The syllabus, part of the New York Health Occupations Education Program, is a statement of the minimum course content acceptable for State credit, requiring two and one-half hours each day of 160 teaching days in each of two academic years. The Introduction to the syllabus contains recommendations regarding selection of teachers and students, suggests ancillary studies, and explains that the syllabus is not intended to be used as course of study. Rather, the contents of the syllabus are to be incorporated in a course of study developed by the teacher to emphasize local needs and conditions. Topics considered in the syllabus are: general orientation, the dental assistant, dental terminology, oral anatomy, diet and nutrition, preventive dentistry, dental instruments and equipment, dental materials and methodology, laboratory procedures, chairside assisting, pharmacology, radiology, oral pathology, microbiology and sterilization, office management, office first-aid, and preparation for employment. A three-column format is used. The first column presents minimal acceptable content; the second states instructional objectives in terms of desired student performance; the third contains teaching suggestions. A course of study based on the syllabus should contain performance objectives defining what the student can do, under what conditions, and at what level of proficiency. (AG)