Dental Scientist Training Program

Clinical Education

Like all first-year dental students, your time in the clinic begins in your first year with assisting and observing. When you return to the DMD curriculum after your Ph.D. training, you will join the cohort of second-year dental students and your clinical experience includes providing cleanings. In your final two years, you will have your own patients and complete on- and off-site clinical rotations.

MUSC is a leader in digital dentistry. In the Simulation Lab, where students have 24/7 access, they can practice CAD/CAM skills anytime. In the Innovation Lab, students can participate in all steps of producing teeth and implant-supported restorations using digital technologies.

With over 40 providers representing every specialized field of dentistry, you will learn from experts and gain familiarity with various specialties.

Research Opportunities

The focus of the Ph.D. degree program is your dissertation and the research you conduct with your mentor and committee. Unique elements include a course dedicated to grantsmanship and crossover with the on-campus Clemson University-MUSC bioengineering program.

Trainees participate in regional, national and international conferences. At MUSC, you will find strong support for presenting and publishing in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

During the clinical education portion of the program, trainees have opportunities to actively participate in clinical and translational research.

Prerequisites

To be considered for admission, applicants must complete the following prerequisite coursework from a regionally accredited U.S. institution prior to matriculation. Required coursework may include coursework taken at a community or technical college and/or offered in an online format.

This program does accept AP credits to fulfill prerequisite requirements. If the AP credits are not listed individually on your university's transcript, you can order a score report from College Board and have it sent to us.

Frequently Approved Prerequisites

Before applying, it's essential to ensure that any prior coursework meets the admissions requirements. MUSC provides a helpful reference list of frequently approved prerequisite courses to guide you in understanding which classes may satisfy your program's requirements. To explore the list, visit our Frequently Approved Prerequisites page.

Application Process

The following process outlines how and when your materials will be reviewed.

1. Submit the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) AADSAS application as early as possible. After fee payment and official transcripts are received, it usually takes four to six weeks to process and verify the application. The application must be verified by the application deadline to be eligible for review.
2. Review the MUSC admissions process.
3. Complete the MUSC Supplemental Application.
4. Once both applications are complete and the ADEA AADSAS application has been verified, your application will be reviewed. Selected applicants will be contacted for an interview.

Application Requirements

1. ADEA AADSAS Application: All applicants must submit the AADSAS application. You do not need to send any of the following information directly to MUSC.
   1. Official transcripts from all institutions attended: Strong preference is given to applicants who have, or will have completed, four years of college coursework and have earned a bachelor's degree at a regionally accredited US institution prior to matriculation. In extremely rare circumstances a minimum of three years of exemplary college work, including an exceptional science GPA and DAT scores, may be considered.
   2. Official Dental Admission Test (DAT) Scores: Your official U.S. DAT scores must be less than five years old. Canadian DAT scores are not accepted. It is recommended that you take the DAT early to allow ample time for official scores to be received or retested if necessary.
   3. Letters of Recommendation: A minimum of three individual letters of recommendation or one confidential committee letter are required. It is recommended that letters of recommendation come from those most familiar with the applicant (i.e., faculty member, dentist, leader or mentor in a volunteer organization).
2. MUSC Application: All applicants must submit the MUSC Application.

Both applications must be received in full before an application is marked complete and reviewed by the admissions committee.

Applicants that have applied in previous years must submit new ADEA AADSAS and MUSC supplemental applications and should update all application materials for each new admissions cycle.

Competencies

Upon completion of the DSTP program, graduates should be able to:

• Design, conduct and interpret hypothesis‑driven research that adheres to ethical and methodological standards in oral health sciences.
• Demonstrate proficiency in advanced clinical dental procedures, applying evidence from translational research to patient care responsibly.
• Critically evaluate scientific literature and integrate emerging discoveries into clinical decision‑making and research design.
• Communicate complex scientific and clinical information clearly and effectively to academic peers, health care collaborators and community stakeholders.
• Navigate ethical dimensions of clinical research, including issues of human subjects’ protection, data integrity and dual‑role responsibilities.
• Collaborate across disciplinary boundaries to drive innovation in clinician scientist pathways.

Vision

To lead the integration of dental medicine and scientific discovery, advancing oral health and wellness through innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration and transformative research that improves lives.

Mission

To develop graduates as clinician‑scientists through integrated training in dental practice and biomedical research, serving oral health advancement via methodologically rigorous inquiry, interprofessional collaboration and ethical engagement in academic, public health and translational settings.

Values

At the core of our program, we are guided by a commitment to the following values that drive our mission:

• Compassion: We act with kindness, empathy and dignity.
• Collaboration: We achieve common goals through teamwork and partnerships.
• Innovation: We drive transformation by embracing new ideas, discoveries and practices.
• Integrity: We do the right thing and commit to accountability in words, actions and use of resources.
• Respect: We value everyone and their many perspectives to build trust and a sense of belonging.