Oral Health Science PhD Progression

PhD Track*

Summer before Year 1
OHS Research Rotation 1
Biostatistics

Fall of Year 1
PhD courses
OHS Seminar Series and Journal Club
Continue Research Rotation 1

Winter of Year 1
PhD courses
OHS Seminar Series and Journal Club
Begin Research Rotation 2

Spring/summer before Year 2
Research Rotation 3
Identify PhD Dissertation Advisor

Fall of Year 2
PhD courses
OHS Seminar Series and Journal Club
Conduct precandidate research

Winter of Year 2
PhD courses
OHS Seminar Series and Journal Club
Continue precandidate research

Spring/summer before Year 3
Preliminary exam and advance to candidacy

Year 3
PhD Dissertation Research
OHS Seminar Series and Journal Club

Year 4
OHS Seminar Series and Journal Club
PhD Dissertation Research

Years 5 through 6
OHS Seminar Series and Journal Club
Complete PhD Dissertation Research

* Academic model of the Clinical specialty combined OHS PhD training will be tailored according to the individual student's interests, research experiences and the academic requirements of the chosen specialty program.

Dual Degree (DDS/PhD) Track

Summer before Year 1
OHS Research Rotation 1 and selected DDS course participation
Biostatistics

Fall of Year 1
PhD courses and selected DDS course participation
Continue Research Rotation 1
OHS Seminar Series and Journal Club

Winter of Year 1
PhD courses and selected DDS course participation
Begin Research Rotation 2
OHS Seminar Series and Journal Club

Spring/summer before Year 2
Research Rotation 3

Fall of Year 2
PhD courses and selected DDS course participation
OHS Seminar Series and Journal Club
Identify PhD Dissertation Advisor
Conduct precandidate research

Winter of Year 2
PhD courses and selected DDS course participation
Continue precandidate research
OHS Seminar Series and Journal Club

Spring/summer before Year 3
Preliminary exam and advance to candidacy

Year 3
First year DDS courses
OHS Seminar Series and Journal Club
PhD Dissertation Research

Year 4
Second year DDS courses; clinical dentistry
OHS Seminar Series and Journal Club
PhD Dissertation Research

Years 5 through 6
Complete DDS courses; continue clinical dentistry
PhD Dissertation Research
OHS Seminar Series and Journal Club

Year 7 through 8
Complete all DDS requirements and Advance Dentistry Rotation
PhD Dissertation Research
OHS Seminar Series and Journal Club
[additional advanced science courses]

Major Areas of Study
The major areas for training depend upon the interests of the program faculty and existence of a critical mass of faculty in a specific area, therefore, these areas may change over time.  
Current areas of study are:

• craniofacial and developmental biology
• mineralized tissue and bone biology 
• oral and pharyngeal cancer 
• oral health disparities
• oral infectious and immunologic diseases
• oral sensory and pain neuroscience
• tissue engineering and regeneration.