attractive choices for students: anatomy of predoctoral and postdoctoral combined degree programs

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?

THANK YOU

gglickman@bcd.tamhsc.edu