Exploring Howard University College of Dentistry Programs and Requirements
Howard University College of Dentistry (HUCD) offers a variety of programs for aspiring dentists, from combined bachelor's and doctoral degrees to advanced education for international graduates and specialized residencies. This article provides a detailed overview of the programs offered and their respective requirements, drawing upon the latest available information.
Bachelor of Science/Doctor of Dental Surgery (B.S./D.D.S.) Combined Education Program
This unique program allows Howard University students to earn both a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and a Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) degree through a structured curriculum. It is exclusively available to Howard University students enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Program Structure
The B.S./D.D.S. program is divided into two phases:
- Phase One: Takes place in the College of Arts and Sciences.
- Phase Two: Takes place in the College of Dentistry.
Upon successful completion of the first two years (Phase One), students are awarded a B.S. degree. Admission to the College of Arts and Sciences, however, does not guarantee admission to the B.S./D.D.S. program.
Eligibility and Admission
The program is designed for students entering the College of Arts and Sciences directly from high school. Transfer students are not eligible.
Read also: Tuition and Fees at Howard
Contact Information
For further inquiries about the B.S./D.D.S. program, contact Howard University at 2225 Georgia Ave., N.W. Washington, D.C.
Traditional Predoctoral Program
All prospective applicants must apply through the Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS). The application cycle opens in May, and the deadline for submitting applications is February 1st of the year you expect to enter dental school. All accepted students must earn a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States prior to enrollment.
Dental Admissions Test (DAT)
All applicants must take the Dental Admission Test (DAT). DAT scores may not be more than two years old. Applications are not considered without DAT scores, and only the most recent scores are considered. Starting March 1, 2025, the DAT will transition from a 2-digit scoring scale (1-30) to a 3-digit scale (200-600) in increments of 10.
Prerequisite Coursework
Specific prerequisite coursework is required for admission. While the exact courses are not specified, recommended courses include: Cell Biology, Histology, Immunology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology/Genetics, Zoology, Physiology, and English.
Community College Credits
Community College credits from an accredited institution are accepted for prerequisite courses if the student receives an Associate of Science or baccalaureate degree from the same institution. A maximum of 30 Semester Hours/45 Quarter Hours of Community College credits for students enrolled for pre-requisite completion will be accepted. Online completion of courses requiring a lab is not acceptable for pre-requisite coursework completed after 2022.
Read also: Discover the scholarship at Howard University's History Department
Shadowing Experience
At least 120 hours of shadowing/working in a dental office is recommended.
Letters of Recommendation
A minimum of three (3) letters of recommendation are required. Option 1: Three individual letters, including two from science professors who taught the applicant. A letter from a dental professional is highly encouraged. Option 2: Pre-health committee letter as well as one letter from a dental professional who the applicant has shadowed or been employed by. All letters of recommendation must be on letterhead and include the recommender’s signature. You may submit up to four (4) letters of recommendation. All letters of recommendation should be included with the submission of your application directly to AADSAS. Do not send information directly to the Office of Admissions, as this will delay the review of your application.
Supplemental Application
Participation in ADEA AADSAS is required, along with a supplemental application and a $75 supplemental application fee for all applicants.
Interview Process
Interviewees have a 25-30-minutes interview with an interviewing panel. The panel will often consist of: faculty, a student representative, and Alumni; or two faculty members. Each student will have a second interview with the Director of Admissions.
Finances
Financial Estimations for students starting Fall 2025: In-State and Out-State Tuition are the same. D1: $39,068, D2: $39,068, D3: $37,566, D4: $39,068. Additional Fees: D1: $19,715, D2: $19,664, D3: $20,257, D4: $20,257. Estimated Living Expenses: D1: $33,535, D2: $33,535, D3: $33,535, D4: $33,535.
Read also: Explore Howard County Community College
University Offerings
Howard University offers several pre-dental opportunities, including the Summer Health Professions Education Program and research opportunities like the Student Research Group and the Summer Research Experience Program (SREP). The Student Research Group allows dental students to explore their research interests with faculty mentors. The Howard University Summer Research Experience Program (SREP) trains students to conduct minority health care and oral health disparity research.
Admission Statistics
Mean Age of First-Time, First-Year Enrollees: 25
Application Review
Applications are reviewed from August 1st to November 1st. Early applications are highly encouraged. Submitting later than November 1st greatly reduces admissions opportunities at HUCD. First-round decision letters are sent to applicants on December 15th. We will not review incomplete applications for interview consideration.
Gap Year
A gap year is perfectly fine! The College of Dentistry requires a minimum of three (3) letters of recommendation that must include at least two letters from science professors who taught you and issued a grade in a science course. A letter from a dental professional with whom you are employed or have shadowed is highly encouraged.
Deferrals
A delay of admission is granted for one year only. Applicants requesting a delay must do so in writing. Deferred applicants must keep the same standards that the offer of admission was based on between acceptance and enrollment.
Transfer
Transfer requests are evaluated on the merits of each individual request. While not often granted, we will consider transfer requests after the first year of a successful dental school term only. If a student has begun matriculation in the second year or beyond, a consideration for transfer will not be rendered.
Contact
EST (202) 806-0337. Visits to the Office of Admissions should be by appointment. We do not provide individual counseling for applicants. We rely heavily on predental applicants' interactions and guidance from pre-health Advisors at your undergraduate/graduate institution.
Qualities Sought in Applicants
We are seeking students who have shown growth in their academic and career experiences. We are also seeking students with a record of leadership, empathy for the needs of others, and strong community involvement. This is indicated in your curriculum vitae and letters of recommendation.
International Dental Graduate Programs
HUCD offers programs tailored for graduates of international dental schools, including:
- Traditional Predoctoral Program for IDGs
- Advanced Standing Program for IDGs
Advanced Standing Program for International Dentists
This program affords a dentist who received a dental degree from outside of the United States to matriculate, in the third year of the pre-doctoral dental program, after calibration and competency assessment. The candidate joins the third year dental class (D3) and completes the obligations for receipt of a DDS degree within two years at Howard University College of Dentistry (HUCD). To be considered for admission to HUCD, the applicant must have successfully completed the National Dental Boards Examinations, Parts I and II.
Application Process
All applications and credentials will be evaluated by the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Centralized Application for Advanced Placement for International Dentists (CAAPID) and must be submitted by July 31st, prior to the anticipated year of admission. ADEA CAAPID is a centralized application service devoted to supporting dental schools that offer advanced standing programs for applicants with dental degrees earned outside of the US and Canada. All are to be written on Institutional Letterhead, with official signature of evaluator.
Transcripts and Evaluations
Applicant must submit to ADEA CAAPID a detailed evaluation by either ECE or WES. If admitted, program will require official transcripts from original dental school to be sent directly to program.
Application Fee
When we receive your application from ADEA CAAPID, you will receive an activation link to create your applicant account. Please log into the application portal and follow the instructions to pay your non-refundable $200 supplemental application fee.
Required Standardized Tests
Applicants must fulfill several standardized testing requirements:
- NBDE/INBDE: Program requires passage of NBDE Parts I and II or Integrated NDBE (INDBE). NBDE Parts I and II or INDBE must be completed, scored and passed prior to application deadline. Manually submit scores via ADEA CAAPID. If you are scheduled for an interview, you will be required to bring official NBDE scores.
- TOEFL: Applicants whose dental degree is International are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), with a total score of 100 or more to be considered. Must submit TOEFL scores via ADEA CAAPID®; Only internet-based TOEFL scores are accepted. Note: If you are scheduled for an interview, you will be required to bring official TOEFL score report.
Letters of Evaluation Instructions
Program prefers one Letter of Evaluation to come from the dean of the dental school from which the applicant graduated.
Policy Statement
The Board of Trustees of Howard University requires applicants to submit accurate and complete credentials and information. Failure to do so may result in denial of admission or dismissal.
Contact Information
All credentials must be sent to: Howard University Graduate School Office of Graduate Recruitment and Admissions 4th and College Streets, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20059.
Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) Residency Program
The Howard University College of Dentistry (HUCD) offers a one-year, certificate-granting, tuition-based Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) residency program.
Program Overview
This program offers newly or recently graduated dentists (graduated within the last two years preceding the year of application) an opportunity to expand their capability to provide quality comprehensive clinical care to diverse clientele populations. Most clinical services are provided within the in-house HUCD AEGD Clinic and rotations through the HUCD Emergency Services Clinic. External rotation sites include the Howard University Hospital (HUH) Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (OMS) Clinic and a local community-based general dentistry clinic for low-income clientele. Residents additionally experience service-based learning via pro bono clinical opportunities in Maryland and Virginia. The didactic curriculum is robust, supporting the oral-systemic association and oral health as integral to total health.
Didactic Curriculum
Classes include General Dentistry, Periodontics, OMS, Physical Examination, Epidemiology, Advanced Radiology, Histopathology, Internal Medicine, and Pharmacology, with most employing varying degrees of case-based learning and resident-run presentations. AEGD residents also benefit from collaboration with resident peers in the HUCD Pediatric Dentistry, Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics, General Practice Residency, and OMS programs.
Accreditation
Our program is accredited (most recent - 2017) by the American Dental Association (ADA) Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
Program Features
- Meaningful clinical experiences
- Engaged clinical faculty supervision
- Daily coaching, assessment, and feedback
- Consistent endodontic, periodontic, and prosthodontic specialty faculty support during our in-house clinical sessions.
Application Requirements
- Complete an online application via the American Dental Education Association Postdoctoral Application Support Service (ADEA PASS) at www.adea.org. The PASS application is the only application required for this program. Deadline for completion is September 1, 2020 for the class beginning in July 2021.
- Register with the National Matching Service Postdoctoral Dental Matching Program at www.natmatch.com/dentres.
- Must have passed Part I and Part II of the National Dental Boards.
- Proficient in the English language, demonstrated by Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores in the “High” range for the Reading and Listening categories and “Good” for Speaking and Writing, if English is not the applicant’s primary language.
- ADAT is required for graduates of non-CODA-accredited institutions.
Letters of Evaluation Instructions
Upload to ADEA PASS portal. Applications without the requisite letters of evaluation are considered incomplete. HUCD will not prematurely distribute residency completion certificates or letters attesting to anticipated program completion to accommodate an early licensure application.
Program Director
Robert F.
Program Foundations
The foundations of ethics, professionalism, compassion, and evidence-based practice are woven throughout our didactic and clinical activities.
Additional Information
Financial Aid
The D1 Merit Scholarship is awarded to a select number of first-year entering students who have demonstrated academic excellence in their course of study. The scholarship may be for full or partial tuition.
MPH
An MPH is a very valuable tool for any healthcare provider who has a keen desire to serve populations in need following dental school.
tags: #howard #university #college #of #dentistry #programs
