From High School to Dental School

Qualified HS Grads to Earn BS/DDS in Seven Years with Touro Dental Honors Pathway

August 28, 2024
Dr. David Katz, Touro College of Dental Medicine Vice Dean, teaching first year students.
Dr. David Katz, Touro College of Dental Medicine Vice Dean, teaching first year students.

Touro University announces the launch of the Touro Dental Honors Pathway, a groundbreaking educational initiative designed to provide a direct route to dental school for highly qualified high school graduates. The Touro Dental Honors Pathway is a collaboration between Touro’s undergraduate divisions--New York School of Career and Applied Studies (NYSCAS) and the Lander Colleges--and Touro College of Dental Medicine (TCDM).

This innovative pathway program guarantees conditional admission to Touro College of Dental Medicine upon acceptance directly from high school, easing the educational journey for aspiring dental professionals.

The new Dental Honors Pathway offers two options. For students who choose to begin immediately after high school, the 3+4 BS/DDS program offers an opportunity for students to earn both a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree and a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree in just seven years. They can take their prerequisite courses at any Touro undergraduate campus (Touro NYSCAS, Lander College for Men, Lander College for Women, Lander College of Arts & Sciences), enter Touro College of Dental Medicine after three years and earn their BS degree after their first year of dental school. The 3+4 BS/DDS program not only accelerates the timeline to a DDS degree but also provides significant financial benefits by saving a year of tuition.

Students who choose to take a post-high school gap year of study in Israel will enter Touro College of Dental Medicine after earning a BS degree at a Touro undergraduate campus and will still take only three years of prerequisite courses at the undergraduate level.

Opportunity for High Achievers to Begin Training for Chosen Career Early On

 “This program reinforces Touro University’s pioneering leadership in healthcare education and our commitment to providing high-quality, accessible professional training that meets the evolving needs of students and the healthcare industry. It’s an exciting opportunity for high-achieving students to begin the pathway toward their chosen career early on and benefit from the cutting-edge technology and training at Touro College of Dental Medicine,” said Dr. Alan Kadish, president of Touro University. “By streamlining undergraduate and professional studies, Touro is paving the way for the next generation of dental professionals.”

Participants in the Touro Dental Honors Pathway Program will be nurtured and guided by dedicated faculty and staff from both Touro University and Touro College of Dental Medicine. The comprehensive support system includes academic mentoring, Dental Admissions Test (DAT) preparation assistance and access to clinical or research opportunities at TCDM during undergraduate studies.

"The Touro Dental Honors Pathway is an amazing opportunity for those gifted students who have a sense of career direction while still in high school. We have created an exceptionally strong, professional, cutting-edge academic program with a warm and nurturing environment,” said David J. Katz, D.D.S., F.A.G.D., F.A.C.D., Vice Dean, Professor and Director of Halachic Dentistry at Touro College of Dental Medicine.

Cutting Edge Academic Program with a Focus on Public Health

Touro College of Dental Medicine (TCDM) incorporates the hallmarks of Touro -- a top quality education with a focus on public health and serving the local community. TCDM students benefit from the latest technology and its graduates are expertly trained, compassionate dentists, equipped to practice in the 21st century. 

“The Touro 3+4 BS/DDS program saves the well-prepared student a year, both in tuition and in time, by focusing the curriculum on essential coursework, and allows a more rapid entry into the dental profession,” said Dr. Judah Weinberger, dean of Touro’s New York School of Career and Applied Studies. “The program enables students to network with future dentists from the first day in college. The combined 3-year BS and 4-year DDS program can be a great choice for highly motivated students who are certain about their career path and want to maximize their time and resources.”

For more information about the Touro Dental Honors Pathway Program,  contact Dr. Brian Chiswell at brian.chiswell@touro.edu