The program is a full-time, continuous, 46-month cohort program consisting of 270.5/280.5 credit hours culminating in the receipt of the DMD degree. The curriculum includes eleven consecutive semesters of academic and clinical education. The projected life of the program is ongoing but will admit only one cohort per year.
The competency-based curriculum design is based on the American Dental Education Association's (ADEA) Competencies for the New General Dentist. When achieved, it predicts with confidence that students have attained the knowledge; clinical, research, critical thinking, practice management, behavioral, and interpersonal skills; clinical experience; sound clinical judgment; professional and ethical behavior; and patient care training to provide comprehensive oral health care to diverse patients of all ages and conditions of physical, mental, and emotional health. The 39 competency statements address the following domains of competence: Critical Thinking, Professionalism, Communication, and Interpersonal Skills, Health Promotion, Practice Management and Informatics, Patient Care; Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment Planning, and Establishment and Maintenance of Oral Health.