Western University Curriculum, what do you think?

[kov82]

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Western University says that they have taken logical steps to come up with a program and curriculum that is not bound by years of tradition and routine that are hard to break at other well established schools, and that based on the expertise from their well educated and experienced faculty they put this schedule together (I have copy/pasted it below) I am not familiar with titles, so for 3rd and 4th year, I cant tell when it says "clinical" if that mean you are actually in a class, or you are in the clinic learning that procedure, a friend who is a third year at an east coast school says that it looks like some important class are being taken in the 4th year which is "kind of late for that", for his school he says you finish all your classes end of 3rd year and there are no classes 4th year, its all clinic, from your own knowledge/experience in dental school, is this true about important classes being taken too late at Western? what do you think of the schedule in general, thinking outside the box, is this a reasonable schedule that will prepare you to work after graduation? thanks.


DMD Curriculum by Class Year*

First Year, Fall Term
The Molecular and Cellular Basis of Medicine (9.5 credit hours)
Gross Anatomy (8.5 credit hours)
Head and Neck Anatomy (3.5 credit hours)
The Healthcare Provider and Society I (2.0 credit hours)
Essentials of Clinical Dentistry I (3.5 credit hours)
Clinical Service Learning & Community Dentistry I (1.0 credit hour)
Essentials of Clinical Medicine for the Dental Student I (2.5 credit hours)

First Year, Spring Term
Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology I (3.0 credit hours)
Neuroscience System (11.5 credit hours)
Musculoskeletal System (5.0 credit hours)
Introduction to Disease, Immunity and Therapeutics (7.5 credit hours)
Essentials of Clinical Dentistry II (10.0 credit hours)
Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry (5.5 credit hours)
Blood and Lymphatic System (4.0 credit hours)
Essentials of Clinical Medicine for the Dental Student II (2.5 credit hours)
Integrated Case-Based Learning I (1.0 credit hour)

Second Year, Fall Term
Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology II (3.0 credit hours)
The Healthcare Provider and Society II (3.0 credit hours)
Cardiovascular System (8.5 credit hours)
Renal System (4.5 credit hours)
Respiratory System (8.5 credit hours)
Endocrine System (5.5 credit hours)
Essentials of Clinical Dentistry III (12.0 credit hours)
Clinical Service Learning & Community Dentistry II (3.0 credit hours)
Essentials of Clinical Medicine for the Dental Student III (2.5 credit hours)
Integrated Case-Based Learning II (1.0 credit hour)

Second Year, Spring Term
Dermal System (3.0 credit hours)
Reproductive System (6.0 credit hours)
Gastrointestinal System (6.0 credit hours)
Essentials of Clinical Dentistry IV (12.0 credit hours)
Clinical Service Learning & Community Dentistry III (3.0 credit hours)
Geriatrics (1.5 credit hours)
Pediatrics (2.5 credit hours)
Essentials of Clinical Medicine for the Dental Student IV (2.5 credit hours)
Integrated Case-Based Learning III (1.0 credit hour)

Third Year, Summer Term
Clinical Comprehensive Care Dentistry I (10.0 credit hours)
Essentials of Clinical Dentistry V (6.0 credit hours)
Clinical Service Learning & Community Dentistry IV (2.0 credit hours)

Third Year, Fall Term
Clinical Comprehensive Care Dentistry II (12.0 credit hours)
Advanced Practice Management I (1.5 credit hours)
Essentials of Clinical Dentistry VI: Advanced Seminars (1.5 credit hours)
Clinical Service Learning & Community Dentistry V (1.0 credit hour)

Third Year, Spring Term
Clinical Comprehensive Care Dentistry III (12.0 credit hours)
Advanced Practice Management II (1.5 credit hours)
Clinical Diagnostic, Oral Medicine and Pathology (2.0 credit hours)
Clinical Periodontics (2.0 credit hours)
Clinical Restorative Dentistry (including Operative, Fixed- and Removable- Prosthodontics) (2.0 credit hours)
Clinical Endodontics (2.0 credit hours)
Clinical Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (including Pain Management and Sedation) (2.0 credit hours)
Clinical Pediatric Dentistry (2.0 credit hours)
Clinical Orthodontics (2.0 credit hours)
Essentials of Clinical Dentistry VII: Advanced Seminars (1.5 credit hours)
Clinical Service Learning & Community Dentistry VI (1.0 credit hour)

Fourth Year, Summer Term
Clinical Comprehensive Care Dentistry IV (9 credit hours)
Advanced Practice Management III (1.5 credit hours)
Essentials of Clinical Dentistry VIII: Advanced Seminars (1.0 credit hour)
Clinical Service Learning & Community Dentistry VII (4.0 credit hours)

Fourth Year, Fall Term
Clinical Comprehensive Care Dentistry V (9.0 credit hours)
Ethics and Jurisprudence (1.5 credit hours)
Clinical Diagnostic, Oral Medicine and Pathology (2.0 credit hours)
Clinical Periodontics (2.0 credit hours)
Clinical Restorative Dentistry (including Operative, Fixed- and Removable- Prosthodontics) (2.0 credit hours)
Clinical Endodontics (2.0 credit hours)
Clinical Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (including Pain Management and Sedation) (2.0 credit hours)
Clinical Pediatric Dentistry (2.0 credit hours)
Clinical Orthodontics (2.0 credit hours)
Essentials of Clinical Dentistry IX: Advanced Seminars (1.0 credit hour)
Clinical Service Learning & Community Dentistry VIII (4.0 credit hours)

Fourth Year, Spring Term
Essentials of Clinical Dentistry X: Advanced Seminars (1.0 credit hour)
Clinical Service Learning & Community Dentistry IX (15.0 credit hours)

*Subject to Change

 

[kov82]

Nobody has an opinion? I was hoping you guys would focus on 3rd and 4rth year only compared to more traditional schools

 

[HupHolland]

Nobody has an opinion? I was hoping you guys would focus on 3rd and 4rth year only compared to more traditional schools

Looks pretty standard.

Hup

 

[armydds]

Western University says that they have taken logical steps to come up with a program and curriculum that is not bound by years of tradition and routine that are hard to break at other well established schools, and that based on the expertise from their well educated and experienced faculty they put this schedule together (I have copy/pasted it below) I am not familiar with titles, so for 3rd and 4th year, I cant tell when it says "clinical" if that mean you are actually in a class, or you are in the clinic learning that procedure, a friend who is a third year at an east coast school says that it looks like some important class are being taken in the 4th year which is "kind of late for that", for his school he says you finish all your classes end of 3rd year and there are no classes 4th year, its all clinic, from your own knowledge/experience in dental school, is this true about important classes being taken too late at Western? what do you think of the schedule in general, thinking outside the box, is this a reasonable schedule that will prepare you to work after graduation? thanks.


DMD Curriculum by Class Year*

First Year, Fall Term
The Molecular and Cellular Basis of Medicine (9.5 credit hours)
Gross Anatomy (8.5 credit hours)
Head and Neck Anatomy (3.5 credit hours)
The Healthcare Provider and Society I (2.0 credit hours)
Essentials of Clinical Dentistry I (3.5 credit hours)
Clinical Service Learning & Community Dentistry I (1.0 credit hour)
Essentials of Clinical Medicine for the Dental Student I (2.5 credit hours)

First Year, Spring Term
Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology I (3.0 credit hours)
Neuroscience System (11.5 credit hours)
Musculoskeletal System (5.0 credit hours)
Introduction to Disease, Immunity and Therapeutics (7.5 credit hours)
Essentials of Clinical Dentistry II (10.0 credit hours)
Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry (5.5 credit hours)
Blood and Lymphatic System (4.0 credit hours)
Essentials of Clinical Medicine for the Dental Student II (2.5 credit hours)
Integrated Case-Based Learning I (1.0 credit hour)

Second Year, Fall Term
Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology II (3.0 credit hours)
The Healthcare Provider and Society II (3.0 credit hours)
Cardiovascular System (8.5 credit hours)
Renal System (4.5 credit hours)
Respiratory System (8.5 credit hours)
Endocrine System (5.5 credit hours)
Essentials of Clinical Dentistry III (12.0 credit hours)
Clinical Service Learning & Community Dentistry II (3.0 credit hours)
Essentials of Clinical Medicine for the Dental Student III (2.5 credit hours)
Integrated Case-Based Learning II (1.0 credit hour)

Second Year, Spring Term
Dermal System (3.0 credit hours)
Reproductive System (6.0 credit hours)
Gastrointestinal System (6.0 credit hours)
Essentials of Clinical Dentistry IV (12.0 credit hours)
Clinical Service Learning & Community Dentistry III (3.0 credit hours)
Geriatrics (1.5 credit hours)
Pediatrics (2.5 credit hours)
Essentials of Clinical Medicine for the Dental Student IV (2.5 credit hours)
Integrated Case-Based Learning III (1.0 credit hour)

Third Year, Summer Term
Clinical Comprehensive Care Dentistry I (10.0 credit hours)
Essentials of Clinical Dentistry V (6.0 credit hours)
Clinical Service Learning & Community Dentistry IV (2.0 credit hours)

Third Year, Fall Term
Clinical Comprehensive Care Dentistry II (12.0 credit hours)
Advanced Practice Management I (1.5 credit hours)
Essentials of Clinical Dentistry VI: Advanced Seminars (1.5 credit hours)
Clinical Service Learning & Community Dentistry V (1.0 credit hour)

Third Year, Spring Term
Clinical Comprehensive Care Dentistry III (12.0 credit hours)
Advanced Practice Management II (1.5 credit hours)
Clinical Diagnostic, Oral Medicine and Pathology (2.0 credit hours)
Clinical Periodontics (2.0 credit hours)
Clinical Restorative Dentistry (including Operative, Fixed- and Removable- Prosthodontics) (2.0 credit hours)
Clinical Endodontics (2.0 credit hours)
Clinical Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (including Pain Management and Sedation) (2.0 credit hours)
Clinical Pediatric Dentistry (2.0 credit hours)
Clinical Orthodontics (2.0 credit hours)
Essentials of Clinical Dentistry VII: Advanced Seminars (1.5 credit hours)
Clinical Service Learning & Community Dentistry VI (1.0 credit hour)

Fourth Year, Summer Term
Clinical Comprehensive Care Dentistry IV (9 credit hours)
Advanced Practice Management III (1.5 credit hours)
Essentials of Clinical Dentistry VIII: Advanced Seminars (1.0 credit hour)
Clinical Service Learning & Community Dentistry VII (4.0 credit hours)

Fourth Year, Fall Term
Clinical Comprehensive Care Dentistry V (9.0 credit hours)
Ethics and Jurisprudence (1.5 credit hours)
Clinical Diagnostic, Oral Medicine and Pathology (2.0 credit hours)
Clinical Periodontics (2.0 credit hours)
Clinical Restorative Dentistry (including Operative, Fixed- and Removable- Prosthodontics) (2.0 credit hours)
Clinical Endodontics (2.0 credit hours)
Clinical Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (including Pain Management and Sedation) (2.0 credit hours)
Clinical Pediatric Dentistry (2.0 credit hours)
Clinical Orthodontics (2.0 credit hours)
Essentials of Clinical Dentistry IX: Advanced Seminars (1.0 credit hour)
Clinical Service Learning & Community Dentistry VIII (4.0 credit hours)

Fourth Year, Spring Term
Essentials of Clinical Dentistry X: Advanced Seminars (1.0 credit hour)
Clinical Service Learning & Community Dentistry IX (15.0 credit hours)

*Subject to Change

Well every school is different. Western's looks very standard actually. I'm curious how the clinic will be run there, are they assigning specific patients per student or is it random? Also I wonder if you guys get to do ortho and/or difficult cases or if they are referred out since the school does not have post-doc residents

 

[Just Peachy]

3rd year we spend the majority of our time in the on campus clinic working on patients there. We have a 6 month waiting list full of patients as of now. I'm not sure exactly how the patients are going to be assigned, so I won't speculate on that or talk about what I've heard will be the case - I don't want to say something then find out that I gave you misinformation. Though we don't currently have specialty programs at the school, we have faculty members from each specialty who will be in charge of the case and the student instruction in how to treat the more complicated cases. We will occasionally have a few classes during 3rd year that are actual sit-and-listen-to-a-lecture type thing, but that will not be the norm. 4th year we will do externships where we work in offices off campus and then return to campus for a day or so every 4-6 weeks. Of course, this could change some between now and then, but as far as I know now this is the plan. Don't worry about the curriculum - it is pretty standard and they know what they are doing in designing it. Western students will be well prepared when we graduate. Remember that new school does not equal incompetent school. 🙂

 

[browncrack]

If the school is accreditted by the ADA then you are going to be able to get a license to work. It looks like the "Essentials of Clinical Dentistry" is your only class title with parts I-VI for restorative, removable pros, fixed pros, endo, and pedodontics. At least until Spring of D3. This could put a lot of pressure on this one pre-clinic class. The rest of it looks pretty standardly abusive.

 

[Just Peachy]

If the school is accreditted by the ADA then you are going to be able to get a license to work. It looks like the "Essentials of Clinical Dentistry" is your only class title with parts I-VI for restorative, removable pros, fixed pros, endo, and pedodontics. At least until Spring of D3. This could put a lot of pressure on this one pre-clinic class. The rest of it looks pretty standardly abusive.

ECD really isn't that scary. Everything has a good pace to it and we have plenty of time to learn everything and get a good amount of practice time in. I think it's safe to say that it is everyone's favorite class.

 

[browncrack]

The thought of having a favorite class hasn't come to mind in a long, long time.

 

[armydds]

ECD really isn't that scary. Everything has a good pace to it and we have plenty of time to learn everything and get a good amount of practice time in. I think it's safe to say that it is everyone's favorite class.

how is pre-clinical fixed prostho like at western?

 

[Just Peachy]

how is pre-clinical fixed prostho like at western?

I can't speak for the whole fixed prosth segment just yet since so far in that unit we've only done single unit crowns and treatments for TMD. We will be learning the rest of the procedures in the next few months. For what we have done, however, I feel like it's been very thorough. I feel more comfortable doing a crown than a class 2 amalgam haha. I'll let you know more as we get into it further. 🙂