Program Overview

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Advanced Graduate Certificate in Dental Public Health

About

The mission of the DPH Residency Program at the dental school is to educate specialists to promote oral health and the prevention of oral disease at the individual and population level, with a focus on underserved areas in Nevada. The goal of the DPH Residency Program is to educate qualified DPH professionals to increase the capacity and infrastructure of the DPH workforce at the local, state and national level. Dental school graduates with a Master in Public Health (MPH) degree are eligible to become DPH specialists and to challenge the board exam by the American Board of Dental Public Health (ABDPH). The DPH Residency Program will provide a formal training opportunity for dentists planning careers in DPH with a focus on assessment, policy development and assurance.

Available Options

• Full-Time Track
• Part-Time Track

Accreditation

For information regarding accreditation at UNLV, please refer to Academic Program Accreditations.

Learning Outcomes

The objectives of the program include:

• to train competent public health dentists that can address the oral health needs of individuals across the life span;
• to provide field experiences that will provide training and understanding of evidence-based strategies for school- and community-based prevention programs; and
• to train professionals with dental public health training who can address oral health disparities in underserved and vulnerable populations.

Career Possibilities

Requirements

Plan Admission Requirements

• Applications available on the UNLV Graduate College website.
• All domestic and international applicants must review and follow the Graduate College Admission and Registration Requirements.

Graduate College Admission Requirements

1. Completed application in the Application Portal and non-refundable application fee.
2. Bachelor's Degree – You must hold a four-year baccalaureate from a regionally accredited institution or an approved equivalent.
   • Post-Master's tracks and Advanced Certificates require a regionally accredited Master's degree.
3. Grade Point Average – You must have a minimum overall grade point average of 2.75 (4.00=A) for the bachelor's degree or a minimum 3.00 (4.00=A) for the last two years (60 semester credits).
4. All applicants are required to submit an unofficial transcript from each postsecondary institution attended, showing all degrees and coursework, the dates awarded, and grades received. Official transcripts required upon admission.
   • Credentials not in English must be accompanied by an English translation certified as true by a university official, an official representative of a United States embassy or consulate, the United States Information Service, the United States Education Foundation, or an approved professional translating service. Notarized copies of originals or translations are not considered official.

Department Admission Requirements

Applications will be accepted from candidates with:

• A dental degree from a Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) regionally accredited school in the U.S. or another country.
• A Master of Public Health degree obtained from an institution that is regionally accredited by the U.S. Department of Education.

The aforementioned criteria are acceptable for board certification by the ABDPH.

Documents that will be submitted as part of the application process will include:

1. Writing Sample about a topic in dental public health
2. Statement of Intent about career goals/objectives
3. Three professional letters of recommendation
4. Curriculum vitae (CV)

Plan Requirements

Subplan 1: Full-Time

Total Credits Required: 18

Course Requirements

• Required Courses - Credits: 18
  • PGDE 8612 - Dental Public Health I
  • PGDE 8622 - Dental Public Health II
  • PGDE 8632 - Dental Public Health III

Subplan 2: Part-Time

Total Credits Required: 18

Course Requirements

• Required Courses - Credits: 18
  • PGDE 8610 - Dental Public Health I Part Time Tract Y1
  • PGDE 8611 - Dental Public Health I Part Time Tract Y2
  • PGDE 8620 - Dental Public Health II Part Time Tract Y1
  • PGDE 8621 - Dental Public Health II Part Time Tract Y2
  • PGDE 8630 - Dental Public Health III Part Time Tract Y1
  • PGDE 8631 - Dental Public Health III Part Time Tract Y2

Certificate Requirements

1. Completion of 18 credits, with a grade of B or better in the courses.
2. No more than 3 credits that are used to fulfill the requirements of another UNLV certificate can count towards the requirements of the Advanced DPH certificate.

Plan Certificate Completion Requirements

Students may apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements. All required forms must be submitted to the graduate college via the Grad Rebel Gateway.