title: The Proposal of a BDS Syllabus Framework to Suit Choice Based Credit System (CBCS).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Higher education takes a new dimension universally in the form of choice based Credit System (CBCS). In India, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has made CBCS mandatory in all fields except for Health Profession. Not much attempts were made in designing a BDS syllabus to suit CBCS.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Aim of the study was to propose a model dental syllabus to fit into choice based credit system.
  
  
  METHODS
  A model BDS syllabus Prototype for CBCS was designed based on the UGC guidelines for terms as well as calculations for CBCS. Engineering curriculum models from IIT and Anna University were also referred to.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Semester based BDS syllabus was designed without changing the norms of Dental Council of India (DCI). All the must know areas of the subjects were considered as "core" areas and the desirable and nice to know areas are left for "electives" by the students. By this method, none of the subject was left out at the same time students are provided with electives to learn deeper on their topics of choice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The existing BDS syllabus can be effectively modified by incorporating few changes based on the UGC regulations for Choice based credit system. The proposed framework gives an insight on the nature of modifications that are needed. By adopting this, BDS Course regulations can also follow CBCS without neglecting or reducing the weightage of any subject.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, Indira Gandhi Institute of Dental Sciences, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth , Puducherry, India .
authors.forename: Shivasakthy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manivasakan
authors.affiliation: Vice Chancellor, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth , Puducherry, India .
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Sethuraman
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth , Puducherry, India .
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Narayan
keywords: BDS syllabus; Choice Based Credit System; Cumulative grade point average; Dental education; Dental research; Dental students; Electives; Graduate dental education