DMD Program Frequently Asked Questions

The Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) program is 4 years.

There will be 60 learners per cohort. There are no in-state or out-of-state requirements–approximately 30% of our applicants reside in North Carolina and we have applicants from 49 states.

Tuition inclusive of school-related fees is estimated to range $85,000 to $89,000 depending on the year in the program. Candidates are strongly encouraged to evaluate programs based on cost of tuition PLUS fees at programs for a reliable comparison to our program. The cost for HPU is cost of attendance and cost of living (i.e., housing, food, transportation, etc.) is external to that value.

According to the ADA 2021-2022 Survey of Dental Education (Report 2), first year tuition and related educational costs across US-based private institutions ranges from $60,000 to $143,000 with an average of $92,850. For comparison, in-state public institution tuition and related fees range from $35,000 to $79,000 (average $55,000). Out-of-state public institution tuition and related fees range from $43,000 to $116,000 (average $83,500).

We also provide the following financial planning and cost of attendance document to candidates interviewing with our team, which includes information about financial aid. Please be advised, this document is subject to change. HPU will also provide free continuing education (CE) credit for life for all graduates up to the amount to meet the minimum licensure requirements for their respective state licensure via our campus, online, and partner continuing education programs.

HPU WSDM is a private dental school and tuition will be the same for in-state and out-of-state residents. Of note, we do not have limits on the number of in-state or out-of-state candidates for our cohort. Our applicant pool includes approximately 30% of North Carolina residents and individuals who represent 49 states in the US.

Yes, candidates will be eligible to receive federal loans to attend High Point University. You can search for eligible schools via the following website: https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home. The Doctor of Dental Medicine program has received accreditation from the local accrediting agency (the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, SACSCOC), which makes students eligible for financial aid. Certain health-specific and military-specific funding opportunities require full accreditation by the Commission on Dental Accreditation–please verify with their granting body about whether HPU will qualify if you are interested.

We also provide the following financial planning and cost of attendance document to candidates interviewing with our team, which includes information about financial aid. Please be advised, this document is subject to change. HPU will also provide free continuing education (CE) credit for life for all graduates up to the amount to meet the minimum licensure requirements for their respective state licensure via our campus, online, and partner continuing education programs.

For the 2025-2026 Admissions Cycle, admitted candidates to the DMD program will have scholarship opportunities. Various individual C.A.R.E (Clinician, Advocate, Researcher, Entrepreneur) scholarships will be awarded by the Admissions Committee to admitted learners that demonstrate alignment with the school’s mission and embody the CARE roles. There will be no application process for the C.A.R.E scholarships.

National accreditation through the Commission of Dental Accreditation (CODA) requires multiple steps. We have received initial accreditation in August 2023. Our next site visit will occur in 2026 and we are on track to receive our full accreditation upon graduating our first class. Initial accreditation indicates the program is on track to receive full accreditation at the final site visit that occurs in 2028 with the graduating class.

The first cohort will be in a separate campus temporary location until the construction of Workman Hall is complete in Summer 2025.

Individual tour requests are not accepted for the temporary space.

Campus tours are available through the Graduate Admissions team; however, these tours DO NOT guarantee interactions with our team. Tour requests with Graduate Admissions are managed exclusively outside of our group and requests cannot be made to interact with our team at this time.

For the 2025-2026 Admissions Cycle, prospective candidates who are invited to interview will take a tour of Workman Hall during their interview day.

HPU WSDM uses an application in the Slate portal available on our website and is NOT participating in the ADEA/ AADSAS application. The application will be available May 1^st for the 2025-2026 Admissions cycle. There is no application fee for the HPU WSDM, and the only cost is the Acuity Insights assessments (Casper and Duet).

The HPU WSDM application is due December 1^st, 2025 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time and the last available Casper test date is November 13^th, 2025. The Acuity Insights assessments (Casper and Duet) must both be completed by November 13^th, 2025.

The Early Commitment option that was available for the 2023-2024, and 2024-2025 admissions cycle is discontinued for the 2025-2026 admissions cycle and future cycles due to the reallocation of larger C.A.R.E scholarship opportunities for admitted learners. All candidates are encouraged to apply early (May-July) to be considered for interview and additional scholarships. No application is required for scholarship consideration and selected candidates will be awarded upon committee approval.

To provide a fair evaluation process of candidates, we cannot provide direct feedback to candidates who are submitting during the current application cycle. In general, if you are applying this cycle, contact with the HPU WSDM admissions team will be limited to email and phone call correspondence—this means we cannot physically meet with candidates on campus who intend to apply or have active applications during the current cycle. Prospective candidates who will be applying in future cycles are welcome to contact us and schedule more intensive discussions about their future applications.

Yes, we encourage you to submit your application as early possible to be considered for interview opportunities.

Application review begins once the application is submitted regardless of the Acuity Insights completion. However, candidates are only eligible for an interview if their Acuity Insights (Casper and Duet) have been completed.

The Casper assessment takes approximately two weeks to be scored- please be mindful of this when scheduling the test. The Duet assessment results are typically sent within 24 hours to the program and the Duet can be completed at any time. We suggest you take these tests as soon as possible. Test registration opens in April and the first tests are typically administered the first week of May.

Yes, the Casper AND Duet must be completed for the current cycle regardless of a previous attempt. The Acuity Insights assessment is currently being updated each year. Currently, we require the assessment be re-taken during each admission cycle to account for those changes. The assessment can only be completed once per admission cycle.

As a reminder BOTH the Casper and Duet must be completed as part of the application.

We do not update applicant portals until after an application is officially submitted to the program–it will not automatically update if you have already completed the assessment and then submit. The Acuity Insights assessment takes approximately two weeks to be scored and then it can take us up to two weeks to update applicant portals as this must be done manually by our team. We suggest to take the test as soon as possible. Test registration opens in April and the first tests are typically administered the first week of May.

As a reminder BOTH the Casper and Duet must be completed as part of the application.

Official transcripts are only expected when a conditional offer of admission is given. These requests will be for undergraduate and graduate level courses, if applicable. High school performance is optional.

Our application requests only unofficial transcript during the application process. Official transcripts should NOT be sent to HPU unless explicitly requested.

If you are enrolling in a new program and do not have a transcript to upload, please include your list of registered courses. Under the GPA, please use the numbers 99 out of 99 to indicate it has not occurred yet.

If you are unable to access PDFs of unofficial transcripts, a screenshot can also be used.

Unfortunately, changes to an application cannot be made after submission. Additional transcripts or documents can be uploaded to your application after submission via a document upload option located in your applicant portal.

The ADEA AADSAS application was determined to be a potential barrier for applicants due to the cost. Alternatively, the WSDM application is free of charge (except for the Acuity Insights assessment) to minimize financial burdens or barriers to entry into dental school.

Additionally, the WSDM has rolling admissions and are able to accept learners to the program after each interview much earlier than the general December admissions date as the majority of other dental schools each cycle.

Applications are reviewed independently by at least three team members–two from Graduate Admissions and one WSDM faculty. Additional reviews from WSDM faculty are only warranted if there is no consensus of readiness during application review. Each reviewer evaluates each section of the application (i.e., knowledge, experiences, reflections) as either ready, may be ready, or not ready yet. The review then selects an overall impression of readiness for the candidate:

• Ready= no significant concerns and demonstrated proficiency in academic performance, breadth of experiences, and appropriate comprehension and communication skills.
• May Be Ready= minor concerns or weakness in one of the sections or insufficient information to make a reliable estimate that would require further conversation through an interview.
• Not Ready Yet= significant concerns or weaknesses across multiple sections that infer a potential for academic or behavioral performance challenges.

These ratings are then aggregated across the members for an overall determination of readiness, which is then used to prioritize offers for interviews.

The Acuity Insights assessment serves as an enhancement for applicants. If a candidate is rated ready by our faculty, the Casper score has little influence on a potential for interview. If there are concerns raised in the application review, a high Casper score can increase the probability of a potential interview. Based on our previous research, high Casper scores are associated with our ratings of readiness determined through our interview process. In addition, the Casper assessment notifies programs of behavioral concerns based on how individuals respond to the scenario, which can assist programs as they identify potential behavioral challenges early in the process. Candidates may only take the Casper test once in a single application cycle.

If a candidate has a very low Casper score (lowest quartile), then regardless of application review ratings, they will not be eligible for interview with the HPU WSDM.

The WSDM is committed to a holistic review of candidates and their capabilities. Each person brings unique knowledge, experiences, and attributes to their educational journey and it is not expected every candidate will be exceptional in every regard. The goal is to identify candidates’ strengths, opportunities for growth, and how they will contribute to the diversity of the WSDM community.

Applications are reviewed with a strengths-based approach to determine a candidate’s potential for success within the CARE curriculum. All candidates are given an opportunity in the screening process and training is provided to mitigate implicit biases during the review process. All submitted applications with a received Acuity assessment score are reviewed independently by multiple WSDM faculty members.

Each reviewer evaluates the application to identify highlights and concerns in the knowledge, experiences, and reflections provided by a candidate. Based on the balance of these highlights and concerns, the evaluator assigns a rating of either:

• Ready – significant highlights were identified with no notable concerns
• May Be Ready – a mixture of highlights and concerns were identified
• Not Ready Yet – a significant or several concerns were identified

Sample criteria that are evaluated to determine readiness ratings are provided below for examples.

Sample criteria that lead to readiness ratings and indicators during application review NOTE: Candidates may have concerns or notable observations and still be rated “ready” overall.

Reviewer evaluations are aggregated by the admission team and balanced with Acuity performance to determine an interview decision (if spots are available) based on the following process:

• Interview Offer – all “ready” ratings or a mixture of “ready” and “may be ready” designations with an average or above average Acuity performance
• Pending decision– a mixture of “ready” and “may be ready” ratings with a below average Acuity performance
• Re-apply Next Cycle – at least one “not ready yet” evaluation (regardless of Acuity performance)

Candidates are contacted about an interview decision via email and those invited for an interview can sign- up for an interview date and time via an electronic sign-up.  All candidates invited for interview will be required to submit a 2X2 passport photo upon registration.

1. Candidates with an “interview offer” decision will receive an email inviting them to register for an interview date and time via the applicant portal, and to submit their 2X2 passport photo. Interviews will be available on select Fridays during the interview cycle with approximately one interview date per month. Sign-up for interviews occurs on a first-reserved basis. Later in the admission cycle, interview spaces are much more limited and difficult to secure. We attempt to provide as much notice as possible for applicants to schedule travel arrangements. Previous interview offers in past admissions cycles do not guarantee interview offers in future cycles.
   • Candidates on the “waitlist” are not guaranteed an interview during that admissions cycle and are consistently re-evaluated with other candidates for limited interview offers. Candidates with a “reapply next cycle” decision will receive an email notification about this decision and are not eligible for an interview or admission this cycle.

The WSDM does not offer online or virtual interview options at this time. While we acknowledge these opportunities are useful for learners to minimize travel costs or barriers to interviewing, virtual sessions do not offer candidates a full understanding of their potential experiences at HPU. For example, the virtual interviews do not permit candidates to interact with the haptic simulators, tour the campus, and complete group exercises to the same extent as an in-person opportunity. Considering the substantial investment expected for dental school, virtual interviews can be a disservice for candidates since they are unable to visit campus, interact with our team, and participate in all the interview activities.

Please do not contact the team for status updates unless you believe there is a specific error. August interview invitations will begin in June-July and continue through as late as January in the admissions cycle. The timing of these offers is dependent on multiple factors–the most significant being whether the Casper/Duet assessment has been completed, and the result has been sent to our team (which takes approximately two weeks). In general, the earlier the application is submitted, the earlier the opportunity for an interview. We strongly suggest those most interested in HPU submit their application as soon as possible for consideration.

Candidates are sent a guide that outlines interview expectations and methods to prepare. The goal is to ensure all candidates have a fair opportunity, especially those who may have limited experiences with professional school The interview is designed to learn more about candidates, their potential, and their goals. The interview is also an opportunity for learners to inquire more about the program, what life may be like at the school, and how they can grow within the community. Candidates are encouraged to be their authentic selves, ask difficult questions, and come prepared for an enriching experience. Leading up to the interview, candidates are provided travel and lodging information and are requested to complete a single pre- interview activity to prepare them for the on-site experience.

 The interview with our team is approximately 3.5 hours long with a mixture of individual and team-based experiences that include:

• Three 10-minute one-on-one interviews with WSDM faculty
• A dental-related procedure simulation using haptic technology
• A flipped classroom demo to experience the classroom learning model
• A tour of the Workman Hall

The session with our team concludes with a question-and-answer session with our team before an optional tour of HPU main campus facilities and amenities.

Interviewers will make independent recommendations for candidate readiness. At the conclusion of the interview session, those who interacted with the candidates will debrief and discuss pertinent highlights and concerns observed during the interview.

Those recommendations and data from the interview interactions and application review are aggregated for a separate committee to make final admissions decisions. The decision committee is comprised of WSDM faculty who receive the de-identified data (i.e., no information about the candidate beyond the evaluation data and observations – no names, age, schools attended, etc.). The decision committee does not include the Dean. The committee will make vote and make final admission decisions as either conditional acceptance, active reserve, or reapply next cycle.

Admissions decisions will be communicated to candidates as soon as possible and are expected to begin in August. The program uses a rolling admission process to fill the cohort–once the 60 spots have been confirmed, remaining candidates are only eligible for either active reserve or reapply next cycle.

We do not anticipate a capacity to meet individually with 1000+ candidates to review feedback or discuss their application materials. We are exploring ways to offer generalized written feedback with final admission decisions for candidates to optimize their submission for future cycles.

Generalized feedback is provided through recorded informational sessions in the spring, and is NOT a list of recommendations that, if addressed, would guarantee admission into our program or any other dental program. Live recorded informational sessions are opportunities to highlight areas for potential growth and address common errors before the next admission cycle. The most common observations for improvement include:

• Demonstrating a sufficient breadth and depth of experiences based on their situation–for example, if there is no work experience, there is an expectation for strong academic performance and extensive volunteerism
• Completing the application in a way that is easy to understand and exemplifies their knowledge and experience
• Ensuring reflection responses adequately address the questions asked and in a way that demonstrates comprehension and using effective communication skills expected of a doctoral candidate
• Addressing behavioral concerns that may be raised by those who provide insights

Interview activities are intended to help candidates demonstrate their capacity to apply pertinent knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for dental school. The individual interview is the only graded activity where evaluators use standardized rubrics to review performance and minimize bias by focusing on observable behaviors.

Other activities during the interview day are not graded to further encourage candidates to be their authentic selves in other spaces outside of the individual interviews. All activities during the interview day are observed by evaluators for candidate highlights and concerns to ultimately inform the admissions team.

Table 4. Sample criteria evaluated during individual interview experiences

1. The DMD Admissions team cannot physically meet with candidates about their application at this time.
2. Current applicants cannot meet with the admission team, to maintain fairness for all applicants
3. Limited phone calls and/or virtual appointments are considered on a case-by-case basis for candidates that are not applying for a current admissions cycle.
4. The DMD Admissions team prohibits unannounced visits, and all in-person meetings with any Admissions team members are by appointment only.

We are seeking motivated, adaptive, and eager future oral healthcare providers who have a passion for dentistry, a commitment to serving their communities, a curiosity for learning, and a desire to lead innovative practice spaces that promote better oral health. In general, we suggest candidates not ask programs questions such as these because there is no “one size fits all” answer. Programs are often searching to create a cohort of people with very different backgrounds and experiences to create a rich environment for learning. For some, this will include those with a strong academic background, for others it will be a significant emphasis on leadership or innovation, and for others it may be their passion for service and volunteerism. Our recommendation is to be yourself as much as possible. Questions like this suggest that you may try too hard to fit into a prescribed idea of what a program is looking for and that will not be an ideal fit for you to thrive accordingly.

Yes, a bachelor’s degree/ and or anticipated bachelors (B.S. or B.A) is required before matriculation to the Workman School of Dental Medicine for the 2025-2026 Admissions cycle and future cycles. The degree does not have to be completed at the time of application, but does by the time of matriculation the following August.. There is no required degree (ie Biology or Chemistry). Candidates from all majors are encouraged to apply. We anticipate that prospective applicants will have various degrees, and this demonstrates interests outside of dentistry, which may enhance your application. Click here to access candidate profiles for the Class of 2028 and Class of 2029.

Yes, non-science majors are also encouraged to apply! The WSDM has learners from various backgrounds and majors. Click here to access our candidate profiles for the Class of 2028 and Class of 2029.

The application model document is a comprehensive guide to encourage learners from all backgrounds to apply. It will not negatively reflect your application if you do not have an evenly distributed transcript. We have listed classes that we are confident will adequately prepare learners and be advantageous for a career in dental medicine.

Candidates must have a minimum cumulative 3.0 undergraduate GPA to apply. If the candidate possesses an undergraduate GPA below a 3.0, a 3.0 or greater Master’s degree GPA will also be considered. Aside from a Master’s degree GPA of 3.0 or higher, there are no exceptions to the undergraduate required minimum.

Due to the competitive nature of our dental school and the WSDM applicant pool, applications with a 3.0 or lower undergraduate GPA will not be considered.

The DAT (Dental Admission Test) is NOT an admission requirement for HPU WSDM. Our current application does NOT have a location for DAT upload so that individuals do not feel pressured to submit one.

The team will use a holistic approach to evaluate each candidate. We will review your application, transcripts, experiences, and overall information in their entirety to inform our decisions. Your GPA will be considered, but your GPA alone is not a determining factor.

While we encourage shadowing during your pursuit of dental school, we do NOT require a standard number of shadowing hours to apply. If the applicant has zero shadowing on their application, this will influence their consideration of a “ready” status for the WSDM. In addition to shadowing general dentists, we very strongly encourage shadowing different oral health specialties for exposure to all disciplines.

The HPU WSDM does NOT include an opportunity to submit letters of recommendation as they were determined to have minimal impact on application decisions in previous cycles.

Unfortunately, we do not accept Interfolio or Committee recommendations at this time.

Click here to see the class profiles for the admitted class of 2028 and class of 2029.

The Active Reserve pool features candidates who have interviewed and are awaiting an admissions decision for admit or deny. If spaces remain in a cohort, all applicants in the Active Reserve Pool are voted on alongside newly interviewed candidates for potential admission. It is possible a candidate who interviews early in the cycle may be invited to the Active Reserve Pool and subsequently be admitted before the interview cycle has concluded.

Once interviews have concluded (no later than February), the Active Reserve Pool represents the most eligible candidates if an admitted learner is no longer able to attend.

Selection from the Active Reserve Pool is highly variable and there are inconsistent estimates of how many individuals may be selected from that list—it is highly dependent on the movement of admitted candidates across all dental programs. If a new cycle has begun and a candidate is still on Active Reserve, they are encouraged to apply for the new admissions cycle.

During most of the cycle, admitted candidates must submit a $1,500 non-refundable deposit within thirty (30) days of the conditional admission offer to reserve a spot in the cohort. Please note, all deposits are applied to the first-year tuition at HPU. Candidates who do not provide a deposit will automatically be ineligible for admission in the current cycle after their deposit deadline expires.

Deadlines for accepting an admission offer will decrease as the cycle progresses. Below are the anticipated timelines for acceptance confirmation based on the month of admission:

• August-March 1^st– $1,500 deposit
• After March 1^st-July 1^st–to confirm acceptance with a $500 deposit
• July 1^st– forty-eight (48) hours to confirm acceptance with a waived deposit

All admission offers are conditional and can be revoked if a candidate does not complete enrollment requirements by prescribed deadlines, if information provided was determined to be inaccurate or fabricated, or if violate behavioral expectations of incoming professional learners (e.g., evidence of new academic integrity challenges, dismissal from a program, etc.).

Once candidates have submitted their first deposit reserving their spot, a checklist will be available in the applicant portal to track pre-enrollment activities and deadlines. These activities often include:

• Attestation to acknowledge candidate compliance with the enrollment requirements
• Documentation of an awarded degree (via official transcripts), if it was listed in the application
• Submission of official transcripts for all completed coursework (due in mid-June; transcripts must be consistent with previous unofficial documents submitted in the application)
• Documentation of required immunizations (due in Summer)
• Confirmation of health insurance (due in Summer)

Due to the integrated structure of our curriculum, the HPU WSDM will NOT accept learners transferring from another dental school.

At this time, a United States Bachelor’s degree is required to apply to the WSDM.

Currently, our program does NOTaccept candidates who have a permanent residence outside of the United States for the DMD program for the 2025-2026 admission cycle.  All candidates must be considered permanent US residents to be eligible for admission and CANNOT require an additional visa to remain in the country for their education.

Individuals who have an H1B or H4 visa will be reviewed in-depth to ensure their VISA will be effective for the full length of enrollment and proof of ability to fund the full cost of their dental education. More information may be requested from applicants as they progress through the process.

As we are a private dental school, we may accept well-qualified DACA applicants so long as they provide evidence of their ability to resource their dental education via scholarships, assets (familial or personal), private loans, or some other means. For some general information about non-FAFSA funding, please visit https://www.edupass.org/financial-aid/.

Exceptionally qualified High Point University undergraduate students are eligible to apply for an accelerated dental program known as the Dental Medicine Scholars program. This program enables learners to earn a Bachelor of Science in Oral Health (BS) and a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) after a minimum of six years of study at HPU. The program includes a minimum of two academic years of undergraduate coursework at HPU followed by four years in the DMD program at the HPU WSDM. The Dental Medicine Scholars program is intended for learners who have a definite passion to pursue dentistry as a career, and/or learners who may desire to specialize and spend less time in undergraduate studies.

The accelerated option is ideal for candidates who are committed to pursuing dentistry and would like to enter the workforce at an earlier time point. Candidates are urged to consider this program does reduce the time spent in an undergraduate education and may limit your opportunity to participate in common college experiences, such as Greek life, honors programs, intramural activities, etc. The DMD program schedule, which may begin as early as your third year at HPU, is rigorous and very different from the undergraduate experience. Professional courses in the DMD program occur from approximately8 am to 4 pm Monday through Friday with assessments conducted every week. The academic calendar is year-round and there are limited holidays and breaks.  The decision to pursue this route is a significant personal and financial commitment that will limit the typical college experience typically associated with a four-year undergraduate program.

Students MUST be enrolled as an undergraduate at High Point University for at least one (1) academic year before applying and meet the eligibility requirements outlined below to qualify for the Dental Medicine Scholars program:

• A minimum overall AND science GPA of 3.3 (maintained until matriculation into the DMD program)
• A pass (grade “C” or higher) in the following courses at HPU:
  • 2 semesters of general chemistry + lab (CHM 1010/1511 & CHM 1020/1021)
  • 2 semesters of organic chemistry + lab (CHM 2010/2511 & CHM 2020/2021) [completed in year two at HPU]
  • 1 semester of biology + lab (BIO 1500/1501)
  • 1 semester of medical terminology (ATR 1300)
  • 1 semester of calculus (MTH 1410)
  • Self-selected general education courses
• Participation inat least 25 hours of community service
• Completion ofat least 20 hours of shadowing in two (2) or more dental practices
• A letter of support from at least one (1) HPU faculty member
• Demonstration of learning through engagement inat least two (2) extracurricular activities from the following list (a narrative will be requested)
  • Non-healthcare related work experience
  • Leadership role(s)
  • Athletics, clubs, and/or intramural teams
  • Research Rookies program or independent research
  • Creative endeavor(s), project(s), and/or business(es) (e.g., hackathons, social media, small businesses, etc.)

Please note, these requirements are ONLY for those interested in the Dental Medicine Scholars program–they do NOT reflect requirements for applicants who are applying to the program broadly. The reason for these requirements is due to the accelerated nature of the program.

Application to the program occurs concurrently when a candidate applies to the DMD program at HPU, after at least one year at HPU. Learners who are attending HPU and meet the eligibility requirements are requested to submit an official application to the DMD program by July 31. Of note, all of the courses are NOT required to apply to the program–those must be completed before matriculation. Applicants should try to complete as many courses as they can in the first year to enhance the quality of their application broadly.

There will be an additional form for Dental Medicine Scholars applicants to address the eligibility requirements and narratives. Candidates who meet the criteria will be guaranteed an interview (online and/or in-person) with the admissions team–they are NOT guaranteed admission to the DMD program. Admission is based on a holistic review of the candidates’ qualifications as well as maturity and motivation. Due to the competitive nature of the program, not all applicants will be admitted in the Dental Medicine Scholars program.

The number of learners admitted to the Dental Medicine Scholars program may vary annually and there is no current minimum and/or maximum.

Those interested in the Dental Medicine Scholars are encouraged todeclare a major of their choice as an incoming first-year student, which is most often biology. This will allow them to successfully meet the course requirements for the program and fulfill general education requirements. When a learner is accepted into the Dental Medicine Scholars program, they will transition their degree to the Bachelor of Science in Oral Health. Once learners complete four years of study at HPU (i.e., two undergraduate years and two years in the DMD program), they will receive their Bachelor of Science in Oral Health. This degree is only available to learners who have been conditionally accepted to the DMD program at HPU. The learner will then complete the remaining two years in the dental program to receive their DMD degree.

Yes, Dental Medicine Scholars will eligible to receive a Bachelor of Science in Oral Health after successfully completing the requirements for the degree. This requires they have completed the necessary courses at HPU (at least two years of undergraduate courses, including general education requirement) and the successfully complete the first two years of the DMD program. Applicants are strongly encouraged to complete additional credit hours and/or apply existing credits (i.e., IB, AP, etc.) to ensure they are able to meet the degree requirements.

No, Dental Medicine Scholars will not be required to take the DAT, as it is not an admission requirement to the HPU WSDM.

HPU undergraduates can begin applying to the program after one year of study at HPU. The application is due by July 31 of the cycle. Candidates will be screened and interviews will be requested based on their completion of the required elements and their evaluated readiness for dental school.Candidates will be notified by November of the application cycle whether they have been conditionally accepted to the Dental Medicine Scholars program. This allows their Spring semester courses to be modified to continue with their current degree program OR to finish the remaining requirements for the Dental Medicine Scholars program (e.g., organic chemistry 2 and the remaining general education requirements). Candidates MUST maintain academic and behavioral performance before they matriculate into the DMD program that following fall, or else they risk admission into the program.

Learners admitted to the Dental Medicine Scholars Program will be formally contacted by the HPU WSDM after their application and interview with the program. Not all applicants to the program will be accepted.

Admissions offers will be conditional on successful completion of the second year of undergraduate studies at HPU. This includes maintaining their behavioral and academic requirements (i.e, a GPA above 3.3, completing the necessary courses for the Bachelor of Science degree, no disciplinary events, etc.). Learners will begin classes at the HPU WSDM in thefollowing Fall after their acceptance to the program (ie Admitted Dec 2024, classes begin August 2025).

Learners who receive financial award scholarship packages will be considered undergraduates learners for two years and graduate learners for the remaining for years. Learners may be eligible to apply their scholarship packages to the DMD program; this will be discussed on a case-by-case basis.

Candidates must develop an academic plan that fits their current degree at HPU and accommodates the general education requirements within the first two years. This will likely require flexibility for general education courses and will depend highly on credits already completed from high school courses (e.g., IB, AP, summer, dual enrollment, etc.).

The following is a suggested program of study for the two undergraduate years at HPU. The general education options can be replaced based on interest. Required courses (passed with a grade “C” or higher) for the Bachelor of Science in Oral Health are labeled with an asterisk (*). Learners are encouraged to consult with their success coaches to maximize general education requirements during the first two years.

FALL YEAR ONE EXAMPLE

• CHM 1010/1011. General chemistry 1 + lab*
• BIO 1500/1501. Cell biology + lab*
• EXP 1101. President’s seminar
• General education option x 2 (preferably DIS and/or FYWRT requirement)

SPRING YEAR ONE EXAMPLE

• CHM 1020/1021. General chemistry 2 + lab*
• MTH 1410. Calculus 1* [fulfills QUANT requirement]
• ATR 1300. Medical terminology*
• BIO 2001/2002. Genetics + lab (to stay on track if biology major) OR alternative required for current HPU degree
• General education option x 1

FALL YEAR TWO EXAMPLE

• CHM 2010/2011. Organic chemistry 1 + lab*
• PHY 1510/L OR PHY 2010/L. Physics [NATURAL SCIENCES gen ed option – often expected for dental programs]
• General education options x 2

SPRING YEAR TWO EXAMPLE

• CHM 2020/2021. Organic chemistry 2 + lab*
• General education options x 3

The following courses are listed sample electives that may be considered if the required courses and general education courses are complete. These courses are suggested as they may be desirable/required for other dental programs:

• BCH 3010. Biochemistry
• BIO 2001/2001L. Genetics + lab
• BIO 2040. Microbiology for the health sciences + lab
• BIO 2060/2061. Human physiology + lab
• BIO 2070/2071. Human anatomy + lab
• COM 1110. Human communication
• ENG 2130. Writing in medical humanities
• EXS 3125. Statistics in the health sciences
• STS 2020. Introduction to statistics

There are NO REQUIRED general education courses as part of this program. We offer suggestions for courses that may be useful IF they are available.Candidates may need to arrange their schedules based on availability and individual areas of interest. For some areas, multiple preferred options are offered to guide candidates who may apply to dental schools outside HPU to strengthen their applications. Candidates can explore other options offered and are NOT required to take the preferred courses. Options are also offered based on the double-dipping permitted for general education courses to expedite achieving the requirements. These options are NOT exhaustive–please review the Undergraduate Bulletin for the current academic year to determine the other general education courses that may be available. Below are options that can be explored for general education courses to fulfill the requirements in each area–please review the general education requirements in the Undergraduate Bulletin for the current academic year.

A typical day will vary depending on the time of year and the current location within the curriculum. The CARE curriculum includes a year-round (i.e., 12-month) learning experience that blends didactic, experiential, project-based, and readiness courses. The curriculum is organized in 6-week modules that are designed for a repetitive structure. Classes are typically from 9 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday. There are reserved times in the curriculum for self-directed/self-study time to prevent burnout and enhance wellbeing. In addition, we have a dedicated lunch period from 12 to 12:45 pm daily for learners to take care of their personal needs without fear of missing a meeting or other activity. There is a dedicated meeting period from 12:45 to 1:30 pm daily for organizations/clubs to gather, additional study time, or to meet with faculty or other personnel.

In first and second year, Monday’s are assessment days to evaluate continuous progression throughout the curriculum. During the week, learners will have a rotating schedule where one or more days are spent in an experiential/practice environment and the other days include small group learning with their peers or in the mannequin simulation practice. There will be days of large group learning as well, but it will still focus mostly on team-based interactions and collaborative discussions. Learners are expected to prepare for their learning experiences through online modules, readings, videos, and other content that is then applied in the classroom or through simulated practice.

In third and fourth year, learners spend almost all of their time in practice locations being fully engaged in patient care. They return back to our main campus every 6th week for additional learning topics and routine assessment focused on board exam/license preparation.

During the summer months, learners are at our main campus location being fully immersed in projects related to the Researcher and Entrepreneur. These courses focus on applying what they have learned to a project important to themselves or they can partner with members of the community to support their challenges. There are also several breaks built into the summer.

Most dental school curricula are very demanding. While enrolled, our perspective is that your primary focus is learning and refining your skill set to be an effective oral healthcare provider–being a learner can be a full-time job in itself. We have designed the curriculum to give you as much real-life experience as possible to support that development. We acknowledge some learners will want to work part-time in healthcare or other domains–we want to encourage critical reflection about opportunities that may prevent your ability to progress appropriately through the curriculum. Most learning experiences will occur between 9 am and 5 pm daily, in addition to preparatory and study time that would be necessary for each class session.

Per our integrated curriculum, attendance is mandatory for success in the program and passing assessments. We acknowledge that life happens, and many learners are balancing many commitments beyond our walls. We will do our best to accommodate missed experiences; however, it will be the responsibility of the learner to address any gaps due to an absence. Learning experiences in our program are not recorded due to the dynamic nature and small group learning environment. We also want to create an experience that is well worth the value of your tuition. We crave to design an educational experience where you are excited to come to the learning spaces and spend time engaging with your colleagues. Practice-based experiences also require attendance since this includes coverage for patient care activities. Sufficient notice will be required as part of learner responsibilities.

Academic Calendar 2024-2025Academic Calendar 2025-2026Academic Calendar 2026-2027Academic Calendar 2027-2028

During your educational journey, our program will have opportunities to use software that requires advanced computing power. All learners are required to have an accessible and functional laptop that can be transported to and from class daily for assessments, learning activities, and to use provided software. Below are the recommended specifications for laptops to be able to operate the software for our electronic medical record (EPIC), assessment software (ExamSoft), anatomy software, and 3D printing software.

RECOMMENDED SPECIFICATIONS:

CPU: Intel 6^th Generation i7 or higher
RAM: At least 16 GB
Graphics Card

• AMD RX 5000 XT or higher
• Nvidia RTX 3000 Series or higher
• Intel Iris Plus, Xe, Xe Max or higher

Hard Drive: 512 GB+ SSD
OS: Windows 10 or later (in general, a Windows computer
is most compatible with much of the software in dental school)

High Point University students also qualify for educational discounts when purchasing computers directly from the following manufacturers:

• Dell Computer Purchase Program
• Lenovo Computer Purchase Program

All learners are required to have a reliable method for transportation across the oral health network to complete experiential learning. You will start supporting our practices in your 7^th week of the program; therefore, reliable transportation is required at the start of the program. Learners will be in our practice locations up to one day a week in the first year and two days a week in the second year—this will increase to five days a week in years three and four. Learners must be able to commute to and from an assigned practice location, which could be within a one-hour driving distance of High Point University.

As future oral healthcare providers, it is essential to ensure the safety of you and your patients. The Workman School of Dental Medicine has established a list of required immunizations consistent with appropriate health precautions for medical personnel and requirements for partnership sites (e.g., Novant, Wake Baptist, etc.). Documentation of each of the following immunizations must be provided along with laboratory test results, as applicable.  Documentation for a vaccine must include the learner’s name, date of administration, and be from a medical source, such as:

• State, military, and/or elementary/middle/high school/college/university record of vaccination
• Clinic/hospital documentation or letterhead
• Online or electronic vaccination storage system
• A pharmacy receipt
• Documentation signed by a healthcare provider

Required Immunizations & Documentation

• Hepatitis B: three-dose vaccination AND a positive antibody blood titer
• Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR):two-dose vaccination AND positive antibody blood titer for measles, mumps, and rubella.
• Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis (Tdap):Tdap vaccination within past 10 years
• Tuberculosis:QuantiFERON Gold blood test (preferred) OR two-step TB skin test within past 12 months (separated by at least 7-21 days)
• Influenza: an attestation is required to acknowledge this immunization must be received by Fall each year
• SARS-CoV-2 (COVID): an attestation is required to acknowledge this immunization must be complete by Fall each year
• Varicella (VAR) / “Chicken pox” Two (2) dose series OR positive VAR titer (e.g., immunity)

The HPU Oral Health Network will be a collection of approximately 30 HPU-owned and operated dental practices located in the Triad region of North Carolina. These practices will meet patients where they are at to offer general and specialty oral healthcare services. The Oral Health Network includes three primary hubs located in High Point, Greensboro, and Winston-Salem. Each hub will include approximately 30 operatories that offer specialty and surgical oral healthcare services. Those hubs will be referral centers for the smaller general practices distributed in the Triad region. The Oral Health Network also includes relationships with academic medical centers, dental laboratories, and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in the Triad region.

All practices are located within a one hour drive from High Point University’s main campus. All learners are expected to have access to transportation to and from these locations as part of their educational experience. These practices are primarily located in the Triad region of North Carolina, including High Point, Greensboro, and Winston-Salem.

Practice assignment will vary depending on individual interests and availability. The goal is to maximize experiences throughout the curriculum and we will offer opportunities to switch or prioritize experiences to best accommodate our learners; however, it is not a guarantee.

No. Learners will support the clinical services offered in the HPU-owned and operated dental practices located in the Oral Health Network. Learners will be encouraged to aid patient recruitment throughout their educational career, but it is not a requirement that they find their own patients for day-to-day activities.

No. The North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners requires that all graduation requirements for a North Carolina program must be fulfilled in dental practices owned and operated by the respective institution. All practices where learners will complete their experiential education are owned and operated by High Point University—all faculty and staff are HPU employees. Learners may be able to arrange for extramural experiences in locations, such as dental laboratories, oral health venture capital firms, dental service organizations, and other dental-related organizations; however, those experiences will NOT be used as evidence to indicate readiness for graduation.

No. The WSDM does not have any affiliation with Heartland Dental that guarantees our graduates will work for their organization. Heartland dental does provide sponsorship efforts for student led organizations within the school, as they do with other dental schools across the country. The Workman School of Dental Medicine is named after Heartland’s founder, Rick Workman, and his wife, Angie, because their foundation, the Rick and Angie Workman Foundation, made a naming donation to High Point University. This donation is being used to support the construction of Workman Hall and to actualize the school’s educational mission and vision. Dr. Rick Workman is also High Point University’s Innovator in Residence.