ATTRACTIVE CHOICES FOR STUDENTS: ANATOMY OF PREDOCTORAL AND
POSTDOCTORAL COMBINED DEGREE PROGRAMS
Report of a SurveyADEA MeetingSan Diego, CA
March 15, 2011Sponsoring Sections: Graduate and Postgraduate EducationAcademic Affairs
GN Glickman DDS
Current Status ? Survey of Dual-Degree Training
Opportunities at U.S. Dental Schools (Roge, JDE, 2006)
Purpose: describe access to information for dual-degree dental scientist training programs at U.S. dental schools
Results & conclusions 22/56 schools reported T32 rewards from websites Surveys sent; 3 responded Unawareness of opportunities for predoc students Schools need to be proactive if programs exist Students themselves should be champions
10 Question Survey General survey sent 2X to academic
deans LISTSERV Any combined programs ? Types offered ? Admission criteria? Length? Level of participation ? Mechanisms of awareness ? Positives & negatives
34 responses (58 schools) = 59% response rate
Does your institution offer combined degree programs at the predoctoral level?
17 / 34 (50%) YES 17 / 34 (50%) NO
Does your institution offer combined degree programs at the predoctoral level?
17 / 34 (50%) YES 17 / 34 (50%) NO
Does your institution offer combined degree programs at the postdoctoral level?
26 / 34 (77%) YES 8 / 34 (23%) NO
If a combined degree program is available, what degrees/certificates are offered?
PhD (17) MS (19)
Oral Biology (10) Education (1) Craniofacial Bio (3) MS (4) HPE (1)
MSD (7) MBA (7)
MPH (6) Cert. Implant Dent.
(3) Cert. Orofacial Pain
(2) MD (3) DSc (1)
If your institution offers combined degree programs, admissions criteria may vary.
Separate admissions criteria are specified for each degree or certificate. 18/26 (69%)
Only one set of admissions criteria is needed for the combined degree. 8/26 (31%)
Degrees are offered by separate institutions.
9/26 (35%)
It is longer than a single degree program. 19/25 (76%)
It can be the same length as a single degree program. 11/25 (44%)
If a combined degree program is available, which of the following is true?
No to minimal participation. 6/20 (30%)
Some participation. 10/20 (50%)
Considerable participation. 2/20 (10%)
Combined degree program is mandatory.
2/20 (10%)
If a combined degree program is offered at your institution at the predoctoral level, what is the
approximate level of participation?
If combined degree programs are offered, how are potential applicants made aware of them?
Web-site (24) AADSAS app (0) PASS app (2) Institution
catalogue (17) At interview (14) During orientation
(8)
Word-of-mouth (9) During a special
seminar on career options (5)
There is minimal advertising of combined programs (3)
Coincides with school’s mission to train academicians/leaders/researchers
Encourages research for both faculty & students
Creates next generation of faculty Positive recruitment tool Attracts “excellent” students Saves students time (compared to doing
2 degrees separately) (economies of scale)
Provides wider range of opportunities
What are the positives of combined degree programs?
Additional degree detracts from clinical training
Difficult for students to balance activities Complex arrangement (esp. if 2 sep
schools) Scheduling challenges Students lose motivation Not enough faculty to mentor Postponement of earning potential Often requires customization of DDS
curriculum Additional financial obligations
What are the potential negatives of combined degree programs?