Program Overview

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Bachelor of Dental Surgery

Overview

The Bachelor of Dental Surgery is a comprehensive program that prepares students to become dental health practitioners. The course focuses on the unique and diverse context of the Tropics, with an emphasis on rural, tropical, and Indigenous practice.

Fast Facts

• Duration: 5 years full-time
• Location: Cairns
• Commencing: February
• Fees: $11,200.00+ (estimated annual Commonwealth Supported fee for a full-time study load)
• Entry Requirements:
  • English (Units 3/4,C)
  • Mathematical Methods (Units 3/4,C)
  • Chemistry (Units 3/4,C)
  • Recommended: Biology (Units 3/4,C)

Course Detail

The Bachelor of Dental Surgery program includes:

• Foundational theory of dental science and the promotion of oral healthcare in underserved communities
• Practical work skills in JCU's world-class dental teaching complex, with a state-of-the-art clinical simulation laboratory
• Extensive professional placements in private practices, rural and remote clinics, and community health centers
• Training alongside experienced, supportive professionals
• Exploration of issues of concern, particularly relating to tropical, rural, and Indigenous practice

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor of Dental Surgery program can pursue careers as dentists in various areas, including:

• Private practice
• Hospitals
• Community health services
• The Australian Defence Force
• Education
• Research

Admissions Transparency Data

• Entry score threshold: 88.00 (ATAR/Selection Rank: Special entry requirements)
• Entry score range:
  • Highest: 99.75
  • Median: 97.85
  • Lowest: 88.00

Academic Requirements for Course Completion

• Credit points: 120 credit points as per course structure
• Additional completion requirements:
  • Students who contract a blood-borne viral disease during the course of their studies will be unable to complete placements and consequently will be unable to complete the requirements of the course as accredited by the relevant professional accrediting body.

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, graduates will be able to:

1. Apply an understanding of clinical and scientific principles and health and safety requirements related to the management of oral and dental conditions across all population groups in the community.
2. Review legal responsibilities and ethical and social justice principles to ensure respect for all patients, independent of culture, language or background, particularly in relation to confidentiality and consent.
3. Assess the oral health and preventive care requirements of individuals and populations especially in regional, rural, remote, Indigenous and tropical contexts and where necessary, formulate, implement and evaluate diagnosis, management and/or referral plans.
4. Practise comprehensive dentistry in a range of clinical environments which include community sites within regional, rural, remote, Indigenous and tropical contexts.
5. Retrieve, critically evaluate and apply evidence and research methods in clinical dental practice.
6. Communicate clearly and coherently through English language and numeracy proficiency, appropriate for patients, families, colleagues and professional audiences.
7. Promote and optimise oral and dental health at the individual and community level.
8. Reflect on current knowledge, skills and attitudes and plan ongoing professional development to ensure the capacity to deliver current best practice.

Inherent Requirements

Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University's learning, assessment, and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession.

Course Structure

The Bachelor of Dental Surgery program includes the following core subjects:

Level 1

• Teaching Period 1:
  • DS1101:09 Dental Science 1
  • RH1002:03 Communication Skills for Health Professionals
• Teaching Period 2:
  • DS1102:06 Dental Science 2
  • HS1003:03 Lifespan Development for Health A
  • HS1401:03 Health and Health Care in Australia

Level 2

• Teaching Period 1:
  • DS2101:06 Simulated Clinical Dentistry 1
  • HS2402:03 Health Professional Research 1
  • HS2406:03 Health Promotion in Dentistry
• Teaching Period 2:
  • DS2102:12 Simulated Clinical Dentistry 2

Level 3

• Teaching Period 1:
  • DS3101:12 Introduction to Clinical Dentistry
• Teaching Period 2:
  • DS3102:09 Clinical Dentistry 1
  • HS2401:03 Rural and Remote Primary and Public Health Care

Level 4

• Teaching Period 1:
  • DS4101:12 Clinical Dentistry 2
• Teaching Period 2:
  • DS4102:12 Clinical Dentistry 3

Level 5

• Teaching Period 1:
  • DS5101:12 Clinical Practice 1 (Comprehensive Oral Care)
• Teaching Period 2:
  • DS5102:12 Clinical Practice 2 (Comprehensive Oral Care)

Location

The Bachelor of Dental Surgery program is available at JCU Cairns.

Candidature

• Expected time to complete: 5 years full-time or 7 years part-time (part-time study is not permitted in Year 2 second semester, Years 3, 4 and 5)
• Maximum time to complete: 7 years
• Maximum leave of absence: 1 year

Progression

• Course progression requisites: Must complete all level 1 and 2 subjects before attempting any level 3 subject. Must complete all level 3 subjects before attempting any level 4 subject. Must complete all level 4 subjects before attempting any level 5 subject.
• Course includes mandatory professional placement(s): This course includes prescribed professional or clinical placements. Students may be required to undertake such placements away from the campus at which they are enrolled, at their own expense.

Credit

• Eligibility: Students may apply for credit transfer for previous tertiary study in accordance with the Credit Transfer Procedure.
• Maximum allowed: 18 credit points, except as otherwise approved by the Dean of the College.
• Currency: Credit will be granted only for studies completed in the 5 years prior to the commencement of this course.
• Expiry: Credit gained for any subject shall be cancelled 12 years after the date of the examination upon which the credit is based if, by then, the student has not completed the course of study prescribed for the degree.

Award Details

• Award title: BACHELOR OF DENTAL SURGERY
• Approved abbreviation: BDS
• Inclusion of majors on testamur: Not applicable - this course does not have majors
• Exit with lesser award: Students who have completed 24 credit points of their course award requirements, and withdraw from or fail to meet the requirements for progression in the later years, may be eligible for the award of Diploma of Tertiary Studies. Students who have completed 48 credit points of their professional course award requirements, and withdraw from or fail to meet the requirements for progression in the later years, may be eligible for the award of Associate Degree of Health Sciences. Students who have completed 72 credit points of their professional course award requirements, and withdraw from or fail to meet the requirements for progression in the later years, may be eligible for the award of Bachelor of Life Sciences.

Honours

• Honours availability: Available as an additional 24 credit points of study [end-on]
• Eligibility: Application for entry to the program is by approval of the College Dean. Achievement of an overall grade point average of 5.0 (i.e. credit average) across their undergraduate degree and/or a grade point average of 5.0 in the Level 4 of their undergraduate degree, with credits or better in specific discipline areas.