PhD in Oral Sciences

Admission Requirements

Applicants are considered on an individual basis. Transcripts of all undergraduate and postbaccalaureate work must be submitted. In addition to Graduate College minimum requirements, applicants must meet the following program requirements:

  • Baccalaureate Field: BS/BA in relevant field of science; and/or DDS/DMD or equivalent professional degree, per Program Director.
  • Grade Point Average At least 3.00/4.00 for the final 60 semester (90 quarter) hours of undergraduate and all postgraduate study.
  • Minimum English Competency Test Score
    • TOEFL iBT 80, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21, OR,
    • IELTS Academic 6.5, with 6.0 in each of the four subscores, OR,
    • PTE-Academic 54, with subscores of Reading 51, Listening 47, Speaking 53, and Writing 56.
  • Letters of Recommendation Three required from faculty members or others familiar with the applicant’s previous academic training, academic and research potential, and research experience. The letters should be sent directly to the director of graduate studies.
  • Personal Statement Required. The personal statement should be sent directly to the director of graduate studies. The statement must address the applicant’s area of interest, research experience, and professional goals.

Degree Requirements

  • Minimum Semester Hours Required 96 (including research). A specific requirement may be waived by the Graduate Studies Committee for any course if proficiency is demonstrated.
  • Coursework
Required Core Courses
GEMS 521
Foundations of Biomedical Sciences I
GEMS 504
Research Methods I
GEMS 505
Research Methods II
GC 470
Essentials for Animal Research (if a student does not conduct animal research, may be waived with approval of thesis advisor)
GC 501
Scientific Integrity and Responsible Research
Investigator 101 or CITI online course a
Additional Requirements
One Statistics/Biostatistics course (OSCI 560 preferred; other options include BSTT 400 or similar)
Oral Science/Dentistry:
A minimum of at least two didactic courses comprising at least 8 additional hours of College of Dentistry/Oral Science content at the 500 level. Options include: OSCI 504; OSCI 534, OSCI 544, OSCI 561, OSCI 562, OSCI 563, OSCI 564, OSCI 594. 500-level post-graduate didactic courses (e.g., ORTD 524, ORTD 513) may be substituted with permission of the thesis advisor and the course instructor. OSCI 560 and OSCI 595 are not eligible to be counted towards this requirement.
OSCI 583
Research Laboratory Rotation (students will complete up to three laboratory rotations)
Continual registration in OSCI 595
a

See the UIC Research website for instructions.

Other Requirements 

  • Preliminary Examination Required; written grant proposal and oral defense.
  • Dissertation Required, including oral defense. Students must earn a minimum of 48 semester hours in OSCI 599.