Dental Public Health Certificate

Admissions Requirements

Admission into the Dental Public Health (DPH) Program is systematic and considers candidate applications based upon a holistic review of each application. Individuals are eligible to apply for admission if they have a dental degree (can be international) and have completed a master’s degree in public health. These criteria for admission are established by the American Board of Dental Public Health. Applications must be postmarked by the application deadline to be considered. Initially, the applications undergo a review for completeness. Applications cannot be reviewed if deemed incomplete by the DPH program director. The applications are forwarded to the Dental Public Health Program Committee that consists of members of the teaching faculty, representation from individuals with education in dental public health from the community and the program \director. Applications are reviewed based upon established criteria that include, but are not limited to, oral and written communication, previous work experiences, research/publications, community experiences, potential for success, and academic performance.

Our application process begins September 1 of each year and ends on November 1.

Applications received after November 1 will not be considered. Applications may be requested by e-mail from dphresidency@uthscsa.edu.

An application must include:

  1. Proof of having graduated from a dental school (both ADA accredited and non-accredited schools are eligible)
  2. Proof of having graduated or of being on track to graduate from a master's degree program in public health
  3. A completed DPH Residency application.
  4. Original transcripts, original foreign transcripts, and original foreign course evaluations (WES or ECE) from each university/school attended must be sent directly from the granting institution in a sealed envelope to the address listed in the application. We do NOT accept copies. If the institution sends electronic transcripts, they must be sent to: dphresidency@uthscsa.edu
  5. A one-page summary of your career objectives with a description of your career plans after completion of the DPH residency program.
  6.  A 1,000-word scientific/evidence-based review with references (APA format) on this topic: “Access to oral health among elderly in rural areas”. (References are not included in the 1,000-word count).
  7. Three letters of recommendation sent directly to this address: dphresidency@uthscsa.edu
  8. A current copy of your curriculum vitae.
  9. Personal Interview if selected

Initially, the applications undergo a review for completeness. Applications cannot be reviewed if deemed incomplete by the DPH Program Director. The applications are forwarded to the Dental Public Health Program Committee that consists of members of the teaching faculty, representation from individuals with education in dental public health from the community and the program director. Applications are reviewed based upon established criteria that include, but are not limited to, oral and written communication, previous work experiences, research/publications, community experiences, potential for success, and academic performance.

A preliminary review of the applications is conducted by the Committee who select candidates for a virtual interview. Once the committee completes the virtual interview, the committee decides which candidates to consider for a face-to-face interview. The interview provides the committee with the ability to evaluate the candidate’s intellectual curiosity, career objectives and goals, and suitability for the program. Based upon input received from the interviewers, the committee meets and recommends the individuals for admission to the DPH Program Director who will notify applicants of the disposition of the application.

Once admitted into the DPH Program, the following information must be provided to the director before matriculation:  1) each candidate will need to provide proof of current immunizations; 2) each candidate must demonstrate that they have health insurance or purchase student health insurance, and; 3) each candidate must complete a criminal background check through the university. A candidate cannot matriculate until all official transcripts are verified.

Degree Requirements

The curriculum is designed to provide the dental public health advanced education student with experiences leading to competence in the field of dental public health. At the completion of the program in dental public health, the candidate should have obtained fundamental knowledge of the philosophy, principles, and practice of dental public health, and developed skills in practicing dental public health, including research, administration, and education. The program is arranged to address the competency statements, allowing the resident to develop core knowledge in the area. The required experiences and courses cover a wide range of information believed to be essential for graduates in the field. The curriculum consists of five content areas, including didactic coursework, research, rotations, undergraduate dental teaching and field-clinical-and service learning experiences. The curriculum components are combined into two courses per semester: Advanced Education in Dental Public Health 1 and Research Methodology in Dental Public Health 1 offered in the fall semester, and Advanced Education in Dental Public Health 2 and Research Methodology in Dental Public Health 2 offered in the spring semester. Upon demonstration of competency in dental public health, the advanced education students are awarded a specialty certificate.

Sample Plan of Study

First Year
FallCredit Hours
PBHL 5011Advanced Education In Dental Public Health 11
PBHL 5014Research Methodology in Dental Public Health 11
Spring
PBHL 5012Advanced Education In Dental Public Health 21
PBHL 5015Research Methodology in Dental Public Health 21
 Total Credit Hours: 4.0

Objectives/Program Outcomes

  1. To educate a culturally competent public health dentist that can address the oral health needs of children and adults;
  2. To provide service-learning experiences that will ensure understanding of efficient and effective dental public health programs that increase access to community preventive services;
  3. To cultivate professionals with advanced training in dental public health who can address oral health disparities and inequities;
  4. To develop a dental public health workforce that is prepared to work in a dental public health career in academics, local, state and federal agencies (e.g. Indian Health Service, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Health Resources and Services Administration), armed forces, international health agencies, health care management, financing, and management agencies ; and,
  5. To prepare candidates to challenge the examination for board certification by the American Board of Dental Public Health.

PBHL 5011. Advanced Education In Dental Public Health 1. 1 Credit Hour.

This course is designed to provide dental public health (DPH) students with the foundational knowledge about DPH topics and learn to critically review the scientific literature. Students will also develop skills in dental public health practice by applying knowledge in community-based practice and teaching. Through this participation course, DPH students are expected to review the seminal and current literature about a defined topic in dental public health and discuss the topic with a faculty member who is assigned to teach this topic. Students receive experiences in administration, programs, and policy. The DPH student participates to dental public health community service-learning experience and rotations, DPH students acquire knowledge and skills in education focusing on teaching methodologies, scholarship, and educational planning.

PBHL 5012. Advanced Education In Dental Public Health 2. 1 Credit Hour.

This course is designed to provide dental public health (DPH) students with the foundational knowledge about DPH topics and learn to critically review the scientific literature. Students will also develop skills in dental public health practice by applying knowledge in community-based practice and teaching. Through this participation course, DPH students are expected to review the seminal and current literature about a defined topic in dental public health and discuss the topic with a faculty member who is assigned to teach this topic. Students receive experiences in administration, programs, and policy. The DPH student participates to dental public health community service-learning experience and rotations, DPH students acquire knowledge and skills in education focusing on teaching methodologies, scholarship, and educational planning. Prerequisites: PBHL 5011.

PBHL 5014. Research Methodology in Dental Public Health 1. 1 Credit Hour.

This course provides a vehicle for dental public health (DPH) students to complete two research projects in fulfillment of the expectation of the American Board of Dental Public Health as described by the American Association of Public Health Dentistry. This course is required.

PBHL 5015. Research Methodology in Dental Public Health 2. 1 Credit Hour.

This course provides a vehicle for dental public health (DPH) students to complete two research projects in fulfillment of the expectation of the American Board of Dental Public Health as described by the American Association of Public Health Dentistry. This course is required. Prerequisite: PBHL 5014.