Graduate Programs
Ph.D. Program
Curriculum Overview
Major Coursework
Students enrolled in the Indiana University School of Dentistry Ph.D. in Dental and Oral Health Science degree program can select coursework that falls under three major focus areas:
Students performing multidisciplinary research can also select choose coursework from across different focus areas. The total course requirement is 90 credits, 12 of which will form the Minor focus area.
Minor Coursework
The minor consists of 12 credit hours in any one of the advanced basic science courses (anatomy, biochemistry, biomedical engineering, chemistry, materials science engineering, mechanical engineering, microbiology and immunology, pathology, pharmacology, physics, physiology, life science) or their equivalents, as approved by the student’s advisory committee and the chairperson of the minor department. Credit hours for the required courses may not count toward the minor courses.
Research
Laboratory Rotations
R957 Introduction to Research in Oral Biology (3 cr.); at least three separate rotations(two to four months each) conducting small projects in the laboratories of IU graduate faculty members. Projects will be graded. Students in all tracks enroll in this course once. It is expected that the student will choose a dissertation advisor (mentor) from these faculty members.
Laboratory Research
R958 Research: Oral Biology (1-12 cr. hrs./semester); G930 Research: Preventive Dentistry (1-12 cr. hrs./semester); or G921 Research: Dental Materials (1-12 cr. hrs./semester). Credit for research is directly related to the writing and defense of a Ph.D. dissertation.
G901 Dissertation Research
Once 90 total credits have been accumulated in the appropriate areas, students must apply for admission to candidacy. Once approved, students may enroll in the G901 dissertation research course to complete the dissertation research and defense. The student must enroll in G901 each semester (Fall, Summer, Spring) until the dissertation is complete. However, enrollment in G901 is limited to a maximum of six semesters, with permission of the dissertation committee. Students must be enrolled for at least 1 credit hour each semester.
Research Credits
The remainder of 90 credit hours after required and minor courses.
Other Courses
Selection of other courses is determined by requirements of the chosen minor, research committee, and/or advisory committee.
Ph.D. Curriculum for the D.D.S./Ph.D. Dual Degree Program
The Ph.D. curriculum for the D.D.S./Ph.D. dual degree program remains essentially the same as that of students enrolled in the stand-alone Ph.D. program. However, dual degree students may be able to take advantage of shared course credits from the D.D.S. curriculum.
The following courses in the D.D.S. curriculum are eligible for credit sharing with the Ph.D. curriculum, depending on the chosen major focus area of the Ph.D. degree. Students will need to request permission from the Ph.D. Program Director, Advisory Committee and Office of Student Affairs and Admissions prior to approval.
Oral Biology
- D505 Principles of Ethics and Behavioral Science (1.5 cr.)
- D510 General Microbiology, Infectious Diseases, & Antimicrobial Therapy (3 cr.)
- D512 Molecular Cell Biology (3 cr.)
- D513 Head and Neck Anatomy Dissection Lab (1 cr.)
- D515 Systems Approach to Biomedical Sciences I (5 cr.)
- D532 Single Tooth Direct Restorations Lecture (1 cr.)
- D615 Systems Approach to Biomedical Sciences II (5 cr.)
Preventive Dentistry
- D505 Principles of Ethics and Behavioral Science (1.5 cr.)
- D504 Dental Public Health (1 cr.)
- D520 Risk Assessment, Prevention, & Early Management Dental Disease (2 cr.)
- D630 Clinical Applications of Cariology and Operative Dentistry I (1 cr.)
- D631 Clinical Applications of Cariology and Operative Dentistry II (1 cr.)
Dental Materials
- D505 Principles of Ethics and Behavioral Science (1.5 cr.)
- D534 Dental Materials (2 cr.)
- D537 Introduction to Operative Dentistry (0.5 cr.)
- D532 Single Tooth Direct Restorations Lecture (1 cr.)
- D533 Single Tooth Direct Restorations Lab (2 cr.)
- D535 Single Tooth Indirect Restorations Lecture (1.5 cr.)
- D536 Single Tooth Indirect Restorations Lab (2.5 cr.)
Learn more about how to apply to Indiana University School of Dentistry's Ph.D. degree program and review the tuition and fees and degree requirements.
Updated April 2025