School of Dentistry
Indianapolis
Dean
Professor Lawrence Goldblatt
Departmental E-mail
blerner@iupui.edu
Departmental URL
www.iusd.iupui.edu
Graduate Faculty
Degrees Offered
Special School Requirements
Master of Science Degree
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Degree in Dental Science
(An asterisk [*] denotes associate membership in University Graduate School faculty.)
Distinguished Professor
George Stookey (Emeritus)
Professors
David Bixler (Emeritus), Stephen Bonsib, John Chaves, Arden Christen, Richard Gregory, James Hartsfield, Michael Kowolik, Donald LeBlanc, James McDonald, Chris Miller, B. Keith Moore, Byron Olson, Yoshiki Oshida, W. Eugene Roberts Jr., S. Miles Standish (Emeritus), Charles Tomich, Domenick T. Zero
Associate Professors
Mostafa Analoui, Joseph Bidwell, Lawrence Garetto, Thomas Katona*, M. Margaret Vickerman
Assistant Professors
Eric Everett*, Margherita Fontana*, Carlos Gonzalez-Cabezas*, Dominique Galli*, Richard Jackson*, Jeffrey Platt*, L. Jack Windsor*
Adjunct Professor
Janet Hock (Affiliate Graduate Faculty Status)
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Rachelle Galvin (Affiliate)
Senior Scientist
Ann Dunipace (Emerita)
Associate Scientist
Lech Switalski
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Graduate Education
Chris Miller, School of Dentistry 105, (317) 274-5349
Director of Ph.D. Program
Richard Gregory, OH 123, (317) 274-5349
Return to Top
Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy. In addition, the School of Dentistry offers the Master of Science in Dentistry; for details see the School of Dentistry Bulletin.
Return to Top
(See also general University Graduate School requirements.)
The M.S. and Ph.D. programs are designed principally for students who expect to enter dental education and research upon completion of their programs. The M.S.D. program is intended for students interested primarily in the specialty disciplines of dentistry.
Return to Top
Graduate work in the School of Dentistry leading to the M.S. degree includes advanced laboratory, lecture, library, and seminar courses in dental materials. (See School of Dentistry Bulletin for M.S.D. programs offered in the advanced specialty disciplines in dentistry.)
Admission Requirements
(1) Degree in dentistry from a recognized school of dentistry, or bachelor's degree with appropriate concentration in science (for applicants, other than dentists, who wish to pursue advanced degrees in dental science); (2) overall B (3.0) average; (3) appropriate level of achievement in course work in the major area of concentration; and (4) evidence of potential for success in advanced graduate work, as attested by letters of recommendation from major professors or others familiar with the applicant's academic performance or professional background. A personal interview may be required in some instances.
Grades
Students must maintain an academic average of at least 3.0 (B) on a 4.0 scale.
Course Requirements
A minimum of 30 credit hours of approved courses appropriate to one of the major disciplines given above, including 6 credit hours in an approved minor subject and 6 credit hours of research. Consult the (1) Degree in dentistry from a recognized school of dentistry, or bachelor's degree with appropriate concentration in science (for applicants, other than dentists, who wish to pursue advanced degrees in dental science); (2) overall B (3.0) average; (3) appropriate level of achievement in course work in the major area of concentration; and (4) evidence of potential for success in advanced graduate work, as attested by letters of recommendation from major professors or others familiar with the applicant's academic performance or professional background. A personal interview may be required in some instances. School of Dentistry Bulletin and individual program directors for specific details on curricula. A maximum of 6 credit hours may be allowed for clinical courses.
Thesis
Students must submit a thesis or a manuscript for publication in a refereed journal based on the original research conducted.
Final Examinations
Comprehensive oral and written examination taken any time after the first semester. A "defense of thesis" examination is required upon submission of the thesis to the student's graduate committee.
Return to Top
The objective of the Ph.D. in Dental Science Program is to provide a core curriculum that offers a solid scientific base for a career in research and/or teaching in the dental sciences. The Ph.D. degree in Dental Science (Preventive Dentistry, Oral Biology, or Dental Materials track) focuses on basic and clinical science areas as they relate to the human organism and on the effect of dental materials on cariology. Graduates of this program are ideal candidates for academic teaching and/or research positions in dental schools, medical schools, and other basic science departments as well as for research positions in government institutions and industry.
General Information
Oral Biology Track
Preventive Dentistry Track
Dental Materials Track
Return to Top
Admission Requirements
The program is open to persons who have earned the Doctor of Dental Surgery degree or its equivalent as well as graduates of bachelor of science degree programs. Applicants must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale (grade point averages from the dental degree in the case of dental school graduates). Candidates for the Ph.D. degree program must have a minimum percentile score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) of 600 in the verbal, quantitative, or analytical section. In addition, a TOEFL score of 550 or higher must be obtained by applicants from non-English-speaking countries.
Program Requirements
The degree requires 90 credit hours with 32-40 required course credits (depending on the choice of track) and 12 credits in a minor. Disciplines included in the program are anatomy, biochemistry, biomedical engineering, biostatistics, cell biology, chemistry, immunology, materials science engineering, mechanical engineering, microbiology, molecular biology, pathology, physics, and physiology.
Minor
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.
Teaching Experience
All students participate in the predoctoral dental curriculum by tutoring in small, problem-based learning (PBL) groups for a total of two PBL blocks after successful completion of the IU School of Dentistry tutor-training program. Students who are non-native speakers of English must demonstrate oral English competency (determined by the IUPUI English as a Second-language [ESL] Program) before they can participate in the PBL sessions.
Qualifying Examination (for admission to candidacy)
The qualifying exam consists of two parts: 1) writing and presenting an oral defense of a research proposal; and 2) sitting for a comprehensive written examination.
Core Curriculum
Descriptions of courses below that do not appear on the list of graduate courses in this bulletin can be found in the University Graduate School, School of Medicine, or School of Education bulletins.
Return to Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Degree in Dental Science
(The Oral Biology Track core curriculum has a minimum of 44 course credits, composed of 32 required and 12 minor credits.)
Required Courses (32 cr. min.)
Biochemistry (3-5 cr.)
B500 or B800 and G817
Microbiology (3 cr.)
J822 or J510 or J805
General Graduate (16 cr.)
G651, G652, G504, G865, G655, and J500 or other teaching method course recommended by program director.
Dental/Oral Biology (10-15 cr.)
R959 or G910 and R956
Research (remainder of 90 cr.)
R957 and R958
Return to Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Degree in Dental Science
(The Preventive Dentistry Track core curriculum has a minimum of 52 course credits, composed of 40 required and 12 minor credits.)
Required Courses (40 cr. min.)
R909, R910, F911, G974 and G959
Courses from the following list can be used to complete the total hours required for the major subject: C607, G900, G905, G911, G965, G967, G973, or R953
General Graduate (13 credits)
G651, G652, G504, G655 and J500 or other teaching method course recommended by program director.
Dental/Oral Biology (10-15 cr.)
G910 or R959 and R956
Research (remainder of 90 cr.)
R957 and G930
Required Dental Sciences Courses for Non-Dental Preventive Dentistry Track Applicants
Applicants without a dental degree may apply for the Preventive Dentistry Track but are required to take the following courses in the first two years of their program: G981, G969, G988 or G935.
Return to Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Degree in Dental Science
(The Dental Materials Track core curriculum has a minimum of 51 course credits, composed of 39 required and 12 minor credits.)
Required Courses (39 cr. min.)
Courses from the following list can be used to complete the total hours required for the major subject: C607, G900, G911, G965, G967, G973 or R953.
Biochemistry-Microbiology (3 credits)
B500 or G959
General Graduate (16 cr.)
G651, G652, G504, G865, G655 and J500 or other teaching method course recommended by program director.
Dental Materials (20-22 credits)
G910, G911, G912, G913 and R956
Research (remainder of 90 cr.)
R957 and G921
Return to Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Degree in Dental Science
Return to Top
