Graduate Bulletin
Oral Biology, M.S.
SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY
Admission Requirements and Deadlines
Application Deadline:
Fall: July 1
Spring: November 1
Summer: March 1
Applications are processed throughout the year as they are received.
Letters of Reference:
Number Required: 2
From Whom: Dental or medical school faculty members familiar with the applicant's academic background and potential for graduate-level study.
Coursework Required for Admission Consideration:
Applicants to the Oral Biology graduate program must hold either a D.D.S., D.M.D., B.D.S., or M.D. degrees (or equivalent) from an accredited college or university, or its international equivalent, or in exceptional situations, a B.S. degree from an accredited college or university in a science field and significant experience pertinent to oral and craniofacial biology.
Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline:
No.
Statement of Goals:
The Statement of Goals should be approximately 500-1000 words in length and should address: your academic and research achievements to date; your overall career goals; your specific interest in Temple University's Oral Biology graduate program; and the area and/or topic of research proposed to be carried out in the Oral Biology degree program, if accepted.
Standardized Test Scores:
Minimum TOEFL score or range of scores needed to be accepted:
250 or higher on the computer-based version, or 600 or higher on the paper-based version.
Resume:
A resume is required.
Transfer Credit:
Graduate credit from an accredited institution may be transferred into the Oral Biology program. The credits must be equivalent to coursework offered at Temple University and must have a grade of "B" or better to be accepted. All graduate credit proposed for transfer into the Oral Biology program is subject to evaluation and approval by the Oral Biology graduate program director. The maximum number of credits a student may transfer is 6.
Test Waivers:
In selected cases, predoctoral students enrolled in the D.M.D. program at Temple University School of Dentistry may apply for the M.S. in Oral Biology degree program after completion of the fall semester of the freshman year. Such applicants must have 1) completed an undergraduate degree in a basic science field, 2) attained a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or greater in both their undergraduate degree studies and dental school coursework up to the time of application, and 3) received written approval for participation in the joint D.M.D.-M.S. program from the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the School of Dentistry, based upon the student having acceptable academic standing and progress in the D.M.D. program. No coursework completed for the D.M.D. degree will be applicable to requirements for the M.S. in Oral Biology degree. Enrollment of D.M.D. students into Oral Biology graduate courses each semester will be subject to approval.
Program Requirements
Campus Location:
Health Sciences
Full-Time/Part-Time Status:
Students are able to complete the degree program through classes offered before 4:30 p.m.
General Program Requirements:
Number of Didactic credits required beyond the Baccalaureate: 18
Required Courses:
Oral Biology 401, 407, 411, 416, 418, 420, 421, 425, and 471.
All M.S. degree students must complete the Oral Biology CORE curriculum, comprised of approximately 9 hours of coursework, unless exempted in writing from specific courses by the Oral Biology Graduate Program Director. Additional courses specific to the scientific interest of the student may include certain postgraduate courses from clinical specialty programs at the School of Dentistry (GENDO 500, 501, 502, 503, 506, 507, and 508; GORTHO 501, 504, 507, 508, 602, 603, 605, and 607; GPERIO 504, 505, 507, 511, 513, 629, and 719), and graduate-level courses from other Temple University schools as approved by the Oral Biology Graduate Program Director.
Internship: No internship is required.
Language Examination: No language examination is required.
Additional Requirements:
Completion and successful oral defense of a research-based thesis involving original investigation is necessary. The M.S. in Oral Biology degree requirements must be completed within four calendar years from matriculation into the degree program.
Culminating Events:
Thesis:
A thesis based upon original investigation must be submitted and orally defended. The thesis is intended to demonstrate the student's ability to design and carry out original research, and to analyze, present, and interpret the resulting data under the direct supervision of an approved research preceptor. The thesis must address a well-focused, scientifically meaningful question and hypothesis that is of adequate scope and significance to qualify for an M.S. degree.
The date and location of a student's oral thesis defense is arranged by mutual agreement between the student and the Thesis Advisory Committee, which includes the student's research preceptor. Announcements of the thesis defense will be posted on the Advanced Education bulletin board at the School of Dentistry.
The student's Thesis Advisory Committee is responsible for evaluating the thesis and its oral defense. The Thesis Advisory Committee is selected in conjunction with the approved research preceptor, who serves as the committee chair. The research preceptor must be a member of the Oral Biology graduate faculty, and approved by the Chair of the student's home academic department at the School of Dentistry. The Thesis Advisory Committee must include at least one member (including the research preceptor) of the student's home academic department at the School of Dentistry, plus at least one outside member. The one outside member may include Temple University faculty from other departments, and/or doctorally prepared experts from outside the University. In addition, the Oral Biology Graduate Program Director serves as ex-officio member of the Thesis Advisory Committee. The majority of the members of the Thesis Advisory Committee must be members of the Oral Biology graduate faculty.
Contacts
Program Contact Information:
www.temple.edu/dentistry/
Department Information:
Oral Biology Graduate Program
Office of Advanced Education
Temple University School of Dentistry
3223 North Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19140
trams@dental.temple.edu
215-707-2941
Department Contacts:
Admissions:
Teeka Peele
tpeele@dental.temple.edu
215-707-2884
Program Coordinator:
Thomas E. Rams, D.D.S., M.H.S.
trams@dental.temple.edu
215-707-2941
Graduate Chairperson:
Thomas E. Rams, D.D.S., M.H.S.
trams@dental.temple.edu
215-707-2941
Chairperson:
Thomas E. Rams, D.D.S., M.H.S.
trams@dental.temple.edu
215-707-2941
About the Program
The M.S. in Oral Biology provides advanced education on the structure, development, and function of oral tissues, their interrelationships, and their relation to other organ systems in both health and disease. Emphasis in the program is placed on gaining advanced understanding of oral and craniofacial structure and function in health and disease, and application of modern biological principles and research techniques in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of oral and craniofacial diseases and anomalies. The goals of the M.S. in Oral Biology program are to: 1) advance knowledge and understanding in the scientific field of oral and craniofacial biology; 2) develop "clinical scholars" in dentistry by allowing those in postgraduate clinical specialty programs the opportunity to gain graduate-level education in a biological basic science field applicable to dentistry; and 3) provide dentists with graduate-level training and experience in research methodology and technology to better qualify them for careers in academic dentistry and/or oral health care related industry activities.
Time Limit for Degree Completion: 3 years
Campus Location:
Health Sciences
Students are able to complete the degree program through classes offered before 4:30 p.m. Students are able to complete the degree program on a part-time basis (8 credit hours or less per semester).
Department Information:
Oral Biology Graduate Program
Office of Advanced Education
Temple University School of Dentistry
3223 North Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19140
trams@dental.temple.edu
215-707-2941
Ranking:
Not applicable.
Accreditation:
Not applicable.
Areas of Specialization:
Areas of study in the Oral Biology graduate program include traditional basic biomedical science disciplines, such as anatomy, microbiology, and pharmacology, with emphasis on how these areas relate to oral tissues and diseases. Study and research opportunities are offered in the emerging areas of oral molecular biology, oral microbiology and immunology, oral implantology, pulp biology, periodontal and craniofacial regeneration, oral and maxillofacial radiology, dental biomaterials, and oral mucosal disorders, as well as formal coursework in various clinical specialty fields.
Job Placement:
Graduates of the M.S. in Oral Biology degree program are engaged in academic teaching and research careers, private clinical patient care, and industry-related oral health activities.
Affiliation(s):
Not applicable.
Interdisciplinary Study:
The curriculum of the Oral Biology graduate program is interdisciplinary and crosses traditional department boundries within dentistry and basic biomedical sciences, such as anatomy, microbiology, physiology and pharmacology.
Study Abroad:
No.
Licensure:
Not applicable.
Non-Degree Student Policy:
Non-matriculated students not concurrently enrolled in postgraduate clinical specialty programs are restricted to the following Oral Biology courses: Oral Biology 401, 407, 411, 416, 418, 420, 421, 425 and 471. If accepted to the program, those courses may be applied toward the degree program.
Financing Opportunities
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