Oral Sciences, MS
This graduate program, conducted by the School of Dental Medicine under the sponsorship of the Graduate School of the University at Buffalo, leads to the master of science (MS) degree. The degree is awarded upon recommendation of the Graduate School after certification by the oral sciences program that all requirements for the degree have been completed.
The oral sciences program in the School of Dental Medicine provides an opportunity for scholarship in areas that are particularly relevant to oral health and disease. Students are required to enroll in required core courses as well as elective ones, to complete an original research project, and to write and orally defend a master's thesis. The program typically takes about two years to complete, but additional time must be allocated if the degree is pursued in conjunction with a clinical specialty program.
Research oriented
The oral sciences program is an academic research-oriented graduate program; it is completely independent from the clinical specialty programs offered by the dental school, and, thus, does not include clinical training. The didactic curriculum of the master’s program in oral sciences may not necessarily be directly related to a clinical setting. Rather, the overall design of the program is to provide background, expertise, and current concepts of basic sciences as related to dental research and oral biology. A minimum of 30 credit hours of coursework, including the satisfactory completion of a written thesis based on independent research, is required for the MS degree.
Examples of required courses include oral microbial ecology, dynamics of bone, physiology of pain, oral immunology, biomaterials, research seminars in oral sciences, research design, biochemistry and genetics of oral diseases, and statistical methods. Elective courses are usually selected upon discussion with the student’s graduate committee, and typically cover the area of research that is pertinent to the student’s thesis work.
Multidisciplinary experience
The oral sciences program involves a group of faculty from several departments of the School of Dental Medicine, all of whom are members of the faculty of the Graduate School. Due to the multidisciplinary nature of the faculty, a wide range of research interests are represented which affords students the opportunity to engage in research that is especially suited to their individual interests, abilities, and career goals. Students may choose to pursue research from many different areas, including biological, clinical, and behavioral studies. The research opportunities are numerous and roughly represented by the faculty interest shown below.
Mix of students
Students in the oral sciences program include full- and part-time students usually with, but occasionally without, a professional dental degree. Some pursue the master's degree in conjunction with a clinical specialty program on a full-time basis. Many graduates have established full-time academic careers here, in other areas of the United States, and in many foreign countries.
The program does not have any resources to support students. However, some participating faculty have research grants and may be interested in supporting students. Interested students should contact the faculty directly.
- Contact
- Ernesto DeNardin, PhD
- Program Director
- denardin@buffalo.edu