Dental Science

Master of Science in Dental Science

The Master of Science in Dental Science (MSDS) Program is directed toward providing extensive training and development to produce well-trained clinicians who are critical thinkers in evidence-based decision-making and possess the education and background in basic scientific and clinical research methodology. The interdisciplinary education across dental specialties supports a high-level, postdoctoral professional education environment.

The MSDS Program is supported by the School of Dentistry and the degree is conferred by the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.  This program is open only to students who have been accepted into, and continue in good standing in, a health science center Certificate Program in either Advanced Education in General Dentistry, Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Endodontics, Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontics, or Prosthodontics. 

The MSDS, which requires enrollment in a certificate program, requires a minimum of 32 credit hours to complete. The total combined hours for the certificate and the master's program will depend upon the track selected. 

Each MSDS student follows a plan of study consisting of both (a) a core curriculum common to all MSDS students, and (b) a track-specific curriculum tailored to the student's clinical discipline.  The MSDS courses are integrated throughout the plan of study for the certificate program the student is pursuing. Therefore, in those tracks in which the MSDS is offered as an option, students should notify their program director, upon acceptance into the certificate program, of their intention to pursue the MSDS.

Admissions Requirements

The applicant must have been accepted into one of the seven corresponding School of Dentistry Certificate programs.

The student must be in good standing, with a cumulative University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Upon successful completion of the MSDS Program, the student will be able to:

• Apply fundamentals of scientific inquiry through development of a research question.
• Apply research methodology through management of a research protocol, data collection, and data analysis.
• Apply skills in review of the scientific literature to synthesize a concept based on best available evidence.
• Interpret basic statistical analyses in scientific literature and in protocol design.
• Defend and discuss application of research protocol through data interpretation of scientific results.

Program Policies

• Admission to a particular track of the MSDS program is restricted to those who been accepted into the health science center. 
• Continuation in the MSDS program is contingent upon continuing in the certificate program in good standing.
• A student will not be awarded the MSDS from the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences any earlier than the semester in which the student completes the certificate program in the School of Dentistry.