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Two dentists discussing x-ray results.M.S. Degree in Dentistry

UAB School of Dentistry in collaboration with the UAB Graduate School offers graduate studies leading to a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Dentistry. The objective of the program is to relate basic biological sciences to health and diseases of the oral cavity and craniofacial complex.

This program is designed for individuals holding a D.D.S., D.M.D., B.D.S., or B.A/B.S. (biology, chemistry, biomedical science major) with minimal or no research experience. The program will provide training in dental academics and teaching and research in basic or applied sciences.

The 2-year program consists of course work, seminars, journal club, and a laboratory component. Course work includes formal lectures and courses offered within the School of Dentistry. A significant portion of the program is devoted to the design and completion of a thesis research project carried out under the supervision of the faculty mentor.

The diversity of clinical, translational and basic biomedical disciplines in the dental school offers opportunities for students to pursue studies in a stimulating research environment.

Degree Paths

Students can pursue research studies focused on clinical dentistry, oral biology, or dental biomaterials. To earn your degree, you can follow one of two paths:

M.S. with Emphasis in Biomaterials or Oral Biology

If you hold a B.S., a B.A. with a science major, or a D.M.D., D.D.S, or B.D.S. degree, you have the opportunity to earn an M.S. in Dentistry with an emphasis in Dental Biomaterials or Oral Biology:

  • Emphasis in Dental Biomaterials - Department of Clinical and Community Sciences

    Application Deadline

    February 1

    Students are educated in basic material science, with a specific focus on dental materials. This variety of course work allows the student to develop skills and knowledge necessary for productive research, clinical, and teaching careers.

    Laboratory Research

    Students are offered research opportunities related to their interests and talents. Because of the diversity of projects at UAB, students will participate in a variety of research topics. Students typically work with departmental faculty to assist with projects while learning laboratory skills and techniques. Toward the end of the program, the student will choose a thesis project.

    Upon completion of the program, the successful Master’s candidate will be well-versed in current literature (dental biomaterials as well as clinical dentistry and specific research areas). They will be familiar with ADA specifications and testing and conduct a variety of in vitro tests. Students will be taught how to design and implement a research protocol, and interpret these results in a scientific paper.

    Summary

    Our goal is to see our Master’s students graduate with research experience, at least one publication, and a solid background in dental biomaterials. We feel these graduates will be well positioned for an academic career in the United States or abroad, further clinical training, or a position in industry.

    Additional Information

    Program Director: Dr. Nathaniel Lawson

    Length of Program: 2 years

    Match Participant: No

    Pass Participant: Yes

    Degree Awarded: Master of Science (in Dentistry) AND Certificate in Biomaterials

    TOEFL required: No

    GRE required: No

    Interview required: Yes, held online via Zoom

    Stipend Available: No

    Tuition/fees Approximately: $12, 482.00 per year plus 18 credit hours of Graduate School fees that are based on per credit hour

    International Students Accepted: Yes

    Application Deadline: February 1

    Program Start Date: July 1

    PASS Application Fee: $25 - Applicants must apply through the PASS application service, www.adea.org The applicant should email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to request the payment link.

    Acceptance Deposit Fee

    A $500 deposit is due upon acceptance to and is non-refundable. NOTE: Please pay this deposit ONLY when directed to do so by the School of Dentistry.

    Pay Acceptance Deposit Fee

    Questions?

    Dr. Nathaniel Lawson
    Assistant Professor
    Birmingham, AL 35294-2170
    Telephone: (205) 975-8302
    Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

    Core Courses

    PG 760. Biomaterials Journal Club

    Course Director: Nathaniel Lawson, D.M.D.

    This course will involve individual presentations from each resident of 1-2 current peer-reviewed articles related to dental materials. The course will teach the resident to generate a cohesive and effective presentation, learn current developments in multiple disciplines, critically evaluate current dental literature using an evidence based analysis of restorative techniques and materials, and be able to evaluate treatment outcomes and make a knowledgeable long-term patient prognosis based on clinical data.

    PG 758. Clinically Applied Dental Materials

    Course Director: Nathaniel Lawson, D.M.D.

    This course is designed to provide graduate students with fundamental and advanced knowledge in biomaterials as they are used in clinical conditions. This course will stress material differences, handling properties, mechanical and physical properties and specific specification standards.

    PG 741. Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry Lecture Series

    Course Director: Nathaniel Lawson, D.M.D.

    The goal of the course is to learn new concepts and techniques in esthetic and restorative dentistry. This clinically-focused course will introduce the student to concepts in prosthodontic, surgical, periodontal and endodontic esthetics. Each topic will be presented from UAB faculty who are experts in different areas of performing or diagnosing dental and facial esthetics or advanced restorative dentistry.

    PG 525. Design and Analysis in Clinical Dental Research

    Course Director: Amjad Javed, Ph.D.

    This course provides an overview of basic concepts in statistical methods and study design, as applicable to clinical research. The course focuses on the uses and applications of statistical methods rather than on the mechanics of implementing the methods. The goal of the course is to provide insight regarding the general process of study design and statistical analysis and the contributions of these to obtaining valid information from research studies.

  • Emphasis in Oral Biology - Department of Pediatric Dentistry

    Application Deadline

    December 1

    The Department of Pediatric Dentistry in collaboration with the joint basic science departments at UAB School of Dentistry offers graduate studies leading to a Master of Science degree with emphasis in Oral Biology. The objective of the program is to relate basic biological sciences to health and disease of the oral cavity. This program is designed for individuals holding a D.D.S., D.M.D., or B.S. in Science (e.g. biology, chemistry, etc.) with little or no experience in basic research. This program will provide insight into dental academics and teaching in basic or applied research.

    Students are required to pursue studies in oral biology and in the basic biological sciences. These studies include course work, seminars, journal club, and a laboratory component. Course work includes formal lectures from within the School of Dentistry and courses offered by the basic sciences departments, School of Public Health and the School of Medicine. The seminars include the “Dean’s Seminar Series” and the Institute of Oral Health Research seminars. The Seminars cover a wide array of topics relevant to various research areas as well as other disciplines of dentistry or dental education. A significant portion of the program is devoted to the design and completion of a thesis research project in the form of one publishable paper in a reputable scientific journal which is a requirement of the program. The publication of the paper will be carried out under the supervision of the faculty mentor. Faculty involved in this M.S. program are actively engaged in research that represents a variety of oral and basic biomedical disciplines within the Dental School and Medical Center. The diversity of the research interests offers opportunities for students to pursue studies in a stimulating research environment.

    The program requires a minimum of 30 graduate credits. Of these, at least 24 credits must be selected from graduate-level courses approved for the program and a minimum of 6 credits at the master's research level. Each student must orally defend a master's thesis based on their research. If the applicant holds a D.D.S. or D.M.D. degree, the M.S. program may be combined with a clinical dental specialty training only after acceptance into the clinical program and as long as the research leading to a M.S. in Oral Biology constitutes basic and not clinical research.

    Admission

    Applicants must hold a D.D.S., D.M.D., B.S. in Science or an equivalent degree and should possess a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.00 on a 4.00 scale. Students whose first language is not English must earn a score of 560 or better on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

    Additional Information

    Program Director: Dr. Jannet Katz

    Length of Program: 2 years (may extend to 2.5-3 years)

    Match Participant: No

    Pass Participant: No

    Certificate Awarded: No

    Degree Awarded: Master of Science

    Stipend Available: No

    Tuition/fees Approximately: $10,538.00 per year plus Graduate School fees that are based on per credit hour

    International Students Accepted (TOEFL required NO less than 600 points): Yes

    Application Deadline: December 1 (No extensions accepted)

    Program Start Date: July 1

    Application Fee: $50 - Apply directly to the School of Dentistry

    Completion Rate: 100%

    Questions?

    The University of Alabama at Birmingham
    The Graduate School
    Room 511, University Center
    Birmingham, AL 35294
    Telephone: (205) 934-8227

    Dr. Jannet Katz
    Professor
    Birmingham, AL 35294-2170
    Telephone: (205) 934-2878
    FAX: (205) 934-1426
    Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

    Courses

    • OB600. Graduate Cariology
    • OB602. Pharmacology and Therapeutics for Dentistry
    • OB603. Oral Inflammation and Periodontal Disease
    • OB607. Prenatal craniofacial growth and Development
    • OB611. Saliva: Composition and Function
    • OB616. Postgraduate Oral Histology
    • OB620. Oral Microbiology and Immunology
    • OB622. Biochemistry of Connective Tissue and Bone
    • OB625. Current issues in Nutrition and Oral Health
    • OB627. Surgical Implants in Dentistry
    • OB630. Introduction to Clinical Trials/Epidemiology
    • OB631. Ethics in Biological Research
    • OB632. Special Topics on Mucosal Immunology
    • OB633. Research Design Methodology
    • OB657. Prenatal Craniofacial Growth and Development
    • OB663. Saliva as a Diagnostic Fluid
    • OB687. Oral Immunobiology and Vaccine Development
    • OB698. Non-Thesis Research
    • OB699. Thesis Research

M.S. with Postdoctoral Residency (Clinical Dentistry)

Those with a D.M.D., D.D.S, or B.D.S. degree who have been accepted to a postdoctoral residency program in Orthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, Endodontics, Periodontology, or Prosthodontics can apply in order to pursue an M.S.

The M.S. program may be combined with a clinical residency training only after acceptance into the clinical specialty certificate program. Residents earning a master's degree, regardless of specialty/status, will be charged tuition by the UAB Graduate School for enrollment in the master's program.

Program Requirements & Admissions

Regardless of your path, successful completion of the M.S. program requires acceptance to the UAB Graduate School and a minimum of 30 graduate credits. Of these, 18 credits must be selected from graduate-level courses approved for the program and a minimum of 12 credits of research. Each student must orally defend a master's thesis based on their research.

More details on the M.S. Degree in Dentistry, including graduate admissions, tuition & fees, and full requirements, are available in the UAB Graduate Catalog.

Apply

Questions?

Emphasis in Oral Biology

Program-specific questions

Dr. Amjad Javed & Dr. Jannet Katz

Admissions-related questions

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(205) 934-5470

Emphasis in Biomaterials

Program-specific questions

Dr. Nate Lawson

Admissions-related questions

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(205) 934-5470

M.S. with Postdoctoral Residency

Program-specific questions

Admissions-related questions

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(205) 934-5470