Doctor of Dental Surgery

The Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry is the only dental school in the United States where you can complete a four-year academic curriculum in just three calendar years. Our graduates develop the tools they need to adapt to an ever-changing world, where new skills and knowledge will be required to keep pace with advancing technology and the challenges faced by an increasingly diverse population. The outstanding clinical training our students receive has earned Pacific Dugoni national prominence, but technical instruction is just one part of what makes our school unique. Our DDS program is built around a humanistic model of education that stresses the dignity of each individual and his or her value as a person. Students are referred to as "doctor" from day one, and faculty members are encouraged to act as mentors, not just instructors. In turn, students are expected to take responsibility for their education and practice the professionalism that will be required of them when caring for patients. Other school hallmarks include the innovative Pacific Dental Helix Curriculum, which places a strong focus on active learning and critical thinking by integrating multiple disciplinary areas using small-group, case-based learning. We closely link foundational knowledge to clinical practice. From our state-of-the-art preclinical Simulation Laboratory to our small-group private practice model in the clinics, students learn what it takes to become "practice-ready" dental professionals trained for a rewarding career.