The School of Dentistry offers a program of study leading to the Master of Science Degree in Oral Biology. The program is directed toward a general understanding of the biology of the oral cavity and developing craniofacial region, clinical studies and biomechanics associated with dental sciences. Students obtain the scientific knowledge and biomedical skills required to perform contemporary dental research.

Areas for research training include: molecular, cellular and craniofacial biology; craniomaxillofacial diagnostic imaging; neural crest-related craniofacial and cardiovascular disorders; biochemistry of calcium-regulating hormones; regulation of gene transcription; oral microbiology; cellular mechanisms of salivary gland secretion; gene mapping of complex traits and birth defects; infection control; protein glycosylation; protein expression and trafficking; periodontology; dental materials science; orthodontics; endodontics; prosthodontics; and health services research related to dentistry. Developmental biology, oral microbiology and innate immunology are particular strengths of the program.

A minimum of 30 semester hours is needed for the M.S. degree. Requirements for the degree include courses in introductory and advanced oral biology and in data analysis, participation in seminars, and a thesis.

Other course work may be required as individualized programs are developed by students working with their thesis advisor/director and graduate committees. The graduate committee also approves proposed thesis research, reviews the thesis research, reviews the thesis for acceptance, and administers a final oral examination.

The M.S. degree in oral biology offers training particularly important to persons wishing to pursue a career in academic dentistry. The program is available to students wishing to obtain only the M.S. degree, to students enrolled in Dental Specialty Certificate/ Residency Programs, students enrolled in the D.M.D. degree program, and persons who have previously earned a D.M.D. or M.D. (or equivalent) degree.

Application for Admission

The application form is available on-line at: graduate.louisville.edu/apply/. Additionally, there is a $50.00 non-refundable application fee. Applications are not processed until the application fee is received.

Credentials listed below should be sent to the Office of Graduate Admission by the following admission deadlines for COMPLETE applications:
   June 1 for Fall
   November 1 for Spring
   March 1 for Summer

Applications that are not complete by the deadline may not be reviewed in time for registration.

Students currently enrolled in the D.M.D. degree program who wish to apply to the M.S. degree in oral biology program should not do so until after the completion of their first academic year in the D.M.D. program.

Admission Credentials

• Application and application fee
• Transcripts of all college coursework, including evidence of a baccalaureate degree
• Graduate Record Examination scores or acceptable scores on the DAT
• Two letters of recommendation
• A personal statement of interst in the program
• TOEFL scores, if English is not applicant's native language

Major subject required (core) courses:

• OBIO 501 Biomedical Data Analysis: Experimental Design and Statistics (Fall Semester)
  (3 semester hours)
• OBIO 601 Introduction to Oral Biology Research (Fall Semester) (2 semester hours)
• OBIO 606 Seminars in Oral Biology (Spring Semester, Prerequisite: OBIO 601) (1 semester hour)
• OBIO 619 Research (minimum of 8 semester hours required) (8 semester hours)
• OBIO 620 Thesis (minimum of 6 semester hours required; the student must register for at least 1 semester hour of
• OBIO 620 in the same semester as their thesis defense) (6 semester hours)

Major subject selective courses:

At least 4 semester hours must be in courses selected from the group identified below:

• OBIO 600 Concepts in Oral Immunology (2 semester hours)
• OBIO 604 Oral Microbiology (3 semester hours)
• OBIO 611 Craniofacial Osteology (1-3 semester hours)
• OBIO 612 Craniomaxillofacial Diagnostic Imaging (2-4 semester hours)
• OBIO 613 Diagnosis and Treatment of Temporomandibular Disorders (1 semester hour)
• OBIO 614 Advanced Oral Diagnosis/Oral Medicine (1 semester hour)
• OBIO 615 Advanced Clinical Pharmacology (1 semester hour)
• OBIO 616 Overview of Medical Genetics in Oro-facial Disease (1.5 semester hours)
• OBIO 617 Advanced Oral Pathology (1 semester hour)
• OBIO 670 Dental Gross Anatomy (6 semester hours)
• OBIO 671 General and Oral Histology (5 semester hours)
• OBIO 675 Advanced Head and Neck Anatomy (2 semester hours)

Additional approved course semester hours

These courses may be chosen from any 600-level courses offered by the School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies that are deemed to be relevant and applicable to the student’s program of study and thesis research, and must be approved by the student’s thesis advisor/director and the Program Director: (6 semester hours)

*Note: OBIO 610 Advanced Topics in Oral Biology (1-4 semester hours) is strongly recommended in partial fulfillment to these 6 semester hours.

Total semester hours required for M.S. degree: 30 semester hours

Director

David A. Scott (dascot07@louisville.edu)

Program Administration

Dianne Foster (ddfost01@louisville.edu)

Professors

Norbert J. Burzynski

Gary A. Crim

Don R. Demuth

Connie L. Drisko

Allan G. Farman

Lawrence Gettleman

Robert M. Greene

Henry Greenwell

Bruce Haskell

B. Edwin Johnson

Zafrulla Khan

Denis F. Kinane

Richard L. Miller

Michelle L. Pisano

James P. Scheetz

Robert H. Staat

Associate Professors

Janice M. Butters

Douglas S. Darling

Sven-Ulrik Gorr

George Hajishengallis

Margaret Hill

Regan L. Moore

William Scarfe

David A. Scott

Anibal M. Silveira

Assistant Professors

Steven Clark

Betty Harokopakis

Mike Martin