparation of its graduates for private practice has been enhanced by curriculum changes that permit students to begin clinical experience in their first year. At the same time, opportunity and encouragement are given to those who might elect to pursue careers in teaching and research.

Admission

The Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC admits 144 students each year for the curriculum leading to the Doctor of Dental Surgery. Admission to the school is granted through the Office of Admissions, which receives and processes all applications, evaluates credentials and notifies applicants who qualify for entrance by forwarding letters of acceptance. Students are selected by the Admissions Committee, which bases its decision on consideration of an applicant’s personal qualities, aptitude and superior scholarship necessary for the successful study and practice of dentistry. Candidates who have received or will receive a baccalaureate or higher degree will be considered more favorably than applicants who have fulfilled only minimum requirements. As a precondition of enrollment, accepted students must undergo a background screening and provide evidence of sound health and meet the school’s health requirements.

Admission information may be obtained by mail, online or in person. Address inquiries to: 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 Requirements

Minimum entrance requirements include: (1) graduation from an accredited secondary school, with credit for at least 12 academic units, including three in English, three in one laboratory science course, two in one foreign language and two in college preparatory mathematics; (2) a minimum of 60 semester units, or the equivalent completed or in progress, at the time of application, in an accredited college or university in the United States or Canada. A baccalaureate or higher degree is preferred. No more than 60 semester hours earned at a community college will be accepted and preference is given to candidates who complete the science prerequisites at a four-year institution; (3) required courses, semester hours with laboratory required: 8 units each — one year’s completed course — of general biology, inorganic/general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics; other courses: English composition (8 units or one year), philosophy, history or fine arts (8 units or one year). All prerequisite course work must be completed with a grade of “C” or better; (4) it is strongly suggested that students take additional upper division courses. Biochemistry, human or comparative anatomy, embryology, histology, genetics, physiology, microbiology, immunology and economics are examples of recommended courses; (5) all students who apply for admission to the School of Dentistry are required to take the Dental Admission Test (DAT), given under the auspices of the Council on Dental Education of the American Dental Association. The Dental Admission Test must be taken no later than February 1 of the year for which formal application is made.

To expedite the admissions process, it is recommended that the DAT be taken during a testing period before filing formal application through the Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS). Test scores more than three years old will not be accepted. Applicants should check with the Dental Admissions Office. Full information about the test is sent to all applicants upon request, or can be obtained from the Division of Educational Measurements, Council on Dental Education, American Dental Association, 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. No action can be taken on the application until DAT scores have been received.

(6) An interview at the School of Dentistry is required of all applicants who appear qualified for consideration as determined by the Office of Admissions; (7) complete transcripts of undergraduate and graduate work, including degree notations, must be on file in the Office of Admissions by July 15 prior to enrolling; (8) residency requirements: as a private institution, USC seeks a culturally and geographically diverse population. Therefore, out-of-state applicants are evaluated and selected based on the same criteria as California residents.

No applicant will be denied admission on the basis of race, religion, creed or disability. All admitted students must provide evidence that functional health is sufficient to meet professional demands, both in the student role and as an entry-level practitioner.

Application Procedure

(1) An application form should be obtained from the Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS) online at adea.org. (2) The AADSAS application form must be completed and returned to AADSAS. USC requires that the application be received by AADSAS no later than February 1 of the year in which enrollment is anticipated. Early application and file completion is recommended. Do not send the application form to USC directly. In addition to submitting the ADEA AADSAS application, applicants must submit DAT scores and one official transcript from every college/university attended directly to AADSAS. Application evaluation cannot begin until these items are received by ADEA AADSAS. (3) Applicants are required to pay a nonrefundable $85 processing fee, which should be forwarded directly to the Ostrow Office of Admissions (international students requiring a student visa must submit a $145 processing fee). (4) Notification from the Office of Admissions will be sent, indicating that the application has been received from AADSAS. (5) Candidates who are being seriously considered for acceptance will be sent an invitation for an interview and will be required to submit additional information. No interview can be granted unless the file is complete, including DAT scores. (6) Notification of acceptance will be sent by the Office of Admissions sometime after December 1. (7) A non-refundable commitment fee of $2,000 is required from admitted students by the deadline indicated in the acceptance letter to hold a place in the entering class. A second commitment fee of $1,000 is required by the deadline in their acceptance letter. These non-refundable fees will be applied toward tuition upon enrollment. (8) Preregistration for the first year dental class is held before orientation. (9) All entering students are required to prepay $3,000 toward the initial tuition by their deadline. (10) As a precondition of enrollment, accepted students undergo a background screening conducted by Certiphi Screening, Inc. to help ensure patient safety and compliance with state laws and regulations and provide evidence of sound health and meet the school’s health requirements.

Orientation

Students who have been accepted into the predoctoral dental program and who have reserved their place in the class will receive information on orientation during the first two weeks in July.

Orientation takes place prior to the first week of classes. The purpose of the orientation program is to acquaint incoming students with the school, its policies, programs, faculty and facilities. Incoming students receive financial counseling and receive their initial equipment issue during this orientation period.

Graduation Requirements

A student is eligible for the Doctor of Dental Surgery after successfully attaining the qualitative and quantitative level expected in the doctoral curriculum, specifically: has met the 2.0 GPA requirement for graduation; has no conditions existing at the termination of the final academic time unit that would qualify him or her for academic probation, clinical probation or academic disqualification; has no marks of “F,” “IN” or “MG”; has passed Part I and Part II of the National Dental Board Examinations; has demonstrated the personal characteristics expected of a professional; has fulfilled his or her financial obligations as well as all other obligations and requirements for graduation.

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 other obligations to the university and to the student’s patients.

Curriculum

The curriculum leading to the Doctor of Dental Surgery degree undergoes constant change to meet the challenges of modern dental practice.

Doctor of Dental Surgery — Learner-Centered Curriculum


Required Courses


Note:


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.

Doctor of Dental Surgery — Traditional Program Curriculum


Required Courses


Note:


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

Advanced Standing Program for International Dentists Curriculum


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) Starting summer 2021, successful completion of the National Board Part I and Part II or Integrated National Board Dental 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.

 

Required Courses


Total units: 100


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Programs by School