In accordance with federal regulations and accreditation standards, Lyon College School of Dental Medicine assigns credit hours based on the following guidelines:
- Lecture Courses (Didactic): One credit hour is awarded for 16 curriculum hours of direct faculty instruction.
- Simulation Clinic (Preclinical Training) Courses: One credit hour is awarded for 48 curriculum hours of supervised simulation clinic instruction.
- Clinical Courses: One credit hour is awarded for 64 curriculum hours of supervised direct patient care or clinical instruction.
These allocations ensure that each credit hour reflects the appropriate amount of student work, including both direct instruction and out-of-class assignments, consistent with federal definitions and accreditation requirements. To maintain academic integrity, compliance with federal regulations, accreditation standards for a documented and defensible method, and consistency with institutional policy, credit hours are rounded down to the nearest whole number or 0.5 credit hour.
Summary of LCSDM Year 1 Curriculum
| Course | Course Dates | Predominant Instructional Type | Curriculum Hrs | Credit Hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral Cavity | July–Aug | Didactic | 52 | 3 |
| Head & Neck Anatomy | July–Sep | Didactic | 88 | 5.5 |
| Oral Pathology | Oct–Apr | Didactic | 92 | 5.5 |
| Dental Medicine 1 | Aug–Oct | Didactic | 58 | 3.5 |
| Dental Medicine 2 | Oct–Feb | Didactic | 46 | 2.5 |
| Dental Medicine 3 | Mar–May | Didactic | 52 | 3 |
| Clinical Care Foundations 1 | July | Didactic | 44 | 2.5 |
| Clinical Care Foundations 2 | Aug–Feb | Didactic / sim clinic / clinic Small group rotations |
184 | 8 |
| Dental Disciplines Foundations | Sep–Apr | Didactic (disciplinary modules) | 204 | 12 |
| Dental Disciplines Foundations Lab | Oct–May | Sim clinic / clinic (disciplinary modules) | 492 | 10 |
| Dental Disciplines Foundations Gateway | Mar–June | Clinic (supervised patient care) | 368 | 5.5 |
| Remediation | June | Clinic and other | As needed | As needed |
| Total Curriculum Hours and Credit Hours for Year 1 | 1680 | 61 | ||
Summary of LCSDM Year 2 Curriculum
| Course | Course Dates | Instructional Type | Curriculum Hrs | Credit Hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical Oral Health Care | Fall & Spring; 30 hours / week | Clinical | 1588 | 24.5 |
| Clinical Research 1 | Fall; 8 weeks @ 2 hrs per week | Didactic | 16 | 1 |
| Dental Therapy Continuum 1 | Fall and Spring Semesters: Monthly 4 hour seminar | Didactic | 48 | 3 |
| Ethics and Practice of Dentistry | Fall; 8 weeks @ 2 hrs per week | Didactic | 20 | 1 |
| Geriatrics | Spring; 8 weeks @ 4 hrs/week | Didactic | 36 | 2 |
| Oral Health Care Systems | Spring; 8 weeks @ 2 hrs/week | Didactic | 24 | 1.5 |
| Oral and Perioral Diagnostics Continuum 1 | Fall and Spring Semesters: Monthly 4 hour seminar | Didactic | 48 | 3 |
| Pharmacology | Fall; 8 weeks @ 4 hrs/week | Didactic | 48 | 3 |
| Practice Management 1 | Fall; 14 weeks @ 2 hrs/week | Didactic | 36 | 2 |
| Preparation for Licensure | Spring; one week @ 8 hrs/day | Didactic | 40 | 2.5 |
| Special Needs Rotation 1 | Three 20-hr rotation blocks during D2 | Clinical | 60 | 1 |
| Remediation | June | Clinic and other | As needed | As needed |
| Total Curriculum Hours and Credit Hours for Year 2 | 1964 | 44.5 | ||
| Average D2 Student Contact Hours Per Week | 40 | |||
| Total Curriculum Hours and Credit Hours for Years 1,2 | 3644 | 106 | ||
Summary of LCSDM Year 3 Curriculum
| Course | Course Dates | Instructional Type | Curriculum Hrs | Credit Hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Oral Health Care | Fall & Spring; 32 hours / week | Clinical | 1816 | 28 |
| Clinical Research 2 | Fall or Spring: 4 sessions @ 4 hrs/session | Didactic | 16 | 1 |
| Dental Therapy Continuum 2 | Fall: 8 weeks @ 2 hrs per week | Didactic | 16 | 1 |
| Introduction to Esthetic Dentistry | Spring: 8 weeks @ 4 hrs per week | Didactic | 32 | 2 |
| Oral and Perioral Diagnostics Continuum 2 | Spring: 4 weeks @ 4 hrs / seminar | Didactic | 16 | 1 |
| Practice Management 2 | Spring; 14 weeks @ 2 hrs/week | Didactic | 28 | 1.5 |
| Service Learning and Community Dentistry | Team project to be completed during D3 year | Team project | 16 | 1 |
| Special Needs Rotation 2 | Three 20-hr rotation blocks during the D3 year | Clinical | 60 | 1 |
| Remediation | June | Clinic and other | As needed | As needed |
| Total Curriculum Hours and Credit Hours for Year 3 | 2000 | 36.5 | ||
| Total Curriculum Hours and Credit Hours for Years 1,2,3 | 5644 | 142 | ||