The Dental Honors Pathway (DHP) provides a direct route to a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) from Touro College of Dental Medicine (TCDM) for highly qualified students who are just starting their college career.
First, you’ll need to apply and be accepted at NYSCAS. Once accepted, you’ll apply to the Dental Honors Pathway. Part of your DHP application will be an interview with TCDM.
There are two Dental Honors Pathway tracks:
3+4: If you just graduated high school, this BS/DDS program gives you the opportunity to earn both a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree and a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree in just seven years. This track is not open to students who take a year to learn in Israel.
You will complete a minimum of 90 designated credits toward the baccalaureate before beginning dental school and receive the BS degree in Biology at NYSCAS after you successfully complete the first year of courses at the Touro College of Dental Medicine.
4+4: If you’re starting your college career and know you want to attend Touro College of Dental Medicine, you can conditionally reserve your spot and benefit from mentorship and guidance. [SH1] If you studied abroad in Israel for this year, this is the pathway you will need to take.
You will take your pre-requisite courses and graduate with your bachelor’s from NYSCAS before you start your DDS degree at TCDM.
Final admission to TCDM is based upon the decision of the TCDM Admissions, Promotions and Mentoring Committee and requires successful completion of all the requirements of the pathway.
Participants in the Touro Dental Honors Pathway Program are nurtured and guided by dedicated faculty and staff from both Touro University and Touro College of Dental Medicine. The comprehensive support system includes academic mentoring, Dental Admissions Test (DAT) preparation assistance and access to clinical or research opportunities at TCDM during undergraduate studies.
DHP Track Requirements
Research
All students in the DHP are encouraged to participate in some form of research during their time at NYSCAS, with a focus on research methods, designs, and ethics involved in the research process. This can be accomplished by direct research involvement, such as a specific research project from start to finish, or courses on research methods and design and bioethics.
Clinical Experience
Students must complete at least fifty (50) hours of clinical experience over at least a six-month period, completed no later than September 1 of the year preceding matriculation into TCDM. Clinical experience will be with a dentist, dental office, or other dental care provider and must be approved by your DHP advisor and TCDM.
Community Service
Students must complete at least fifty (50) hours of community service over at least a six-month period. The service activity must be approved by your DHP advisor and TCDM and completed no later than October 31 of the year preceding matriculation into TCDM. This community service must demonstrate the student's ability to interact with people of diverse backgrounds (age, sex, religion, socioeconomic status, etc.).
Required Coursework & GPA
In order to gain the solid background in social sciences and biomedical sciences needed for dental school, there is required pre-requisite coursework and recommended coursework. It’s strongly recommended you take both. These courses will help you prepare for the DAT examination and your DDS curriculum.
Students will receive advisement and schedule planning each semester from an appropriate advisor who is familiar with the DHP and its requirements.
See the baccalaureate course requirements for DPH students.
To remain in good standing in the Dental Honors Pathway, and in order to matriculate into TCDM, you will need to maintain a GPA of no less than 3.5 – both in the sciences and overall.
Your predental advisor/dean of NYSCAS will be reviewing your academic performance and looking at your interpersonal and communication skills, maturity, motivation, intellectual curiosity, and critical thinking in their recommendation to TCDM.
Additional DDS Matriculation Requirements
In order to matriculate into the DDS program, you will still need to:
Take the Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) no later than August of the year prior to beginning at TCDM. Students must achieve minimum scores of 18 Academic Average (AA) and 18 Total Science (TS). Students may take the DAT more than once but cannot mix and match scores from multiple sittings. If you are in the 3+4 track, you will take the DAT examination in your 3rd year of college and then may apply for admission to TCDM. When admitted, you’ll complete the requirements for both the BS and DDS degrees.
Complete a verified AADSAS application, submitted no later than September 15 of the year prior to matriculation.
Interviews
Upon successful completion of all requirements, the DHP candidate will be guaranteed a TCDM interview. You will again be interviewed by a TCDM committee member for final acceptance into TCDM.
The interview will be no later than October 31 of the year prior to matriculation, unless approved by the DHP-APMC.
Binding Commitment by Student
Students who meet these standards and are approved to matriculate into TCDM will be required to make a binding commitment by December 15 of the year prior to commencing studies at TCDM.
