Curriculum / Predoctoral Overview

DMD CURRICULUM

CURRICULUM GOAL

The goal of the curriculum of the New Jersey Dental School is to prepare competent general practitioners who are able to manage the oral health care of the public. The curriculum provides a foundation for those graduates who seek advanced training in the dental specialties, biomedical research and/or dental education.

To accomplish this goal, graduates must understand the interrelationship of the biological, physical, clinical and behavioral sciences in order to practice effectively in three overlapping areas of professional responsibility:

A. Comprehensive Patient Care.

1. Diagnosis and Treatment Planning. The graduate will be able to diagnose conditions of the oral cavity and its related structures. The graduate also will be able to develop a logical treatment plan for the prevention and treatment of oral conditions so that each patient can be maintained in, or restored to, a healthy, functioning aesthetic condition.

2. Delivery of Therapeutic Procedures. The graduate will be able to perform competently state-of-the-art preventive and therapeutic procedures which are used by general dentists in the treatment of patients. Since the practice of dentistry is constantly changing, the curriculum emphasizes the learning of general concepts as well as specific techniques. The graduate should be able to delegate and evaluate treatment using currently accepted methods. The graduate also will be able to manage patients and auxiliaries in various practice settings.

3. Care of the Whole Patient. The graduate will be able to understand and recognize the medical and/or socioeconomic problems which may influence or result from dental treatment. The graduate will be able to manage the manifestations of these problems as they affect or are affected by dental treatment.

B. Participation in Community Dental Programs.

As a member of the health team, the graduate will be able to assess community dental health problems and play an active role in the solution of such problems.

C. Continuation of Professional Development.

The graduate will be able to evaluate the dental literature in order to benefit from recent research and apply this information to dental practice. The graduate will be a continual learner who acquires new knowledge and skills through continuing education and participation in organized dentistry.

GRADING SYSTEM

NOTE: The Student Academic Performance Committee (SAPC) is responsible for recommending policy to the Executive Council relating to the academic performance and progress of students. It meets regularly to review student performance and make recommendations of academic action to be taken on students. The committee develops, maintains and upholds the academic regulations of the School.

Course syllabi which include information about the goals and requirements for each course, course content, topic outlines, methods of evaluation and specific departmental policies are distributed by course directors at the beginning of each course. Each department determines the manner in which students are examined and the criteria for evaluating performance. Within five (5) working days of the conclusion of a course or the date of the final examination, final letter grades are transmitted to the Registrar's Office for recording on the student's permanent academic record (transcript).

Valid letter grades and their values are:

*The D grade and the F grade must be remediated or repeated.

**For calculation of final course grades, decimal values are rounded up to the next whole number if .5 or above OR rounded down to the whole number if below .5, e.g., 89.5 would be an "A" and 89.4 would be a "B"+

The D/grade (e.g., DB) or F/grade (e.g., FC+) is awarded after re-examination in a didactic or preclinical laboratory course or after remediation or completion of deficient requirements in a clinical course. The new grade is recorded on the transcript in addition to the previous grade.

Grade point averages (GPA's) are calculated to determine the rank in class and eligibility for promotion for each student. It is the Dental school policy that, for the purposes of determining class rank, a GPA will be computed using ONLY the FIRST grade obtained in each course. For the purpose of determining eligibility for promotion, GRADES EARNED ON REMEDIATION OR REPETITION of a course will be used to calculate the grade point average.

Grades which are not included in the computation of the grade point averages are:

EXT Exempt
I Incomplete
I/C Incomplete Clinical Requirements (senior year only)
P Pass
S Satisfactory
U Unsatisfactory
WP Withdrawn-Passing
WF Withdrawn-Failing
X Suspension for Administrative Reasons

The EXT (Exempt) grade is noted on the transcript for a student who, upon application to the department chairperson involved, is not required to participate in a course (usually a basic science course) because of the student's documented previous knowledge of the subject matter.

The I (Incomplete) grade is an interim grade awarded to a student who has been unable to complete a course for reasons not due to the fault of the student, e.g., extended illness, military obligation, service to the dental school, unscheduled curricular activity or inadequate availability of patients. The I grade must be removed prior to promotion to the subsequent academic year.

The I/C (Incomplete Clinical Requirements) can be given by a clinical department at the end of the Spring trimester of the Senior year. An I/C grade is appropriate at this time if, in a department's judgement in consultation with the Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs, a student can remove the I/C on or before September 1. In such an instance, the student must have demonstrated consistent quality in completed procedures to date but, through no fault of the student, he/she requires additional time to complete the quantitative assumptions. When a department gives an I/C grade, the specific clinical procedures to be accomplished by the student must be delineated. In the event a student does not remove an I/C grade by September 1, that I/C grade will be converted to an F grade by the appropriate department chair, and the student will be evaluated for appropriate action by the SAPC.

A senior student who receives an I/C grade(s) may be eligible for taking the Northeast Regional Board Examination if, in the judgement of the department chairs and the Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs, the student has shown appropriate clinical competency.

A senior student with an I/C grade(s) may participate in the commencement ceremony (without receiving a diploma) if, in the judgement of the department chairs, the Group Practice Administrators and the Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs, the student can accomplish the specified Comprehensive Care Requirements by September 1.

A senior student who has not removed all I/C grades by July 1 will be subject to payment of tuition and/or fees for the summer session and/or for any subsequent trimester(s).

The P (Pass) grade is awarded following successful completion of certain mandatory courses. It is also the evaluation grade for senior Selective/Elective courses.

The S (Satisfactory) and U (Unsatisfactory) grades are awarded as mid-course and/or mid-trimester evaluations. The U grade must be removed by successfully completing all requirements in the course. In clinical disciplines, the U grade denotes lack of qualitative progress.

The WP (Withdrawn-Passing) or WF (Withdrawn-Failing) grade is awarded when a student withdraws from a course before its conclusion. In both cases, the grade remains on the permanent academic record, and the student is required to repeat the course.

The X (Suspension) grade will be awarded to any course in progress when a student is removed from the school for non-academic reasons (cheating, theft, etc.). The suspension notation will remain on the student's permanent academic record.

NATIONAL BOARD EXAMINATIONS

All students are required to take Parts I and II of the National Dental Board Examinations which are administered by the Council of the National Board of Dental Examiners of the American Dental Association.

Part I, which must be taken immediately after the end of the second academic year of the program, covers anatomic sciences, biochemistry/physiology, microbiology/pathology and dental anatomy/occlusion. Part II, taken in the fourth academic year, covers operative dentistry, pharmacology, prosthodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery/pain control, orthodontics/pediatric dentistry, oral pathology/radiology and endodontics/periodontics. A student must have successfully completed all portions of Part I before being eligible to take Part II. Eligibility of students to enter the senior clinic will include passing Part I of the National Boards.

Eligibility for the National Boards is certified by the Office of Student Affairs and Graduate Dental Education. Under the regulations of the Council of the National Board of Dental Examiners, a student must have received a passing grade in the courses which are covered on the Board Examinations. The passing grade on the Board Examinations is 75 percent.

Application forms and directions for completion are distributed by the Office of Academic Affairs.

REQUIREMENTS FOR DEGREE

The degree of Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) will be conferred upon the candidate who has met the following requirements:

1. Regular attendance for the prescribed period of four academic years of instruction;

2. Satisfactory completion of curricular requirements in the preclinical and clinical areas of each of the years of study;

3. Adherence to high standards of moral and professional conduct;

4. Payment of all financial obligations, including dental store debts; (After a specified date in April, only cashier's checks, certified checks or money orders will be accepted.)

5. Return of all loan equipment, patient charts, gold, etc. to the dental school;

6. Passage of both Part I and Part II of the National Board Dental Examination;

7. Completion of all course evaluations.

8. Completion of all requirements within five (5) academic years after first enrollment in the program. (Excluding the combined DMD/PhD program.)

9. Only those students who have completed all of the above requirements by September 1 will receive a diploma with the May commencement date. Those completing requirements after September 1, but before the next May commencement date, will receive a diploma with an alternate date.

COMMENCEMENT

Commencement is a University-wide function. All graduates are expected to attend unless excused for a legitimate reason

ACADEMIC COLORS

Hoods signifying degrees conferred by UMDNJ, as registered with the Intercollegiate Bureau of Academic Costume, are lined with golden yellow and have a chevron of garnet. The dental hood is faced with lilac velvet.

CODE OF ETHICS

The study of dentistry requires the same high standards of personal integrity and ethical conduct as the practice of dentistry itself. Students at UMDNJ-New Jersey Dental School are expected to demonstrate the self-discipline, honesty and respect for the rights of others which their future profession demands. This involves every aspect of student life whether observed or unobserved and whether relating to peers, to patients or to the faculty and staff.

A judicial committee of students and faculty meets to determine breaches of conduct. The functions of this body and the procedures for convening it are outlined in the "Student Rights and Responsibilities Document" found in the Student Handbook.

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