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Graduate programs lead to an advanced academic degree, either the Master of Science (M.S.) or the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) as listed above. These programs have strong research orientations and require a thesis or dissertation.
Postgraduate programs extend the dentist's clinical competence in specific areas of practice. Successful completion leads to a Certificate of Proficiency that serves as the basis for limitation of practice and eligibility for the appropriate specialty board. Seven postgraduate programs are currently offered; all are accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, a commission recognized by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation and the United States Department of Education, and are recognized by the New York State Education Department. A multi-disciplinary clinic for postgraduate students in endodontics, prosthodontics, and periodontics integrates the clinical training provided by these programs. Faculty of the School of Dental Medicine also are involved in the various postgraduate residency programs offered by the several affiliated hospitals within the Graduate Medical/Dental Educational Consortium of Buffalo.
Participation in combined postgraduate and graduate programs is encouraged. Although they may run concurrently, combined programs usually require additional time beyond that required for a single program. Several examples of combined programs may be cited. Students in orthodontics may work for the clinical certificate and the M.S. degree in that department. A certificate in pediatric dentistry, periodontics, prosthodontics, or endodontics may be pursued simultaneously with an M.S. in Oral Sciences, M.S. in Biomaterials, or a Ph.D. in Oral Biology. Other combinations of degrees with other departments are also possible in individual cases.
As part of a major university and health sciences center, collaborations with other programs, departments, schools, and faculties are common. Students in the School of Dental Medicine, as students of the larger university community, have access to a multiplicity of educational, investigative, service-oriented, and social resources. Thus the professional and personal growth of advanced dental students is enhanced by the University at Buffalo's larger environment.
Advanced treatment of patients is carried out by all candidates in clinical programs. Participation in a clinical research project or an extensive review of the literature is required for successful completion of many of the clinical programs. Teaching experience in the predoctoral program and seminars complement the program.
Separate dental prosthetic laboratories are available for advanced students. Students pay a rental fee for basic instrument kits with charges made for loss or breakage of instruments. Students are also required to purchase some additional instruments and supplies specific to their discipline.
The program length, when not associated with an M.S. or Ph.D. program, is two to three years depending on the program. Successful completion of the program leads to a Certificate of Proficiency. Students interested in also obtaining an M.S. or Ph.D. should designate this at the beginning of the program to permit coordination of courses and research efforts. Generally, the clinical certificate program is completed first and the necessary additional time is devoted to completion of the M.S. or Ph.D. requirements.
The applicant must possess a D.D.S., D.M.D., or the foreign equivalent to be admitted.
Students should consult the Graduate Student Manual: Policies and Procedures for Graduate Students for regulations and procedures governing the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. Postgraduate students (except for Pediatric Dentistry students) are enrolled as non-degree graduate students and are included under the regulations and procedures of the Graduate School. Individual departments also may have additional requirements.
Continuous departmental evaluation of student progress is made throughout graduate and postgraduate matriculation. The department reserves the right to terminate the program of any student for justifiable reasons.
The Ph.D. program provides an opportunity to pursue a concentration in a specialized field and to develop a dissertation that meets the criteria implicit in the statement of the Graduate School that "it shall embody the results of original research and give evidence of high scholarship. Candidates must comply with all the requirements of the Graduate School.
The program usually consists of a minimum of 72 semester hours beyond the baccalaureate degree.
The minimum residency requirement is one academic year (two consecutive semesters, fall/spring or spring/fall) of full-time study at this institution.
A student must maintain continuous registration until all requirements of the degree are fulfilled. If such registration is impossible, the student must secure a leave of absence.
A preliminary examination (major field, qualifying paper) must be successfully completed.
The dissertation should be an original contribution in the field as determined by the department. The university requires that dissertations be reviewed by an outside reader and be defended by the student.
Within university guidelines, each department determines whether or not a course from another institution may be approved for transfer credit. Transfer credits for the doctoral degree may not constitute more than one-half the total credits beyond the baccalaureate degree.
These degrees follow the procedures and requirements of the Graduate School.
A minimum of 30 semester hours beyond the baccalaureate degree is required. Some programs have additional semester hour requirements.
Send e-mail to Kristin Yager (kmyager2@buffalo.edu).
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