Learning Outcomes
Students will demonstrate:
- in-depth knowledge of the core concepts of public health, including those within the disciplines of epidemiology, biostatistics, behavioral science, environmental health, and health care policy and management;
- in-depth knowledge of, and the ability to apply, the ten competencies that define dental public health—manage oral health programs for population health; evaluate systems of care that impact oral health; demonstrate ethical decision making in the practice of dental public health; design surveillance systems to measure oral health status and its determinants; communicate on oral and public health issues; lead collaborations on oral and public health issues; advocate for public health policy, legislation, and regulations to protect and promote the public’s oral health and overall health; critically appraise evidence to address oral and public health issues for individuals and populations; conduct research to address oral and public health problems; and integrate the social determinants of health into dental public health practice; and
- critical thinking skills to develop and complete an evidenced-based research project as part of their master’s thesis.
The Master of Science program in dental public health requires 40 s.h. of coursework and is designed to be completed in two academic years of full-time study. Students must maintain a cumulative g.p.a. of at least 3.00 to earn the degree.
It prepares dentists and dental hygienists to be specialists in dental public health. The program emphasizes research and requires a research project culminating in the completion and defense of a thesis. Successful dentist graduates meet the educational requirements for eligibility to take the certifying examination of the American Board of Dental Public Health.
Applicants must have a D.D.S. degree or equivalent or be a dental hygienist with a baccalaureate degree. They also must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College and complete the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test.
Sample Plan of Study
Sample plans represent one way to complete a program of study. Actual course selection and sequence will vary and should be discussed with an academic advisor. For additional sample plans, see MyUI.
Dental Public Health, M.S.
| Academic Career | ||
|---|---|---|
| Any Semester | Hours | |
| 40 s.h. must be graduate level coursework; graduate transfer credits allowed upon approval. More information is included in the General Catalog and on department website. a, b | ||
| Graduate College program GPA of at least 3.00 is required. c | ||
| Hours | 0 | |
| First Year | ||
| Any Semester | ||
| First Year Comprehensive Exam d | ||
| Hours | 0 | |
| Fall | ||
| DPH:5000 | Introduction to Dental Public Health | 2 |
| DPH:5001 | Literature Review Methods: Dental Public Health | 2 |
| DPH:5005 | Administration of Public Dental Programs | 2 |
| DPH:5008 | Field Experience in Dental Public Health | 1 |
| ORSC:5212 | Statistical Methods for Dental Research | 3 |
| Hours | 10 | |
| Spring | ||
| PSQF:6243 or BIOS:5120 |
Intermediate Statistical Methods or Regression Modeling and ANOVA in the Health Sciences |
3 |
| DPH:5006 | Preventive Programs in Dental Public Health | 2 |
| DPH:6018 or DPH:5009 |
Clinical Teaching Practicum: Preventive Dentistry or Advanced Field Experience in Dental Public Health |
1 |
| DPH:6002 | Research Protocol Seminar | 2 |
| ORSC:5215 | Research Design in Dentistry | 2 |
| Hours | 10 | |
| Summer | ||
| EPID:4400 | Epidemiology I: Principles | 3 |
| PEDO:5220 | Social, Cultural, and Public Health Issues in Pediatric Dentistry | 1 |
| ORSC:5210 | Dental Sciences Research Methodology e | 0,2 |
| Hours | 4-6 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Complete Thesis Data Collection | ||
| DPH:6011 | Thesis: Dental Public Health | 2 |
| DPH:6017 | Teaching Methods and Evaluation | 2 |
| Elective course (if needed) f | 2 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| Thesis Completion | ||
| CBH:4105 or CBH:5220 |
Introduction to Health Promotion and Disease Prevention or Health Behavior and Health Education |
3 |
| DPH:5014 | Dental Care Policy and Financing | 2 |
| DPH:6004 | Principles of Oral Epidemiology | 2 |
| DPH:6011 | Thesis: Dental Public Health | 2 |
| Final Exam g | ||
| Hours | 9 | |
| Summer | ||
| DPH:5016 | Introduction to Statistical Computing | 1 |
| DPH:6011 | Thesis: Dental Public Health | 1 |
| HMP:4000 | Introduction to the U.S. Health Care System | 3 |
| Hours | 5 | |
| Total Hours | 44-46 | |
- a
- Note: Upon completion of the program, graduates are educationally qualified to take the ABDPH exam and become board-certified in Dental Public Health.
- b
- Students must complete specific requirements in the University of Iowa Graduate College after program admission. Refer to the Graduate College website and the Manual of Rules and Regulations for more information.
- c
- Graduate College program GPA is comprised of all courses that are approved degree requirements. If a student takes more than the minimum required number of semester hours to complete the degree, but all courses taken are eligible to count toward the degree, those courses will be included in the Graduate College program GPA.
- d
- Taken at the end of first year.
- e
- Note: International students who must be enrolled full-time are required to take ORSC:5210 for 2 s.h.; does not count towards degree requirements.
- f
- Work with faculty advisor to choose appropriate graduate elective coursework.
- g
- Thesis defense; may complete during the summer after second year if necessary.