PDC, Academics, Master's Program

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ORAL BIOLOGY

The goal of the military programs, dictated by service needs, has always been to train master clinicians in the specialties of dentistry needed to provide high quality oral health care for our active duty members. While the goal for our MS degree research is publication, our purpose is not to turn students into professional researchers. Learning the research process will result in a better clinician - one who can solve problems with critical thinking and choose materials and techniques based on evidence. Providers trained as intelligent consumers of the scientific literature with a sound research background become lifelong learners trained to provide care resulting in better, cost-effective treatment outcomes for our patients and improved readiness for our troops.

RESEARCH EXPECTATIONS

We emphasize research knowledge gaps aligned with MHS, DoD, and USU priorities to guide thematic areas for investigation. However, we do not select research topics for residents. It is expected that students will become involved in a combination of clinical, laboratory, and dental public health (survey) research projects distributed throughout our programs. The type of project selected is the choice of the resident and their primary research mentor. It is expected that research will be conducted in a high quality manner.