Predoctoral Electives – Special Topics Courses
Third- and fourth-year dental students are provided the opportunity to register for elective courses which cover a wide range of topics. Electives are offered during the fall and spring terms. Courses are held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5:00-7:00 p.m. (see course descriptions below for session details). Each elective course consists of an 8-hour commitment for 0.50 credits or a 15-hour commitment for 1.00 credit. Please read the course descriptions below which include the time commitment and number of credits.
Policies & Eligibility
Third-year dental students may register for no more than one (1) elective per term. This limitation is inclusive of the third-year Research with Mentor course (ODSC 599).
Fourth-year dental students may register for no more than two (2) electives per term, which is exclusive of any clerkship course or the Research with Mentor course (ODSC 599).
Any student wishing to enroll in an elective course must be in good academic standing.
Grading
All elective courses are graded as pass/fail. Instructors may assign exercises and assessments at their discretion; however, at minimum, attendance is required at all course meetings dates in order to achieve a passing grade. Please see course descriptions for additional grading criteria.
Students who do not request to have an elective course dropped from their schedule prior to the first meeting date will receive a “W” on their transcript to indicate withdrawal from the course.
Upon successful completion of the elective course(s), credit will be given under the special topics course, DNTS 548, and it will appear on your official transcript.
Registration
When choosing your elective(s), please carefully check your schedule to ensure you are available to attend all sessions, and for D4 students also make certain that multiple elective courses do not have overlapping session dates.
Please use this link to register for the electives: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/F2359QH
If you have any questions, please email us at SODAcademicAffairs@umaryland.edu
Offerings for Fall 2026
Mindfully Navigating Conflict Resolution in the Practice of Dentistry
THIS COURSE HAS BEEN CANCELLED
Instructor: Dr. Douglas Drewyer
Credits: 0.5
Course Capacity: 16
Dates: All sessions will take place from 5-7 pm in room 9102 on Wednesday, 9/2, 9/16, 9/30 and 10/14.
Course Description: Please join me for a conversational course where we address Conflict Resolution through the power of being present without judgement, strengthened through behavioral practices allowing clarification of our mutual feelings and needs. Effectively learn to develop ways to make life more ONE-DERFUL for all our partnerships, personally and professionally. Learn how to make requests that transform “Who’s right? Who’s wrong? Now what?” to a more peaceful, mutually rewarding co-existence.
Grading Requirements: Grading is pass/fail, based on attendance (100% is expected). Specific Criteria: Some written assignments to develop our skills and enrich our classroom exchanges.
Future Academic Clinician-Educators (FACE 1)
Instructor(s): Dr. Sarah Rollor and Dr. Nisha Ganesh
Credits: 0.5
Capacity: 25 students
Dates: Mondays 10/5, 10/12, 10/19 and 11/2 from 5-7 pm in room G309
Course Description: The primary objective of this course is to provide exposure and insight into careers in Academic Dentistry. The elective will primarily focus on:
- Introduction & Principles of Adult Education
- Panel of dentists consisting of various pathways to academia
- Experiential Learning Application Sessions
- Panel of dentists that teach in pre-clinic and pre-doc
- Service
- Community vs. academic service
- Academic dentists in role of society
- Academic admission
- Committees within the school
- Research & Scholarly Activity
- Panel of ADCFP Fellows
- Discuss current research projects
Grading Requirements: Attendance to all sessions of this elective is the minimum requirement for a passing grade. The course director may have additional requirements.
Future Academic Clinician-Educators (FACE 2)
Please note that this elective has a pre-requisite requirement of participating in FACE 1. This listing is for informational purposes only. Students have already been chosen for this elective.
Instructor(s): Dr. Sarah Rollor and Dr. Nisha Ganesh
Credits: 0.5 per semester – two semester commitment
Capacity: 5 students
Course Description: The FACE 2 elective is a continuation of FACE 1 and will span over the course of two semesters. Total credits for this elective is 1.0.
Session information: This elective is a hands-on educational research project that will allow students to focus and reflect on a specific area and how potential changes in our curriculum may impact the future in Academia.
The primary objective of this curse is to provide exposure and insight to careers in Academic Dentistry. The elective will primarily focus on:
- Students each will be assigned a mentor
- Meet once a month
- Develop a research project
- Students are to prepare a portfolio that includes the work they have prepared over the course of the year
- Faculty interviews
- Conceptualize →procedure→ analysis
- Literature reviews
- Gathering, analyzing and reporting quantitative/qualitative data
- Two reflective essays
- Three students will be selected to represent the University of Maryland School of Dentistry at the ADEA Annual Session.
- Poster presentation of their research at ADCFP fellows
Grading Requirements: Attendance to all sessions with assigned mentor is the minimum requirement for a passing grade. The course director may have additional requirements.
