Professional Degrees

Doctor of Dental Surgery

The Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) 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 School of Dentistry admits 130 students each year for the curriculum leading to the Doctor of Dental Surgery. Admission to the school is granted through the Office of Dental Admissions and Minority Affairs 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 Committee on Admissions, composed of faculty and students, who base their decision on consideration of an applicant's personal qualities, aptitude and superior scholarship necessary for the successful study and practice of dentistry. Admission information may be obtained by mail or in person. Address inquiries to: Office of Admissions and Minority Affairs, School of Dentistry, Room 216, University Park, MC 0641, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0641, (213) 740-2841.

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; (3) required courses, semester hours with laboratory required: eight units each - one year's completed course - of general biology (zoology), inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physics; other courses: English composition (eight units or one year), philosophy, history or fine arts (eight units or one year); (4) it is strongly suggested that students take additional upper division courses. Biochemistry, human or comparative anatomy, embryology, histology, genetics, physiology, psychology, sociology 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 Aptitude Test (DAT), given under the auspices of the Council on Dental Education of the American Dental Association. This test is given in April and October at USC and at other schools throughout the United States. The Dental Aptitude Test must be taken no later than April 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 American Association of Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS). Test scores more than two years old may 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, Illinois 60611. No action can be taken on the application until DAT scores have been received.

(6) A personal interview at the School of Dentistry may be required of all applicants who appear qualified for consideration as determined by the School of Dentistry Admissions Office, although this interview may be waived for exceptionally qualified candidates as determined by the Dental Admissions Committee; a manual dexterity test may be required as part of an interview process; (7) complete transcripts of undergraduate and graduate work, including degree notations, must be on file in the Dental Admissions Office by the end of July 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.

Application Procedure

(1) An application form should be obtained from the American Association of Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS) by writing: AADSAS, 1625 Massachusetts Ave., N.W., Suite 101, Washington, D.C. 20036. (2) The AADSAS application form should be filled out and returned to AADSAS. USC requires that the application be received by AADSAS no later than April 1 of the year in which enrollment is anticipated. Early application and file completion is recommended for applicants desiring an off-site interview. Do not send the application form to USC directly. (3) All applicants are required to pay a nonrefundable $50 application fee and submit two letters of recommendation from predental science instructors or a pre-health committee, and submit a passport-size photograph. This material should be forwarded directly to USC.

(4) Notification from the School of Dentistry Office of Admissions and Minority Affairs 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. No interview can be granted unless the file is complete, including DAT scores. The interview may be waived for exceptional candidates as determined by the admissions committee. (6) Notification of acceptance will be sent by the Office of Dental Admissions sometime after December 1.

(7) An initial tuition deposit fee of $300 is required from students by the deadline indicated in their acceptance letter to hold a place in the entering class. A second deposit fee of $200 is required by May 1. Applicants accepted after May 1 are required to pay a flat fee of $500 within 15 days from the date of their acceptance letter to hold a place in the entering class; applicants accepted after July 1 are required to pay a $500 deposit within five days. These fees are non-refundable but are applied to tuition upon enrollment. (8) Preregistration for the first year dental class is held before orientation; (9) all entering students are required to prepay $1,500 toward the initial tuition by August 1.

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 during the week before 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.

Eligibility for Degree

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 unreconciled marks of F, IW, ICW, N or NC; 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.

Produced by the USC Division of Student Affairs, Office of University Publications, May 1, 1995
univpub@stuaff.usc.edu