Overview: Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)

Our curriculum provides students with opportunities to learn the fundamental principles significant to the entire body of dental knowledge. Students are expected to learn basic health sciences, to attain proficiency in clinical skills, to develop an understanding of professional and ethical principles, and to develop reasoning and critical decision-making skills that will enable implementation of the dental knowledge base (see Essential Requirements* for more information).

The first year is divided among lecture, laboratory, and preclinical activities in basic sciences, dental anatomy, occlusion and dental materials. In the second year students will develop additional preclinical skills, learn how basic science principles are applied to the clinical setting and begin clinical patient treatment. In the third and fourth years, students concentrate on providing clinical treatment, attend lectures that refine technical and diagnostic skills, and participate in electives. Students are required to take a minimum of two electives that are chosen from courses offered by all departments, including opportunities in independent study, research, and special topics.