Overview of BDS Curriculum:

Shifa College of Dentistry (SCD) curriculum instills all of the enduring qualities essential for clinical excellence in dental practice, while also including essential emerging competencies such as an understanding of community oral health, health care ethics, and patient safety in the dental practitioners of tomorrow. The SCD curriculum is a blend of system based and competency-based approaches and is integrated horizontally and vertically, following the syllabus and guidelines laid by PMC. It has been developed taking into consideration cognitivist, behaviorist, and some elements of a constructivist approach. It allows students to construct their own knowledge based on what they already know and to use that knowledge in activities which require critical thinking and problem solving. Conscious efforts have been made to ensure that students develop a holistic approach towards the management and treatment of oral diseases. Specially designed longitudinal threads run throughout the curriculum to ensure that effective schema development takes place in the minds of our students.

Program Learning Outcomes of BDS (PLOs):

The program learning outcomes (PLOs) of the BDS program signify the expected level of professional achievement from a dental graduate of the Shifa college of dentistry, upon completion of their BDS degree. These are termed as Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) and are listed below:

1. Apply and integrate the relevant knowledge, skills, and attitudes of basic sciences with clinical dental practice.
2. Plan a holistic approach for the diagnosis of oral diseases and systemic diseases with oral manifestations through effective history taking, data recording, and interpretation of clinical findings.
3. Independently manage common, non-critical dental problems at an appropriate level of competence for a general dental practitioner.
4. Practice safely and effectively, making the high-quality long-term care of patients the first concern.
5. Apply the principles of oral health promotion and disease prevention through outreach programs with emphasis on prevalent diseases in the population.
6. Demonstrate continuing professionalism through their education, training and practice and maintain high standards of ethics and conduct in all aspects of professional life.
7. Effectively communicate and collaborate with dental team members, patients, and their families to deliver better patient outcomes.
8. Describe and practice the principles of good research related to all aspects of oral health and interpret it for application as part of an evidence-based approach to clinical judgment, decision-making, and problem-solving skills in relation to oral health.
9. Demonstrate effective clinical decision making, accurately assess their own capabilities and limitations, demonstrating reflective practice, in the interest of high-quality patient care and act within these boundaries.
10. Manifest the attributes of lifelong learning and recognize its importance and apply it to practice.
11. Employ critical thinking, creativity, and innovations in dental practice.

Organization of Curriculum:

The SCD curriculum is a blend of system based and competency-based approaches. The curriculum is organized as an integrated modular curriculum spanning over four calendar years, with distribution as shown below

Module Number	Module Name	Module Code
Block 1
1	Foundation Module	FDN 111
2	General Organization of Human Body	GHB 211
3	Immune System- I	IMS 311
4	Cardiovascular and Respiratory System -I	CVR 411
Block II
5	Gastrointestinal System and Metabolism- I	GIT 521
6	Neuroendocrine System- I	NES 621
7	Head And Neck	HNK 721
8	Biology of Oral Cavity	BOC 821
Block III
9	Trends in Oral Health	TOH 932
10	Cariology	CRG 1032
11	Evidence Based Dentistry	EBD 1132
12	Dental Rehabilitation	DRT 1232
Block IV
13	Basis of Disease	BOD 1342
14	Cardiovascular and Respiratory System	CVR 1442
15	Gastrointestinal System	GIT 1542
16	Neuroendocrine System	NES 1642
Block V
17	Fundamental Principles of Patient Evaluation	FPE 1753
18	Orofacial Pain	OFP 1853
19	Oral Mucosa in Health and Disease	OHD 1953
20	Systemic Diseases in Dentistry	SDD 2053
Block VI
21	Infections and Infectious Diseases	IID 2163
22	Dental and Orofacial Pathology	DOP 2263
23	Neurological and Bone Disorders	NBD 2364
24	Oral and systemic Disorders	OSD 2463
Block VII
25	Comprehensive Treatment Planning I	CTP 2574
26	Dental Restorations and Rehabilitations-I	DRR 2674
27	Growth Development and Occlusion	GDO 2774
28	Dental Emergencies and Trauma	DET 2874
Block VIII
29	Comprehensive Treatment Planning II	CTP 2984
30	Dental Restorations and Rehabilitations-II	DRR 3084
31	Interdisciplinary Management	IDM 3184

Specific longitudinal threads run throughout the four-year curriculum as integrated elements for horizontal and vertical integration. The longitudinal threads comprise of essential subjects including Pak studies, Islamiyat and Behavioral sciences, Ethics etc. along with specifically designed clinical threads which facilitate students’ transition from basic to clinical years.

The following diagram represents placement of the longitudinal threads in the SCD curriculum

Modules:

Each module is further divided into themes which integrate multiple disciplines. Each module has its Module Learning Outcomes (MLOs) targeting the cognitive, psychomotor and affective domains, and are developed in line with the Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) of BDS Program. The content of the module is reflected in the modular study guide.

Assessments:

There are broadly two types of examinations at SCD. These include the professional examinations conducted by the Shifa Tameer e Millat University and internal examinations conducted by the college.

The internal and external examinations consist of theory and practical components. Each modular unit is followed by end of module theory examination whereas skills are assessed in end of block practical/ clinical examination. These internal examinations carry 40% weightage in the final assessment of student, whereas 60% belongs to professional examination.

In clinical years, students are assessed through competency tests. Achievement of these competencies is mandatory for all students, and they must have achieved the required number of specific competencies for each discipline before they are eligible to appear in the block examination.

Patient portfolios and logbooks are used as a means of continuous assessment and carry weightage in the internal assessments.

Progression and duration of BDS program

The students enrolled in the BDS program are expected to complete their academic and administrative requirements within 4 years of the program. The progression from one academic year to the next is dependent on the completion of minimum attendance (90%) and a prerequisite performance criterion. The completion of the degree program is marked by fulfilment of all academic and administrative requirements on part of the student