University Of Southern Nevada
COLLEGE OF DENTAL MEDICINE
COLLEGE OF DENTAL MEDICINE ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR DOCTOR OF DENTAL MEDICINE INAUGURAL CLASS
The University of Southern Nevada’s College of Dental Medicine (USNCODM) is accepting applications for its Inaugural Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) class that will matriculate in fall 2011. The new dental program will be offered on USN’s South Jordan, Utah Campus in a new, five-story, state-of-the-art building.
The DMD curriculum is based on the highly-successful model developed for the USN Colleges of Pharmacy, Nursing and Dental Medicine. (See links on USN.edu website.) This model emphasizes a block scheduling strategy coupled with a mastery learning assessment philosophy. Block scheduling enables students to study “one subject at a time” for much of the curriculum rather than juggling numerous different courses simultaneously.
The 4-year curriculum will be competency-based, experiential, and organized around four curricular themes that emphasize interprofessional education and impart the necessary knowledge, skills, and values required of a contemporary general dentist. Clinical care will be provided by student doctors in a group practice approach under the supervision of Utah-licensed dentists in the ultramodern facility in South Jordan, Utah. There will be 8 group practices when all 4 classes are enrolled. An emergency care clinic will be available daily for walk-in care.
The curriculum will take advantage of contemporary technologies that reflect the newest approaches to education and oral health care.
USNCODM will emphasize the development of Lifelong Colleagues at every level. This approach encourages all faculty, staff, and students to make each and every interaction reflect a sincere desire to develop each other as lifelong colleagues. It will be a guiding principle in academic, clinical, and student services, as well as in the development of alumni and relationships with our communities of interest.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- How do I apply to be a member of USNCODM’s Inaugural DMD Class?
USN receives applications through the American Dental Education Association’s AADSAS service. To obtain information on the application process, please review information on the AADSAS website: http://www.adea.org/DENTAL_EDUCATION_PATHWAYS/AADSAS/APPLICANTS/Pages/default.aspx. Preference will be shown to candidates who submit their applications on or before February 1st.
- Do I need to submit other materials directly to the College of Dental Medicine?
At the same time you submit your application through AADSAS, please send the following to the Office of Admissions and Student Affairs at the address shown below:
- $50 application fee made payable to the University of Southern Nevada.
- Please include a brief cover letter with your DENTPIN, email, phone and other contact information.
- 2x2 color photograph with your name and DENTPIN affixed to the back of the photo. (upon an invitation for interview)
Office of Admissions and Student Affairs
College of Dental Medicine
University of Southern Nevada
South Jordan Campus
10920 S. River Front Parkway
South Jordan, UT 84095
- Does USNCODM require a secondary application?
The College of Dental Medicine does not require a secondary application.
- Does USNCODM require official transcripts and DAT scores at the time of application?
The College of Dental Medicine will evaluate the materials submitted with the AADSAS application and will let applicants know if additional materials are required. Accepted students must submit official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended, official DAT scores and the criminal background check prior to matriculation.
- Does USNCODM have minimum GPA requirements?
The College of Dental Medicine will evaluate each student’s record on an individual basis. Most competitive students will have achieved a minimum Cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and a Science GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale. For non-traditional and graduate students, science coursework in the prior three years will be considered separately from the cumulative GPA’s.
- Does USNCODM have a minimum DAT score requirement?
The Admissions Committee considers DAT scores on an individual basis as part of its evaluation of the candidate’s entire academic record.
To be considered for admission, scores on Academic Average and Perceptual Ability must be 16 or higher. Competitive scores are generally 18 or higher on Academic Average, Reading Comprehension, Biology, Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and the Perceptual Ability Test.
Preference will be given to applicants who provide DAT scores by October in the year of application. DAT scores older than three years will not be considered. Information about the DAT is available at: http://www.ada.org/dat.aspx
- What prerequisite courses are required for admission?
The College of Dental Medicine recommends that each applicant meet with a pre-health advisor at his/her institution to develop a course of study that will enable the student to master the foundation materials essential for success in dental school. Information on prehealth advisors is available from the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (http://naahp.org/advisors.htm).
If your institution does not have a prehealth advisor, please consult with faculty in the Biological Sciences for guidance on selecting courses appropriate for predental students.
In general, successful applicants will have completed the following courses approved for predental majors:
- Two academic years* of Biological Sciences (with laboratories if offered)
- One academic year of General Chemistry with laboratory
- One academic year of Organic Chemistry with laboratory
- One term of Biochemistry
- One academic year of Physics
One academic year of courses designed to develop oral and written communication skills as well as relationship skills essential to effective communication with health care professionals, patients, staff and others involved with the practice of dentistry.
There are many ways you can fulfill the communications prerequisite including, but not limited to, the following:
- Composition, creative or scientific writing courses (one writing intensive course is required)
- Literature or Philosophy courses (if writing intensive)
- Communications courses focusing on speech, debate, public speaking or interpersonal relationships
- Journalism courses emphasizing interviewing, reporting, or editing
- Counseling or Education courses that include a supervised practicum or field experience
- Theater courses that include acting experience
*An academic year is generally defined as two semesters or three quarters. Several institutions have developed a unique sequence of courses for predental and premedical majors to fulfill these requirements. Candidates who complete a unique, non-traditional, pre-dental curriculum should submit a letter from their advisors detailing the course of study.
Students may not elect pass/fail options in prerequisite courses unless a narrative transcript is provided by the institution detailing performance in the course(s).
A candidate’s entire academic record will be evaluated by the Admissions Committee. This includes all courses in undergraduate, graduate, professional or other specialty programs. Particular emphasis is placed on the evaluation of coursework completed within the last three years and on upper division or graduate coursework in the Biological and related sciences.
The Admissions Committee also evaluates course load, work history and extracurricular activities as part of its review of each candidate’s application.
English as a Second Language coursework does not meet the English, Communications or Speech requirement.
- Does USNCODM have a limit on community college coursework?
Courses completed at a community college will be accepted if they transfer as equivalent to predental level courses at a four-year college or university.
- Does USNCODM require Letters of Evaluation?
Yes. A letter from the Prehealth Professions Advisory Committee is required. If your school does not provide Committee letters, please request letters from two science faculty members who can evaluate your performance and potential for success in professional school. The third letter may be from another faculty member in any department or from a health care professional who knows you well.
- When is the best time to apply?
Applicants are encouraged to read the guidance provided on the AADSAS web site: (http://www.adea.org/DENTAL_EDUCATION_PATHWAYS/AADSAS/APPLICANTS/Pages/default.aspx). Applicants are encouraged to submit the AADSAS application and complete the DAT no later than October. The College of Dental Medicine reviews applications on a rolling basis.
- Is the program accredited?
Not yet. As a new program, the USN College of Dental Medicine is completing all requirements for Initial Accreditation of the DMD Program from the Commission on Dental Accreditation. USN plans to submit the Application for Initial Accreditation to the Commission in fall 2010. The program plans to have an accreditation site visit in spring 2011 for the Commission’s consideration of initial accreditation status in summer 2011. This corresponds to the College of Dental Medicine’s plan to admit its Inaugural Class in fall 2011. Although the University is optimistic that the DMD program will receive accreditation by fall 2011, no one can guarantee accreditation.
The College of Dental Medicine seeks to admit a diverse student population with demonstrated academic competency and commitment to the profession of dentistry. In doing so, it follows standard policies and procedures for selecting and admitting applicants in a timely fashion.
The University of Southern Nevada (USN) is an equal opportunity educational institution in all of its activities. USN, in compliance with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Sections 503 and 403 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Sections 102 and 302 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, handicap or sexual orientation in any of its policies, procedures, or practices. In compliance with the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, and Section 402 of the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Act of 1974, USN does not discriminate on the basis of age, ethnic origin, marital status, sexual orientation, or because an individual is a disabled veteran or veteran of the Vietnam Era, or because of a medical condition in any of its policies, procedures, or practices. Within the limits of the law, USN does not discriminate on the basis of citizenship. This non-discrimination policy covers admission, access, and service in the University programs and activities, and application for and treatment in University employment.
The University of Southern Nevada College of Dental Medicine reserves the right to modify or change admissions requirements and standards any time and without prior notice. The information on this web site does not create a binding contract between the student and the College of Dental Medicine.