Curriculum

The 5 Guiding Principles of Curriculum Renewal

Beginning in Septemer 2009, Schulich Dentistry launched the first year of the redesigned curriculum for the DDS degree. The renewed curriculum for:

  • Year 2 commenced on September 2010
  • Year 3 commenced on September 2011
  • Year 4 commenced on September 2012

Ensuring that the new curriculum meets or exceeds the requirements of accreditation and published ACFD guidelines

  1. Integration of basic and clinical sciences
  2. Thematic, multidisciplinary approach to didactic and clinical teaching
  3. Early and progressive introduction of students into patient clinics
  4. Provide time in the senior year for electives and rotations both on and off site

Curriculum Framework

The foundation of Dentistry Curriculum is based on a central core of Comprehensive Patient Care. The amount of time, complexity and responsibility the student undertakes in this clinical core increases throughout the four years of the program. Surrounding this core of Comprehensive Patient Care is all the didactic and preclinical content that will prepare graduates of Schulich Dentistry's program for independent general practice.

Curriculum Framework

New and Enhanced Features Of The Revised Dentistry Curriculum

  • Students begin their clinical, patient contact experience in Year 1
  • Clinical experience increases in time, complexity and responsibility in a logic and progressive manner
  • Courses will become more interdisciplinary and thematic in nature
  • Improved course content and sequencing of material
  • Modular based content allowing students to more quickly move from the simulation clinics to the patient clinics
  • Re-balancing of curriculum hours especially in the first two years of the program
  • Emphasis on patient centred, comprehensive care in a treatment team environment - peer experience
  • Enhanced case-based, multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment planning courses throughout years 2, 3 and 4
  • Increased emphasis on self-directed learning component
  • Completion of competency level instruction by Year 3
  • Enhanced critical thinking and problem solving throughout the curriculum
  • Opportunities for senior students to undertake elective experiences both on and off site
  • Enhanced interprofessional education