Program Overview

Oral and Craniofacial Sciences (MS)

The Oral and Craniofacial Sciences (OCS) Master of Science degree is a "Plan I" program, requiring a minimum of 30 academic units and a written thesis, including at least one full year of research and didactic study. Students are encouraged to publish their MS thesis work in a peer-reviewed journal with their mentor.

Program Description

Postgraduate programs at UCSF allow the combination of academic/research training for the MS degree with clinical training leading to a specialty certification, usually over a three-year period.

Like the Oral and Craniofacial Sciences PhD program, the MS program is interdisciplinary in focus, and provides students with the knowledge and research tools needed to study oral and craniofacial tissue and organ systems. From a variety of approaches, students learn about the functions of these tissues and systems, and about the conditions and diseases to which these tissues and systems are susceptible. The OCS program emphasizes the importance of translating scientific discovery into advances in patient diagnosis, treatment, and clinical care.

Faculty

Fifty faculty members are associated with the OCS programs, representing several departments in the UCSF School of Dentistry as well as many departments in the UCSF School of Medicine. This ensures a program curriculum that spans a range of disciplines.

Career Outcomes

Since the OCS/MS program is taken in conjunction with a professional program, most program alumni are working in a dental practice setting.

Admission Requirements

Students must be accepted and enrolled in a UCSF School of Dentistry residency program.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, students will have:

1. Completed coursework and learned best practices in dental-based research including ethical considerations.
2. Obtained statistical skills to appropriately design and test a research hypothesis.
3. Developed an independent and novel hypothesis-driven research project from background reading to data collection to analysis and write up.
4. Performed independent research leading to a published master’s-level thesis.

Degree Requirements

• Minimum GPA of 3.0
• 30 units (where applicable for MS programs)
• All core courses and required activities taken and passed
• Pass comprehensive examination or completion and submission of a master’s thesis (students should consult with their program for specific requirements).

Core Courses

Course List Code | Title | Units
---|---|---
DEN PUB HL 200| Ethical Considerations in Clinical & Public Health Dentistry| 2
DEN PUB HL 215| Designing Clinical and Population Health Research (DCPHR)| 1.5-2
OR CRA FAC 205| Advanced Topics in Pharmacology for the Dental Specialist| 1
OR CRA FAC 220| Seminar Series| 1
OR CRA FAC 250| Research| 1-8
OR CRA FAC 283| Introduction of Biostatistics for Dentistry| 2.5
OR CRA FAC 295| Masters Studies Journal Club| 1
OR CRA FAC 296| Master's Thesis Project Design (Thesis Protocol)| 1
Total Units| 11-18.5

Elective Requirements

Course List Code | Title | Units
---|---|---
CRAN ANOM 206| Etiology, Growth Characteristic and Management of Cleft Lip| 2
CRAN ANOM 207| Etiology, Growth Characteristics & Management of CFA| 2
OR CRA FAC 224| Host Response| 2
ORAL MED 208| Oral Diseases| 3
RESTOR DEN 213| Chemical Aspects of Dental Caries| 2

The Oral and Craniofacial Sciences program is offered by the UCSF Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs, administered by the UCSF School of Dentistry, and delivered by faculty members in the UCSF schools of dentistry and medicine.