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| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2025-07-01 | - |
Program Overview
Master of Science - Oral Biology
About
The UNLV School of Dental Medicine, Advanced Education Program in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics offers a 34-month combined Master’s Degree and Certificate residency program. The class size is eight residents per year and begins during July. The program is designed to offer a broad spectrum of didactic, clinical, research, and teaching experience in the field of orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics. The emphasis of the program is to prepare the graduate for successful completion of all examinations and case presentations required for board certification and to become a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics.
The program trains the resident to have a broad knowledge and understanding of growth and development, diagnosis and treatment planning, biomechanics, craniofacial anomalies, interdisciplinary dentistry, surgical orthodontics, research methodology, classic and current review of the literature, and teaching experiences. Patient care is conducted in a state of the art orthodontic clinic and technology is available for complete electronic patient records, as well as the latest in radiographic and diagnostic digital imaging. Patients are screened and accepted for treatment based on the level of treatment difficulty, educational benefit and needs of the orthodontic residents. These treatment cases represent a cross-section of the cases encountered in private practice to ensure the residents preparedness to practice orthodontics in a diverse population.
Orthodontics
- 6-digit ED CIP for Orthodontics program: 51.0508
- Tuition: 1st and 2nd year - $79,000; 3rd year $42,000
- Supplies & Equipment: $5,000 per year ($15,000 total)
- Time Completion Rate: 34 months
- On-time Graduation Rate: 100%
Learning Outcomes
View Learning Outcomes
Requirements
Master of Science - Oral Biology
Plan Description
The future of oral health medicine is dependent upon significant orthodontic and craniofacial research. The Master of Science Oral Biology emphasizes orthodontic and craniofacial research and aims to aid developing orthodontic residents in becoming successful researchers, educators and/or clinicians. It does this by providing a diverse clinical experience with a strong integration of basic sciences. This program will equip residents with the clinical, the analytical and the managerial skills that are necessary to provide oral healthcare to the community.
Plan Admission Requirements
Application Deadlines
Applications available on the UNLV Graduate College website.
All domestic and international applicants must review and follow the Graduate College Admission and Registration Requirements.
Graduate College Admission Requirements
- Completed application in the Application Portal and non-refundable application fee.
- Bachelor's Degree – You must hold a four-year baccalaureate from a regionally accredited institution or an approved equivalent.
- Grade Point Average – You must have a minimum overall grade point average of 2.75 (4.00=A) for the bachelor's degree or a minimum 3.00 (4.00=A) for the last two years (60 semester credits).
- All applicants are required to submit an unofficial transcript from each postsecondary institution attended, showing all degrees and coursework, the dates awarded, and grades received. Official transcripts required upon admission.
- Credentials not in English must be accompanied by an English translation certified as true by a university official, an official representative of a United States embassy or consulate, the United States Information Service, the United States Education Foundation, or an approved professional translating service. Notarized copies of originals or translations are not considered official.
Department Admission Requirements
In addition to being accepted to the UNLV Graduate College, prospective students must meet the following criteria:
- Must be enrolled in the Advanced Education in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics certificate residency program. For more information on this program please contact the Dental School.
- Must have passed Parts I and II, National Dental Board Examination.
- Must have earned a DMD/DDS degree from a program in the US or Canada that is fully accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation
- Must be eligible for a Nevada state dental license and receive a full or limited dental license from the Nevada State Board of Dental Examiners prior to engaging in any clinical activity.
- Application through the Postdoctoral Application Support Service (PASS) including specified letters of recommendations.
- Background and criminal checks as required.
- Medical history, immunizations and physicals as required.
Students are accepted into a degree program as described in the Graduate Catalog. The faculty and corresponding sub-disciplines and sub-plans within the described programs are subject to change at any time.
Plan Requirements
Total Credits Required: 155
Course Requirements
Required Courses – Credits: 149
Complete 149 credits by completing all following courses:
- ORTH 8001 - Introduction to Orthodontics
- ORTH 8011 - Cephalometrics
- ORTH 8102 - Clinical Specialty Seminars I
- ORTH 8103 - Clinical Specialty Seminars II
- ORTH 8104 - Clinical Specialty Seminars III
- ORTH 8107 - Foundations to Dental Sleep Medicine
- ORTH 8201 - Introduction to Clinic Orthodontics
- ORTH 8202 - Clinic Orthodontics
- ORTH 8203 - Clinic Orthodontics
- ORTH 8204 - Clinic Orthodontics
- ORTH 8205 - Clinic Orthodontics
- ORTH 8206 - Clinic Orthodontics
- ORTH 8207 - Clinic Orthodontics
- ORTH 8512 - Biomechanical Principles
- ORTH 8513 - Growth and Development
- ORTH 8515 - Orthognathic Surgery
- ORTH 8518 - Orthodontic Materials
- ORTH 8602 - Diagnosis, Treatment Planning and Case Presentation
- ORTH 8603 - Diagnosis & Treatment Plan
- ORTH 8604 - Diagnosis & Treatment Plan
- ORTH 8605 - Diagnosis, Treatment Planning and Case Presentation
- ORTH 8606 - Diagnosis, Treatment Plan and Case Presentation
- ORTH 8607 - Diagnosis & Treatment Plan
- ORTH 8803 - Literature Review/Journal Club
- ORTH 8804 - Literature Review/Journal Club
- ORTH 8805 - Literature Review
- ORTH 8910 - Craniofacial Anomalies
- PGDE 8312 - Independent Research I
- PGDE 8313 - Independent Research II
- PGDE 8314 - Independent Research III
- PGDE 8315 - Independent Research IV
- PGDE 8316 - Independent Research V
- PGDE 8402 - Biomedical Sciences Core I
- PGDE 8403 - Biomedical Sciences Core II
- PGDE 8415 - Advanced Biomedical Sciences
- PGDE 8503 - Interdisciplinary Diagnosis and Treatment Planning
- PGDE 8516 - Adv Clin Sci: Radiology
- PGDE 8517 - TMD
- PGDE 8701 - PSC: Lit Review
- PGDE 8703 - Research Methods II
- PGDE 8715 - PSC: Practice Management
Thesis – Credits: 6
- PGDE 8900 - Thesis
Degree Requirements
- The Master of Science – Oral Biology program is designed to be a 34-month program, divided as follows:
- Year 1: 3 trimesters (summer, fall, spring);
- Year 2: 2 semesters (Fall July-Dec, and Spring Jan-June); and
- Year 3: 2 semesters (Fall July-Dec, and Spring Jan-April).
- The advanced program in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Othopedics is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation; as such graduates of UNLV School of Dental Medicine's Oral Biology program will also receive a certificate in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics which is required for licensure.
- In consultation with their advisor, a student will organize a thesis committee of at least three departmental members. In addition, a fourth member from outside the department, known as the Graduate College Representative, must be appointed. An additional committee member may be added at the student and department's discretion. Please see Graduate College policy for committee appointment guidelines.
Plan Graduation Requirements
A master's thesis, which carries six credits, is required for the Oral Biology M.S. It must conform to the guidelines set forth by the Graduate College in this catalog and in its Thesis and Dissertation Manual. The M.A. thesis should be an original contribution to academic knowledge. Thesis projects must be designed, developed, and written in close consultation with an appropriate thesis advisor and with the student's thesis committee.
The student must submit and successfully defend their thesis by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
Students may apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements. All required forms must be submitted to the graduate college via the Grad Rebel Gateway.
Documents/Downloads
Master of Science - Oral Biology
- Plans of Study
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- Syllabi
- ORTH .79 KB
- PGDE .33 KB
- Degree Worksheets
- NA
- Careers
- NA
- Graduate Handbooks
- Program Handbook216.68 KB
- Additional Downloads
- Course Description412.91 KB
- Related Links
- NA
Contacts
Graduate Coordinator
- Brian Chrzan
- Associate Professor in Residence, Director of Graduate Student Research and Interim Program Director, Advanced Ed in Orthodontics
School of Dental Medicine
- As the only accredited dental school in Nevada, the School of Dental medicine provides world-class oral health education while providing for the dental needs of Nevada residents. With eight academic degree and advanced education certificate programs, students obtain the necessary skills to provide oral healthcare services to the community and make significant impacts to the field.
