Adding to the depth and diversity of its dual-degree programs for DMD students, Penn Dental Medicine announces a new dual-degree with Penn Nursing, enabling interested and qualified students to earn a Master of Science in Nutrition Science (MSNS) along with their DMD. This new offering brings the total number of dual-degree options to nine, including six funded programs and three self-funded.
The MSNS is a unique asynchronous online format consisting of 10 courses and a capstone project. DMD students who pursue the MSNS can get credit for two of their dental school courses toward the 10 required for the program and are eligible to apply to the MSNS in the Spring of their first year.
“I think that this type of training can significantly enhance the dentist’s ability to successfully address oral health issues as nutrition plays a vital role in both systemic and oral health,” says Dr. Uri Hangorsky, Associate Dean for Student Affairs. He notes that due to the intensity of the DMD curriculum, nutrition cannot be taught in great depth as part of students’ dental education.
“The diversity of coursework offered in the MSNS allows students to build a practical evidence-based foundation to promote nutrition-focused public heath as it relates to oral health and disease,” adds Dr. Kathleen Boesze-Battaglia, Assistant Dean for Academic Initiatives, who was instrumental in establishing the dual degree opportunity.
As with all of the dual-degree options, this program affords students able to meet the rigors of both the DMD and dual-degree the opportunity to make the most of their time at Penn and the close association Penn Dental Medicine has with other schools within the University. Each dual-degree program sets its own admission standards and being a DMD student does not constitute automatic acceptance into a dual-degree program. In addition to the new MSNS, the other dual degree opportunities include a Master of Bioethics, Master of Science in Bioengineering, Master in Law, Master of Science in Higher Education, Master of Public Health, Master of Science in Translational Research, Master of Business Administration, and Juris Doctor Degree in Law.
