Degree Programme in Dental Technology: PHAMMS15

Descriptions

PROGRAMME
Dental technician

DEGREE
Dental technician

EXTENT OF THE STUDY PROGRAMME
The total extent of the degree programme is 210 credits (1 cr = 27 hours of work by the student). This means approximately 3.5 years of full-time study.The title of the degree is Dental Technician, and the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) level is 6.

STRUCTURE OF STUDIES AND STUDY CONTENTS
The studies consist of basic and professional studies, practical training to promote professional skills, a Bachelor’s thesis with a related maturity test and elective studies. The dental technology studies are a mixture of theoretical studies, application of the learned information and generation of new information. The studies consist of modules. A module provides a level of competence that requires more than one course to achieve.

Basic studies (30 cr) provide students with the capacity to fully exploit the opportunities offered by a multidisciplinary higher education community. A further goal of basic studies is to achieve the required knowledge of languages as laid down in the Finnish Polytechnics Decree (352/2003, section 8).

Professional studies (70 cr) provide the student with the skills required in the manufacture of prosthodontic appliances – such as crowns and bridges – required in oral rehabilitation in collaboration with a dentist. The student will also acquire a skillset needed for conducting high-quality professional work as an expert dental technician. A further goal is to provide students with adequate skills to run a business of their own, or act as the dental technician in charge of a dental laboratory, and participate in the improvement of the work community. The studies include courses taught in a foreign language (15 cr) and participation in RDI (research, development and innovation) projects.

In Practical training (75 cr), the student integrates the knowledge acquired through professionals studies into his/her own work when practising in the service laboratory of the degree programme and in external dental laboratories each semester.

In the Bachelor’s thesis (20 cr), students demonstrate their capacity for independent work and their ability to use research-based information with a critical perspective. Bachelor’s theses are written as part of job-oriented research and development projects. The maturity test is a demonstration of competence in the field of the student’s Bachelor’s thesis. Students demonstrate their knowledge of the field of study and their communicative skills.

The student can freely select elective studies (15 cr) that support his/her professional growth as well as broaden and deepen his/her skills in dental technology. The elective studies can be chosen among the courses of TUAS, other universities of applied sciences or universities.

Research activities are stressed in the curricula; students are offered the opportunity to earn credits in RDI projects. Working in such projects gives them confidence to accept more and more challenging assignments.

The professional development of students and the systematic progress of studies are promoted by a personal study plan (eHOPS) drafted by students for themselves at the beginning of studies. The study plan is regularly updated. Students assess and verify their professional growth and the realisation of their study plans using means such as e-portfolio work.

EVALUATION AND FEEDBACK
The assessment of students is based on the competence requirements specified for the degree programme. The assessment is based on competence and its improvement. The elements being assessed include the learning process and, in many modules, the output of the student or a group of students. Assessment is based on a numeric scale or a pass/fail principle. Interactive methods are used for the assessment, including self-assessment, peer assessment and assessment by the teacher/instructor. Continuous assessment supports students’ own goal-setting and self-assessment, as well as the identification of one’s strengths and areas that need improvement. The implementation plans include a description of course-specific application.

During the studies, feedback is collected from students on learning and the realisation of the curriculum. In addition to module-specific feedback, general feedback is collected once in each term. Turku University of Applied Sciences implements all of its processes in accordance with its process descriptions and quality management model.

INTERNATIONALIZATION
Studies are in the Finnish language. There are studies also in English language (15cr).

The goal of international activity is to broaden students’ view of the world, so that they learn to understand different cultures and can work in a multicultural operating environment. International activities include taking courses taught in a foreign language, studying abroad, tutoring exchange students and participating in various seminars and projects. Students earn credits from studies and work placements abroad, and these credits are included in the Finnish degree.

POSSIBLE JOBTITLES AFTER GRADUATION
Dental technician