Location: Los Angeles, CA
Institution Type: Public
Campus Setting: Urban
Dental Doctoral Degree: Doctor of Dental Surgery
Mission Statement: “To improve the oral and general health of the people of California, the nation and the world through education, research, patient care and public service.”

Year Opened: 1964
Number of Months to Earn Degree: 45
Campus Housing Available: Yes
Class Size: 88
Term Type: Quarter

Combined degrees offered:

B.A./B.S.

M.B.A.

M.P.H.

M.S.

Ph.D.

Other Degrees

International Dental Graduate Programs:

Traditional Predoctoral Program for IDGs

Advanced Standing Program for IDGs

Yes

Admissions Statistics: (2022 Applicant and Entering Class Data)

Mean Age of First-Time, First-Year Enrollees: 23

Acceptance Rates by Location:

Number of Applicants

Number of Enrollees

Enrollment Rate

Overall

1489

5.91%

In-State

781

10.12%

Out-State

620

1.13%

International

2.27%

Class Breakdown by Race/Ethnicity:

Number of Enrollees

Percentage of Incoming Class

In-State

89.77%

Out-State

7.95%

International

2.27%

Academic Averages for Acceptance:

DAT Academic Average

DAT Perceptual Ability

Cumulative GPA

Science GPA

23.1

23.2

3.83

3.81

Range of Academic Averages for Acceptance:

5th Percentile of Enrollees

95th Percentile of Enrollees

DAT Academic Average

Cumulative GPA

3.60

4.00

Science GPA

3.47

4.00

Prerequisites

Preferred

Strongly Preferred

Required

Baccalaureate is:

Required Coursework:

Required Course

Credits (Semesters/Quarters)

Required Lab

Biology

8/12

Inorganic Chemistry

8/12

Organic Chemistry

6/8

Physics

8/12

Biochemistry

3/4

Composition

6/8

Psychology

3/4

Recommended courses include Anatomy, Cell Biology, Histology, Microbiology, Physiology, Social Sciences, Communication, Business, Composition, Technical Writing, Fine Arts, Philosophy, and Engineering

Community College Coursework and Advanced Placement Credit:

Prerequisites

Electives

AP Credit Accepted

Yes

Community College Coursework Accepted

Yes

Maximum number of Community College Credit Hours:

70 semester or 105 quarter units

Required Shadowing Hours:

O Hours Required
But 100 hours of in-person dental shadowing is strongly recommended

Letters of Recommendation:

A minimum of 3 letters are required, but 4 is recommended. These can be from college professors, employers, supervisors, counselors, research supervisors or a pre-professional committee

Dental Admissions Test Requirements:

Mandatory DAT

Canadian DAT Accepted

Applicants Evaluated Before Official DAT Submission

DAT Score Considered

Yes

Only the most recent score

Supplemental Information:

Participation in ADEA AADSAS

Required Supplemental Application

Supplemental Application Fee

Yes

Yes: $60 for all students

Interview Format

The interview is two virtual one-on-one interviews, each with a different faculty member. The interviewers will not have access to your written application.
There are breaks in between the interviews, where applicants can talk to one another. There is also a virtual school tour that is given per group either after or before the individual interview sessions.

Finances & Application Logistics

Financial Estimations for the 2023-2024 Academic Year

Year

In-State Tuition

Out-State Tuition

Additional Fees

Estimated Living Expenses

$47,360

$59,605

$34,962

$24,850

$51,973

$64,218

$26,397

$33,133

$51,973

$64,218

$13,358

$33,133

$51,973

$64,218

$16,213

$33,133

University Offerings

1. Academic Offerings

Pre-Dental Opportunities
- Summer Health Professions Education Program
- Basic Dental Principles Lectures Series and Post-Baccalaureate program
- R25 Undergraduate Research Training Program (BIG DOC)
Research
- DDS/PhD degree allows oral biology research
- T90/R90 Research Training Program has a dental, oral, and craniofacial focus
- Dental Research Fellowship Program allows students to conduct one of four types of research: (1) literature review, (2) basic science research, (3) public and population health research, or (4) clinical research
- Many tracks allow dental students to receive training and knowledge to research oral cancer, translational genetics, microbes, and regenerative medicine

2. Clinical Experiences

Clinical Curriculum Overview
- D1-D2: Preclinical laboratory courses and general clinical coursework. Direct patient care begins at the end of D2.
- D3-D4: Emphasis on training and instruction in the clinical field.
  - Including: endodontics, fixed prosthodontics, operative dentistry, oral diagnosis, treatment planning, oral radiology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, anesthesiology, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, and removable prosthodontics.
Postdoctoral and Residency Programs
- Post-grad programs:
  - Advanced Clinical Training Programs
    - Endodontics
    - Orofacial Pain & Dysfunction
    - Orthodontics
    - Pediatric Dentistry
    - Restorative Dentistry
  - Preceptorship Programs (12 options):
    - Advanced Education in General Dentistry
    - Advanced Implantology
    - Advanced Prosthodontics
    - Endodontics
    - Hospital Dentistry
    - Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
    - Oral Biology
    - Orofacial Pain and Dysfunction
    - Orthodontics
    - Periodontics
    - Restorative Dentistry
    - Surgical Implant Dentistry
  - Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Internship
- Residencies:
  - General Practice
  - Advanced Education in General Dentistry
  - Advanced Prosthodontics
  - Endodontics
  - Maxillofacial Prosthetics
  - Oral & Maxillofacial Radiology
  - Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
  - Orofacial Pain & Dysfunction
  - Orthodontics
  - Pediatric Dentistry
  - Periodontics

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