FAQ

The Doctor of Dental Surgery, or DDS, program at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine prepares students to become dentists and oral health care leaders. The four-year program combines biomedical science, clinical dentistry, patient care, research, ethics, professionalism, and oral-systemic health. 

Columbia University College of Dental Medicine awards the Doctor of Dental Surgery degree, commonly called the DDS. The DDS and DMD are equivalent professional dental degrees.

The DDS program is a four-year program.

Columbia University College of Dental Medicine enrolls approximately 92 students each year in the four-year DDS program. 

Columbia’s DDS program emphasizes dentistry as the oral health specialty of medicine. CDM is one of four dental schools in the United States that combines dental education with a medical school curriculum, positioning students to connect oral health with overall health, biomedical science, patient care, and interprofessional collaboration. 

Columbia’s DDS program combines biomedical science, clinical training, research opportunities, patient care, community engagement, and global programs in New York City. Students are prepared for general practice, specialty training, research, leadership, and other careers in oral health. 

The DDS curriculum is designed to train health care leaders who practice dentistry as the oral health specialty of medicine. The curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, innovation, interpersonal skills, cultural competency, biomedical science, and clinical care. 

Yes. DDS students begin their course of study alongside medical students with biomedical foundation courses taught primarily by medical school faculty. 

Yes. The DDS curriculum uses a pass/fail grading system designed to keep the emphasis on learning.

Clinical training begins early and expands throughout the program. Students begin clinical training in the second semester of the second year.

In the third and fourth years, students provide comprehensive dental care to patients under faculty supervision. Clinical training helps students develop skills in diagnosis, treatment planning, patient communication, clinical care, and professional judgment.

DDS graduates are expected to be competent to begin the practice of general dentistry. Competency areas include biomedical knowledge, diagnosis and treatment planning, health promotion and disease management, professionalism, interprofessional collaboration, practice management, critical thinking, and self-assessment.

Applicants apply through the Associated American Dental Schools Application Service, known as AADSAS. 

The AADSAS application opens on June 1.

The last day to submit the AADSAS application for Columbia University College of Dental Medicine is December 31.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit all materials as early as possible because applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Columbia University College of Dental Medicine seeks applicants with strong educational backgrounds, well-rounded experiences, leadership and collaboration skills, academic achievement, service, integrity, and a demonstrated interest in health care and dentistry.

Admission to the DDS program is selective. Applicants are reviewed holistically, with consideration of academic preparation, DAT performance, course rigor, leadership, service, personal qualities, and readiness for the biomedical curriculum. 

Yes. Applicants must take the Dental Admission Test, or DAT, to be considered for admission.

Yes. Columbia accepts the Canadian DAT, although the U.S. DAT is preferred.

No. Applicants must take the DAT to be considered for admission.

There are no minimum GPA or DAT score requirements. Applicants are reviewed holistically, with attention to academic achievement, course rigor, DAT scores, higher-level science preparation, leadership, community service, personal qualities, and readiness for the biomedical curriculum.

Yes. Columbia University College of Dental Medicine is a private school and makes no distinction between in-state and out-of-state applicants.

Yes. Columbia University College of Dental Medicine encourages applications from non-traditional students.

Selected applicants are invited to interview. The Admissions Committee reviews applications on a rolling basis, and interview invitations are sent to selected applicants.

Designated applicants are invited to complete an online asynchronous Kira Talent Assessment as part of the admissions review process. 

Tours are not offered during the admissions season.

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. accredited college or Canadian institution.

Applicants must complete required coursework in English composition or literature, physics, biology, inorganic or general chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry. Applicants should review the current admissions requirements before applying.

Yes. Columbia University College of Dental Medicine accepts students with a wide variety of majors. Applicants with non-science majors must complete all prerequisite courses and are encouraged to take upper-level science courses when possible.

Yes. Columbia accepts course credit from any accredited U.S. or Canadian college or university.

Credits taken while studying abroad should be reflected on an official U.S. school transcript. Prerequisites are expected to be taken at an institution in the United States or Canada.

No. Required coursework is not waived.

Dental office work experience is not required for admission. Applicants are expected to have a strong background in and demonstrated interest in the dental profession.

Applicants must submit three academic references or one composite letter from a pre-health committee through AADSAS. A letter from a dentist may be accepted as an additional letter, but it does not satisfy the academic reference requirement.

Letters of recommendation and transcripts should be submitted through AADSAS. Additional letters of recommendation may be sent directly to Columbia University College of Dental Medicine.

Applicants can check their application status through the AADSAS application portal.

All enrolled DDS students begin the program in August. There is one entering class each academic year.

No. Columbia University College of Dental Medicine does not accept transfer students into the DDS program.

Yes. DDS students may participate in research opportunities in oral health, dental medicine, biomedical science, population health, precision dental medicine, and related fields.

Yes. Columbia University College of Dental Medicine offers dual-degree opportunities for DDS students, including options designed to expand students’ professional and leadership preparation.

Yes. Patient care is a central part of the DDS program. Students provide care under faculty supervision as they progress through clinical training.

DDS students follow the academic calendar published by Columbia University College of Dental Medicine. Calendar dates vary by year and class year.

The DDS program is designed to prepare students for professional dental practice and licensure. Licensure requirements vary by state, and students should review current professional licensure information.

Yes. Columbia University College of Dental Medicine’s DDS program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.

DDS graduates may enter general dental practice (contingent on specific state licensure requirements).  They may seek specialty training or advanced education in general dentistry. DDS graduates can also pursue careers in research, academia, public health, hospital dentistry, business, leadership and may combine clinical practice with these options.