As part of UMKC’s efforts to serve the community and lead in the life and health sciences, the mission of the Oral & Craniofacial Sciences Master of Science Degree Program is to contribute to the advancement of scientific research inquiry by training students/residents in oral/craniofacial, mineralized tissues and translational health sciences that will enhance their critical assessment of the literature and their evidence-based clinical practice skills.
The overall goals of the Oral & Craniofacial Sciences (OCS) MS program are: 1) to produce graduates knowledgeable in advanced concepts and principles of biomaterials and oral & craniofacial biology; 2) train students to critically evaluate and apply scientific literature; 3) provide students basic research skills; and 4) produce graduates who will advance scientific knowledge in oral and craniofacial health sciences.
The program takes an interdisciplinary approach to research and graduate education. Students will research in state-of-the-art laboratories assisted by faculty with a national reputation for high-level research.
Students can expect advanced work in basic, behavioral and clinical sciences relating to dentistry. The OCS master’s program is designed for students concurrently enrolled in advanced dental residency certificate programs – Orthodontics, Periodontics and Endodontics. Students should submit an application to the master’s program after being accepted into a residency program.
The coursework and thesis present an opportunity for students to cross traditional departmental lines and undertake an interdisciplinary approach to the study of problems related to oral and craniofacial sciences. Students are awarded a Master of Science degree in Oral & Craniofacial Sciences after completing coursework and thesis requirements.