The educational goal of the SIU School of Dental Medicine's D.M.D. program is to prepare our graduates to become the best general practitioners of dentistry in the country. The dental education curriculum requires all students to participate in a four-year course of study that culminates in the awarding of a doctor of dental medicine degree. The School's small student body and intimate environment promote an unusually high level of interaction among students and faculty. Historically, students from the SIU School of Dental Medicine achieve exceptionally high first-time pass rates on the National Board Dental Exams. Passing the exams is required for licensure in the United States and is a strong indicator of student preparedness to practice dentistry. As students approach graduation, the School actively assists them in choosing and pursuing their personal post graduate interests. Each year, a few more than half of the School's new graduates enter private practice, while 25 percent choose to continue their education in graduate and specialty programs in hospitals and universities throughout the country. Others pursue options including military or public health service, dental research, dental education, and careers in a variety of government agencies