Director: Stephen G. Walker, PhD
The Department of Oral Biology and Pathology offers two graduate degrees, which are granted through the Graduate School of Stony Brook University. The department offers a PhD in Oral Biology and Pathology and an MS in Biomedical Sciences (Track in Oral Biology and Pathology). These degrees can also be obtained as part of a combined DDS/PhD program or a combined DDS/MS program. The MS in Biomedical Sciences (Track in Oral Biology and Pathology) may also be obtained as part of a combined degree program leading to an Advanced Certificate in Endodontics/MS, Advanced Certificate in Orthodontics/MS, or an Advanced Certificate in Periodontics/MS. The main function of these advanced degree programs is to train educators and researchers to staff dental and medical schools, dental research institutes, dental and medical industrial laboratories, and to provide relevant basic science training for dentists and physicians taking postdoctoral specialty training. The course work consists of an in-depth exposure to knowledge, directly and indirectly related to oral biology and its related sciences, and is coupled with appropriate individual research, tutorial and thesis/dissertation programs.
Oral Biology and Pathology Program
The Graduate Program in Oral Biology and Pathology offers a program of study and research leading to the MS and PhD degrees. The MS curriculum is of approximately two years’ duration and is particularly suited for those dental graduates who wish to obtain further basic science training before entering or while obtaining a clinical specialty. The Graduate Program in Oral Biology and Pathology is also of particular interest to industrial-based scientists seeking additional training and advanced degrees. While the department is interested in all aspects of oral biology, active programs of research presently being conducted include the following: development, metabolism, and control of the oral microflora on the teeth and various epithelial surfaces; oral putrefaction, malodor, and gingivitis; pathogenesis of periodontitis; interrelationship between systemic and oral diseases; mechanisms and therapy of dentinal hypersensitivity; ultrastructure and metabolism of healthy and diseased periodontal tissues with an emphasis on remodeling and matrix metalloproteinases; chemistry and crystallography of the biological calcium phosphates; biology of epithelial growth and differentiation; epithelial gene therapy; mechanisms of epidermal and oral carcinogenesis; wound repair; biology of skin and mucosal grafting; acquired and innate immunity; inflammation and fibrosis; and cancer. Further details may be obtained from the graduate program directors.
Admission Requirements
In addition to the minimum Graduate School requirements, the following are required:
- A bachelor’s degree and grade point average of 3.3 in the sciences and 3.0 overall
- Original transcripts and three letters of recommendation
- Proof of satisfactory performance on the General Aptitude and Advanced parts of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
- For the combined DDS/PhD and combined DDS/MS, applicants must apply separately to both the DDS program and the PhD or MS program.
- For the combined Advanced Certificate in Endodontics/MS, Advanced Certificate in Orthodontics/MS, and the Advanced Certificate in Periodontics/MS, applicants must apply separately to both the MS program and the Advanced Certificate Program.
All applicants are carefully screened by the credentials committee of the department. Interviews and discussions are arranged with faculty members and graduate students where possible. Formal approval for acceptance into the program is given by the Graduate School.
Degree Requirements
In addition to the minimum degree requirements of the Graduate School:
- All students must complete all or part of the Oral Biology and Pathology Oral Systems course.
- MS students must also complete two graduate basic science courses selected from offerings within and outside the department.
- PhD students must also complete four to six basic science course offerings at the graduate level and advance to candidacy by preparing a detailed written proposal in the format of a National Institutes of Health research grant application. A public seminar is presented by the student to members of his or her advisory committee, the department and the University community at large, in which the student defends the proposal. This is followed by a further defense by the student before his or her advisory committee. A determination for advancement to candidacy is then made and forwarded to the Graduate School for official approval.
- An original research thesis/dissertation is required for completion of both the MS and PhD degrees. For the PhD, a public defense followed by an examination of the student’s dissertation by their Dissertation Committee is required. For the MS degree, the student defends the thesis only to the student’s thesis committee. If the thesis/dissertation is recommended for approval, the determination is submitted to the Graduate School for final decisions to award the degree.
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