FAQ

What is Dental Public Health?

  • Dental public health is the science and art of preventing and controlling dental diseases and promoting oral health through community efforts. It views the community as the patient, focusing on public health education, applied research, group dental care programs, and disease prevention. Specialists require broad knowledge of public health administration, research methods, prevention, and oral health care delivery and financing.

  • DPH residents pursue careers in academia, research, administration, health policy, program planning, management, industry, and government. Opportunities exist with the CDC, WHO, NIH, and local and state governments.

    To explore current openings, see:

  • DPH faculty teach, serve the public, and contribute to research. Licensed faculty may also provide patient care. Non-tenure track faculty focus on teaching; tenure-track faculty focus on grants and research. A PhD or DrPH is often needed for tenure-track roles.

  • Although DPH is a non-clinical specialty, holding a dental license is advantageous. Licensed dentists in the Bay Area can practice in local clinics, and UCSF faculty typically provide patient care one day per week in the UCSF faculty dental practice.

About the UCSF DPH Program

  • UCSF is ranked among the world’s top universities and is consistently No. 1 in U.S. NIH dental funding. The program is CODA-accredited and led by expert faculty, including diplomates of the American Board of Dental Public Health.

  • Some courses require attendance at the Parnassus campus, while fieldwork takes place offsite. Collaboration involves meetings, calls, and email, often from home. Residents should be comfortable with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

  • The residency is 12 months full-time and competency-based. Residents must achieve competence in 10 areas defined by the American Board of Dental Public Health. Requirements include:

    • Develop a residency plan (with five-year outlook, goals, roadmap, and board exam prep) by the second month.
    • Submit weekly activity logs, quarterly summaries, and match activities to competencies.
      Complete a major and minor research project; submit drafts by month 11 and present orally.
    • Present project protocols by month 4 (major) and month 6 (minor).
    • Read and report monthly on three required texts: Dentistry, Dental Practice and the Community; Primary Preventive Dentistry; and Oral Health in America.
    • Register quarterly for required courses (DPH 400, 410, 420, 475, 215, 200).
    • Pay quarterly postgraduate fees; financial aid is available.
    • Participate in teaching a DPH elective.
    • Stay current by reviewing journal articles and assigned readings.

  • Yes. Residents may take electives for credit or audit with instructor approval.

  • No.

  • Yes. Fieldwork occurs at local or state public health departments.

  • Limited support may be available for U.S. citizens and permanent residents.

  • No, but UC Berkeley offers both.

  • 12 months, full-time.

UCB MPH/UCSF DPH joint program

  • No. An MPH is required regardless. Applicants interested in the joint program must apply to UC Berkeley via SOPHAS. Students in the one-year on-campus Berkeley MPH receive UCSF co-mentoring and, upon completion, acceptance into the UCSF DPH program.

  • No. UCSF’s DPH program is one year. The joint program allows MPH research to support UCSF’s required projects.

  • See:

  • Yes, see: http://sph.berkeley.edu/graduate-degrees/degrees-we-offer
    Students may also earn an MPH at any CEPH-accredited U.S. program

  • Priority deadline: Dec. 1. Secondary deadline: March 1, until class is filled.

  • Yes, 3.0.

UCSF DPH admissions process

  • Up to six full-time students/residents.

  • No.

  • Yes.

  • Meet prerequisites; additional experience in public health or dental public health is an advantage.

  • ADEA PASS opens in May and closes in December.

  • Dec. 1 for PASS applications; Feb. 10 for the nonrefundable processing fee.

  • No. Early PASS applications allow staff to review completeness.

  • Yes.

  • Sometimes; acceptance may be contingent on completing prerequisites.

  • Shortly after the interview.

  • No. Residents must begin in July.

Financing the DPH program

  • Approx. $23,100 for California residents and $38,200 for nonresidents (2021). Financial aid is available. See UCSF Registrar’s Dentistry Postgraduate and Summer Session fees.

  • See Berkeley Registrar and Cost of Attendance

  • Yes. U.S. citizens and permanent residents may receive up to $35,000. All accepted students may apply for financial aid. Additional scholarships may be available via the American Association of Public Health Dentistry.

  • See: https://campuslifeserviceshome.ucsf.edu/housing

  • Yes, $1,000–$3,000 may be available for residents working in a California local oral health program (≥30 hrs/quarter).

  • No.

International applicants

  • Yes. Coursework must be from an accredited institution, and transcripts must be sent directly to UCSF.

  • No.

  • Yes, if your native language is not English and you have not studied at least one year at a U.S. institution. UCSF code: 4840.

  • 90 or higher.

  • Yes, if all requirements and the application fee are submitted by Feb. 10.

  • No. See: http://gsice.ucsf.edu/frequently-asked-questions

  • No. The UCSF DPH program is non-clinical. Only residents with a California license may provide patient care. Completion of the program does not qualify you for licensure. Some states accept DPH specialty training as part of licensing pathways, but preparation for exams is the resident’s responsibility.

Additional questions

  • No. A DDS (or equivalent) and an MPH (or equivalent) are required.

  • Public transportation is recommended: http://511.org/
    Parking is limited to permit holders or 2-hour street parking. Public parking is available on campus: http://campuslifeservices.ucsf.edu/transportation/