Master of Dental Science Programs

Graduate programs leading to a Master of Dental Science (MDS) degree awarded by the UTHSC College of Graduate Health Sciences (CGHS) are available in the Orthodontics, Periodontology and Prosthodontics programs. The two-year postgraduate program in Pediatric Dentistry is a certificate program. Students enrolled in the Pediatric Dentistry program may elect to extend their studies for an additional year to pursue a MDS degree.

Students should be aware that the general policies, procedures, and requirements in place for the certificate programs apply to MDS degree students as well. The additional procedures, policies, and requirements which apply to students seeking a MDS degree are fully described in the CGHS Bylaws and are outlined here.

Only individuals who have been accepted to the respective dental postgraduate certificate programs that offer the MDS degree can make application to the MDS Program. Once the applicant receives an acceptance letter to the respective dental postgraduate certificate program from the Dean of the College of Dentistry, they should complete the application for their respective MDS Program. The applicant should apply to the CGHS (not the College of Dentistry), indicating a concentration in Orthodontics (MDS Ortho), Periodontology (MDS Peri), Prosthodontics (MDS Prostho), or Pediatric Dentistry (MDS Pedi). This application should be completed electronically and is found on the CGHS Office of Admissions website.

Expected Progress in MDS Program

MDS Program Activity
 Approximate Date
Select research mentor and begin research protocol development
Year 1 - Fall
Finalize protocol and obtain approval from research committee
Year 1 - Spring
Submit research protocol for funding (optional)
Year 1 - April
Initiate research project
Year 2 - Summer-Fall-Spring
Register as candidate for the MDS Program
Year 3 - Summer
Submit abstract to AADR/IADR for following spring (optional)
Year 3 -September
Present research at Hinman Student Research Symposium (optional)
Year 3 - October
Finish research project
Year 3 - September-October
Compose thesis and present to research committee
Year 3 - September-December
Defend thesis
Year 3- January - February
Submit final version of thesis to College of Graduate Health Science
Year 3 - May 1
Submit research for publication to peer reviewed journal (optional)
Year 3 - Spring

Graduate Advisors

The MDS Program Chair of the MDS Program is the general advisor for all students. The MDS Program Director is the principal advisor concerning courses, research, and student performance.

Faculty Committee

A student enrolled in a degree-awarding program at the UTHSC must have a Faculty Committee. No later than the end of the first academic year of study, the student’s Clinical Program Director and/or the Chair of the student’s department, in consultation with the student and MDS Program Director, will identify a Faculty Committee. This committee will consist of a minimum of three members of the Graduate Faculty, at least two of whom must belong to the MDS Program. One member of the Committee must be from a program other than that of the MDS program. The Department Chair or Clinical Program Director will appoint a chair from the committee membership (usually the student’s Research Advisor who must be appointed by the CGHS to direct MDS research) who will direct the student’s research program. The addition of committee members beyond the required three is not restricted and may include persons outside the UTHSC having qualifications acceptable to the Department and Committee.

The student's Faculty Committee will offer guidance and direction in establishing an academic plan of study beyond the core curriculum required for the MDS Program. This will include a plan for electives outside the major area and a general description of the thesis research subject. After this plan is formulated, it will be discussed with and approved by the Department Chair and/or Clinical Program Director. It is the responsibility of the Chair of the Faculty Committee to convene the committee at intervals (no less than once per year) that are helpful to the student's progress. The Program Chair must certify to the Dean of the College of Graduate Health Sciences that the proposals of the committee satisfy the academic requirements of the MDS Program. Once the Faculty Committee is appointed, the Student Committee Appointment Form must be completed, signed by the Program Chair and forwarded to the Dean of the CGHS.

The Faculty Committee must prepare an Annual Student Progress Report for the Program Chair and Dean of the CGHS. This progress report must be completed by January 31 for all MDS students with the exception of those in their first year of study.

Examination Requirement

Prior to admission to candidacy, the student’s Department may require the student to pass a comprehensive general examination. This examination will be conducted by the student's MDS Program and will cover the general field of major study. It is anticipated that this examination will be oral in nature although a written examination may also be used. Presentation and defense of the student’s written research protocol may be a suitable examination format.

The unsuccessful candidate may request a second examination by the Department, which, if approved, may not be given before the end of the semester in which the candidate was first examined. The result of the second examination is final.

Admission to Candidacy

Each graduate student enrolled in a degree program is responsible for filing an Application for Admission to Candidacy for the MSD. Application can only be made after successful completion of prerequisite courses and two complete years of graduate course work. Only after certification by the student’s Faculty Committee and MDS Program Director, as well as the Chair of the student’s Department and/or Clinical Program Director, will the student be considered for admission to candidacy. Certification indicates that the student has successfully completed sufficient graduate courses to establish credibility as a graduate student.

Admission to candidacy status for the MDS degree must be granted no later than the end of the second month in the semester in which the thesis is to be presented to the college. Application is to be made to the CGHS and signed by the MDS Program Chair.

Research, Electronic Thesis and Oral Defense

One of the requirements for the MDS degree is the conduct of an approved research project intended to demonstrate a high level of student scholarship and ability to conduct independent research, and contributes to the foundation of knowledge in the student's major area of study. This part of the student's program involves the initiation, conduct, completion, analysis, documentation, and presentation of a research project in the form of a thesis and oral defense. The student, in consultation with his or her Faculty Committee and the MDS Program Director or Department Chairperson will determine the subject of the research. While the originality and quality of the research should be above reproach, the scope of the research project should be in keeping with the MDS degree level.

The Electronic Thesis (ET) refers to MDS terminal document, and other related or associated documents, written in partial fulfillment of the requirements for MDS degrees conferred by the University. The series of policies have been established by the ET/D Task Force Group directed by the CGHS Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, responsible for the ET/D program. These policies direct the production of the required thesis document.

The final oral defense of the research shall be publicized to the University community and shall be conducted by the Faculty Committee (acting as a thesis committee) according to program guidelines. When the defense is successfully completed, a Report of Final Examination is signed by all Faculty Committee members and forwarded to the Dean of the CGHS. The thesis, in final form, must be submitted to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs of the CGHS by noon on May 1 if graduation is anticipated that semester.

Rights of Publication

On occasion, the ownership of the research work and findings comes into question because many people, in addition to the student, are involved in the research effort. There is the need to properly acknowledge the contribution of the student, the faculty advisors, and in some circumstances special additional assistance given in this effort. There is also need to have the work made available to the scientific community in a timely fashion. Because of these various factors, the College of Dentistry has adopted the following policy regarding the thesis effort.

First, the student's thesis is subject to the University of Tennessee policy on copyrights that states that "A student must, as a condition of a degree award, grant royalty-free permission to the University to reproduce and publicly distribute, on a non-commercial basis, copies of the thesis or dissertation" (The University of Tennessee Board of Trustees, 1984).

Where manuscripts derived from the thesis are considered, the student has the first right to the creative material produced. The student should produce a manuscript on his/her own or with the help of faculty members, and should acknowledge the contributors to the effort in an appropriate manner. If the student produces no evidence of preparing manuscripts for publication within one calendar year after the date of graduation, the student loses the right of first authorship and manuscripts may be prepared and submitted by others associated with the thesis. In any case, the student's name will be associated with any manuscript prepared from the thesis effort, and a copy of any manuscript prepared will be sent to the student for his/her comments prior to submission. The Department, with the student’s knowledge and listing the student as first author, may submit abstracts based on the thesis.

Students should be aware that this policy applies only to the UTHSC College of Dentistry and if non-college faculty members are involved in the thesis, then the rights to publication must be decided at the first meeting of the thesis committee.

Similarly, when the research is made possible by grant funds where the student is not the principal investigator, there needs to be a clear agreement regarding publication and possession of the data (measurements, radiographs, slides, digital images, etc.). Unless unusual circumstances prevail, these materials are the property of, and are expected to be retained by, the principal investigator.

Application for a MDS Degree

A candidate for the MDS degree must make application for the degree with the Dean of the CGHS no later than two months before the commencement at which the degree is expected to be awarded. Candidates must meet all deadlines for completion of degree requirements set forth in the calendar issued by each program.

Completion of the MDS Program

Before a MDS degree is awarded the following, without exception, are required:

  1. The academic, clinical, and residency requirements established by the College of Dentistry and the student's program must be satisfied.
  2. All responsibility for patient care must be discharged according to Departmental policy and the College of Dentistry’s Office of Academic Affairs.
  3. The student must be enrolled during the semester in which the degree is awarded. Students enrolled in a MDS degree program must be registered for the semester in which the final thesis defense is conducted.
  4. Delinquent financial accounts, including tuition payments, fees, library fines, parking tickets, etc., which are due the University must be paid.
  5. Keys and identification cards must be turned in according to University rules.
  6. A formal exit process must be followed (the Graduation Checklist).
  7. The final, approved version of the thesis must be managed according to CGHS rules.
  8. Students enrolled in a MDS degree program are required to attend University commencement exercises at the conclusion of their program.

Delayed Graduation

Students, who apply for graduation, but fail to meet any of the various deadlines will be allowed a period of 30 days after the date of commencement to complete all requirements without registration or other special fees. If the requirements, including the final oral defense, are not met within this period, the student must register for another semester in order to graduate. To be eligible for the extension, a student must have applied for graduation by the given deadline date, registered for that semester, and submitted a written request for the grace period to the CGHS Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. Regardless of circumstance, the awarding of degrees will occur at the graduation ceremonies directly following completion of all requirements.