Program Overview
The UNLV School of Dental Medicine offers a four-year program consisting of 5,000 contact hours, integrating biomedical, behavioral, and clinical sciences. Graduates are prepared for careers in various settings, including private practice, public health, and academia, with a median annual salary of $163,220 and an excellent job outlook.
Program Outline
Outline:
The UNLV School of Dental Medicine (SDM) education program is a four-year academic program consisting of eleven (11) full semesters and approximately 5,000 contact hours. The curriculum is designed to permit seamless vertical and horizontal integration of the three disciplines of biomedical, behavioral, and clinical sciences.
First year:
42 weeks, 1404 contact hours
Second year:
46 weeks, 1303 contact hours
Third year:
46 weeks, 1477 contact hours
Fourth year:
28 weeks, 826 contact hours (estimated) The academic year is divided into trimesters, each of which includes approximately 14 weeks of instruction. The curriculum hours are comparable to the national data published by the American Dental Association. Clinical presentations and discussions are included in biomedical courses, and behavioral science topics are offered in the context of the clinical setting. The requirement for foundational knowledge in achieving clinical competency is recognized as the cornerstone of the curriculum.
Careers:
Graduates of the UNLV School of Dental Medicine are prepared for careers in a variety of settings, including private practice, public health, and academia. They may also pursue advanced education in areas such as orthodontics, periodontics, or endodontics. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for dentists in the United States is $163,220. The job outlook for dentists is expected to be excellent in the coming years, with a projected growth of 19% from 2016 to 2026.
