Advanced Education Program in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics

Program Description:

The advanced education program in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics is organized to provide graduates with the knowledge and skill to do the following:

1. to develop technical competence in the skills of orthodontics,
2. to deepen their understanding of the basic natural sciences and their correlation with orthodontic practice,
3. to develop analytical thinking,
4. to develop skills in clinical research,
5. to increase the sense of responsibility toward patients and the local community, and
6. to develop increased awareness of the obligation to make contributions to the growth and stature of the profession and to coordinate with those of allied professional disciplines.

All of these stated goals are designed to prepare clinicians for a specialty practice in orthodontics and/or career in dental education. The content of the program conforms to the standards established by the specialty board.

All candidates must simultaneously apply for admission to both the School of Dentistry for entrance into the certificate program and to the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) for admission to the master of science (MS) degree track. *The program begins in June and requires twenty-seven (27) months of study in residence. Additional time may be needed to complete the research and thesis requirements for the award of a master of science degree.

*Satisfactory completion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required for admission to FGS for pursuit of the master's degree.

Graduates of both the certificate and MS degree program are educationally qualified for certification by the American Board of Orthodontics.

Application and Admission Process

Application deadline - Applications for admission must be submitted by August 1st of the year prior to the summer of intended enrollment.  All transcripts and supporting documents must be sent to Admissions Processing, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350 and received by the August 1st deadline.

Electronic application submission - The application process must be completed online and only applications with all the required supporting documents will be reviewed for admission. Online application

Advisory to Applicants: To ensure prompt posting of your required supporting documents, complete your application before you request transcripts and test scores.

Invitation to interview - All complete applications that meet the minimum admissions requirements are reviewed (refer to Admissions Requirements below). The top candidates are invited for an interview by a selection committee composed of department faculty and outside faculty/administrators and chaired by the program director. A laboratory practical and treatment planning evaluation are included in the evaluation process. The candidates are ranked in two categories: 1) nominations for admission and 2) nominations as alternates.

Admissions decisions - The program director presents the list of nominations for admission (with alternates) for discussion and approval by the graduate admissions committee. The committee meets monthly, and candidates will be notified of a decision as soon as possible.

Acceptance - Candidates offered acceptance are required to submit a non-refundable deposit check of $1,000 to hold a place in the entering class. These funds will be applied towards tuition and fees for the first quarter of study.

Background check - Accepted students must complete a background check in order to register and begin the program. Additional information on this process can be found in the University Catalog. http://ssweb.llu.edu/backgroundcheck

Admissions Requirements:

The following information and documentation are required for all applications:

See admissions criteria

1. Transcript(s) - Only official transcript(s) will be accepted. Transcripts for all pre-dental and dental schools attended should be submitted by these institutions to Admissions Processing, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350. No hand-delivered transcripts can be accepted. Applicants who have transcripts from non-US and non-Canadian dental schools must submit a translated course-by-course transcript report from one of the following agencies:
   • Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc (ECE)
     (414) 289-3400 (www.ece.org)
   • World Education Services, Inc (WES)
     (305) 358-6688 (www.wes.org)
   • American Association of Collegiate Registrars And Admissions Officers (AACRAO)
     (202) 293-9161 (www.aacrao.org/international/foreignedcred.cfm)
   • See International Transcript Information
2. GPA and Class Rank - A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher. Applicants should request the dean of their dental school to provide a letter with their official GPA and class rank.
3. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) - Satisfactory completion of the GRE is required by the Faculty of Graduate Studies for admission to the master of science degree track. The sum of the GRE verbal and quantitative scores must equal or exceed the sum of scores that correspond to the 50th percentile for each of those sections. Furthermore, neither the verbal nor quantitative score may be lower than the score corresponding to the 35th percentile for that section. Only GRE test scores within the past five years will be accepted. (Loma Linda University)
   
   The GRE Writing Assessment score must equal or exceed 4.0. Applicants with scores lower than 4.0 must satisfactorily complete the Loma Linda University Critical Essay or the university course in English Writing as specified by the associate dean for Advanced Dental Education.
   
   For information regarding the Graduate Record Examination, test locations, and test dates, please contact the Educational Testing Services (ETS) at www.ets.org.
4. National Dental Board examinations - Successful completion of the National Dental Board Part I and Part II (if available) is required of U.S.,  Canadian and foreign-trained applicants. Part I must be submitted by the application deadline and Part II results are to be submitted when available.
   
   Foreign-Trained Dentists - Foreign-trained applicants must complete an accredited International Dentist Program. These applicants should also include National Board scores and any other official board examination scores taken in their country and have the results sent directly from the originator to Admissions Processing, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350. Applicants may not mail or personally deliver these documents.
   
5. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - Foreign applicants, whose first language is not English, must demonstrate proficiency in the English language as evidenced by minimum TOEFL scores of:
   • 550 - paper-based test
   • 213 - computer-based test
   • 80 - Internet-based test with a minimum of 18 on each section: reading, listening, speaking, and writing.

   Exception: Foreign applicants trained in a U.S. dental school do not have to take the TOEFL examination. 

6. Letters of recommendation - Three letters of recommendation from individuals who have known and worked closely with the candidate are required in support of an application. Complete the online Personal Recommendation form for each recommender or have your recommenders write a recommendation on their letterhead. Letters of recommendation should be mailed to the office of Advanced Dental Education. Letters of recommendation will be accepted from the applicant personally, only if they are sealed and signed across the back flap by the recommender.

7. Curriculum Vitae - Send your curriculum vitae directly to the Office of Advanced Dental Education.
8. Personal Essay - Your personal essay must be completed online as part of your application.
9. Dental License - A copy of your current dental license (if available) should be sent to the Office of Advanced Dental Education.
10. Photograph - Include a recent, passport-style photograph of yourself (optional, but recommended). Send it to the Office of Advanced Dental Education.

Important Instructions for the Transmittal of Official Documents:

All official documents must be mailed from the issuing institutions.  Applicants must not mail originals or official copies of transcripts, GRE scores, National Dental Board scores, and TOEFL scores themselves.

An application is not considered complete until all required supporting documents have been received.  Only completed applications go to committee for consideration.  This policy holds true for and non-U.S. applicants.  So please apply early.

Tuition and Fees:

Tuition for the 2007-2008 academic year is $9,676 per quarter. Health insurance is $360 per quarter and the student services fees are $110 per quarter. The information technology (IT) support fee is $165 per quarter. Other program-specific fees may apply. These fees do not include instruments and textbooks that may be required.

Departmental Required Courses:

Interdisciplinary Required Courses:

Curriculum by Academic Year:

1st Year

2nd Year

3rd Year

Graduation

Study may extend beyond 27 months for those pursuing a master of science
(MS) degree.

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