DMD/MS in Clinical and Translational Science

Admission Requirements

In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, applicants must meet the following program requirements:

  • Students must meet the admissions criteria of both programs and are admitted separately to each through their respective applications. All students should contact the MS CTS Program Coordinator who will explain the application process for MS CTS admission.
  • Acceptance into the DMD/MS CTS Joint Degree Program requires approval by the DMD/MS CTS Joint Degree Committee. For students applying to both programs simultaneously, MS CTS admission will be contingent upon both admission to the DMD program and the support of the College of Dentistry director of graduate studies. Prior to admitting students into the MS CTS, HPA will check with COD to determine whether the student has been accepted into the DMD program.
  • Admission to the MS CTS program will be determined based on the support of the College of Dentistry director of graduate studies, previous academic achievement, research potential, commitment to CTS as evidenced by prior participation in clinical research, and two letters of recommendation. Students already enrolled at the College of Dentistry are to contact the director of graduate studies for further information. A DMD student must apply to the MS CTS by May 1 of the D1 year, so that the student may enroll in MS course work during the fall of what would be the D2 year.
  • Letters of recommendation Two required. One must be from a suitable clinical researcher who can attest to the applicant’s research abilities. Both letters of recommendation should address:
    1. the applicant’s previous achievements in research and/or academics;
    2. the applicant’s potential for successfully completing a clinical/translational research project;
    3. analysis of the applicant’s career plans and commitment to research, and
    4. how the joint degree would advance these plans.
  • Personal Statement Applicants will also submit a personal statement detailing accomplishments to date, and career goals and plans. Specifically, applicants should address background information relevant to their interest in clinical and translational research, and how additional training through the DMD/MS CTS program would help achieve these goals. The applicant should provide any prior or ongoing research experience and explain how this might interface with the joint degree program.

Degree Requirements

In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, students must meet the following program requirements:

  • The DMD/MS CTS is a five-year program. Students in the program must satisfy the requirements of the MS CTS, a 48 semester hour program, and satisfy four years of the required DMD program.
  • For the College of Dentistry, the student must require no remediation or repetition of D1, D2, or D3 courses and must maintain a minimum grade point average required by the College’s Executive Committee on Student Promotions. Failure to maintain the accepted standard of academic excellence in the College of Dentistry will lead to dismissal from the joint program.
  • For the MS CTS, the student must adhere to all relevant Graduate College policies, including minimum GPA and limits on transfer credit.
  • Minimum Semester Hours Required Students in the program must satisfy requirements of the Master of Science in Clinical and Translational Science, a 48 semester hour program, and satisfy four years of the required Doctor of Dental Medicine Degree program of study.
    • D1 Year—(39 semester hours in the DMD program), plus MS CTS workshops and seminars.
    • D2 Year—(59 semester hours in the DMD program), plus MS CTS workshops and seminars.
    • D3 Year—(60 semester hours in the DMD program) with opportunity for shared hours, plus MS CTS workshops and seminars. With proper planning and prior approval by the executive associate dean for academic affairs at the College of Dentistry, joint degree students may apply up to 4 hours of IPHS 598 toward clinical rotation requirements.
    • D4 Year—(54 semester hours in the DMD program) with opportunity for shared hours, plus MS CTS workshops and seminars. With proper planning and prior approval by the executive associate dean for academic affairs at the College of Dentistry, joint degree students may apply up to 4 hours of IPHS 598 toward clinical rotation requirements (community service component).
  • Course Work
Required Core Courses
21 core course semester hours consisting of:
Informatics for the Clinical Investigator
Biostatistics I
Biostatistics II
Introduction to Epidemiology: Principles and Methods
Scientific Integrity and Responsible Research
Empirical Methods for Health Research II
Leadership and Diversity in Clinical Research
Grant Writing
Electives
11 semester hours
  • Joint degree students take HPA 590, which focuses on developing an answerable question, conducting a literature review, drafting specific aims, and understanding the components of a grant application. A draft NIH Small Research Grant (R03) will be the product of the course.
  • Electives: 11 semester hours of electives chosen with input from the program director and mentors.
  • Mentored Research Component 16 semester hours of IPHS 598. With proper planning and prior approval by the executive associate dean for academic affairs at the College of Dentistry, joint degree students may apply up to 8 hours of IPHS 598 toward clinical rotation course work during the D3 and D4 years.
  • No more than 8 total hours during D3 and D4 will consist of shared course work.
  • All students in the DMD/MS program must pursue the joint degree at a full-time pace.