Mar 28, 2024  
USC Catalogue 2022-2023 
    
USC Catalogue 2022-2023 [ARCHIVED CATALOGUE]

Geriatric Dentistry (MS)


The Master of Science in Geriatric Dentistry online program consists of 30.5 units of course work delivered online and in person leading to a master’s degree in geriatric dentistry. The curriculum is designed to prepare students to work in the area of geriatric dentistry. The program consists of a series of didactic courses where the students will gain in-depth knowledge about older adults from a variety of perspectives that will include learning about the aging process and how it affects and is affected by social, behavioral and health factors commonly seen with aging. The program will focus on the most common medical and oral health conditions seen in older adults including oral lesions and orofacial pain conditions and their treatments, as well as cognitive changes, mental disorders, and social factors that will impact and thus require adjustments to oral health care delivery.

During the year, the students will attend weekly video conferences where they will discuss lesions most likely to be found in older adults or composite patient case scenarios, during which the patient’s medical, pharmacologic and psychologic profiles and social status is taken into consideration in determining treatment modifications.

All master students are required to choose and finish a capstone project and 18 portfolio cases during the program duration. The students will attend USC for 8-10 days during two summer trimesters for knowledge assessment courses. As part of the graduation requirements, the students are required to successfully defend their capstone project and portfolio cases during their last summer term and pass all the courses with a grade point average of 3.0 or more.