Integrated Dental Curriculum and Credit Hours

Abstract

This book chapter lays out a plan for developing an integrated curriculum for dental students at the undergraduate level. The integrated curriculum is built around topics that focus on specific dental diseases and are referred to as modules. 'The Science of Oral Diagnosis, Dental Emergency, Aesthetics, and Dental Rehabilitation' could be some of the modules. All modules in an integrated curriculum are free of traditional academic boundaries. For example, a dental emergency is a theme (module) that carries assorted contents associated with a dental emergency from oral surgery, endodontic, prosthetic even orthodontic disciplines. Contents or topics from different disciplines having similar focused learning outcomes are united in one module. Horizontal and vertical homogenization of various modules is achieved by displaying them in a specific way on Bloom’s ladder. The framework presented in this chapter provides an outline and pattern to develop an integrated undergraduate dental curriculum for dental schools which are intending to transform their traditional curriculum into an integrated one or reform the current one. Developing leadership qualities, maintaining good teamwork, and instigating the importance of lifelong learning through continued professional development are also part of the curriculum to meet the needs and demands of society. Moreover, the calculation of credit hours is briefly discussed.