Curriculum
In the first semester of the program, admitted students are assigned to a faculty advisor. In coordination with the program director, faculty advisors assist students in developing an individualized coursework plan. In addition, they may help students choose laboratory rotations. Through these activities, students obtain hands-on laboratory experience and can finalize the selection of a research mentor. Selection of a mentor typically occurs before students complete their required coursework, usually towards the end of the second year.
A total of at least 30 credits earned from coursework and laboratory rotations is expected to be completed by the end of the second year in the program prior to the qualifying examination. Based on the Graduate School policy on academic performance requirements, students must maintain a minimum, cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Students are also expected to meet the highest standards of academic integrity.
The curriculum of the DBMS PhD program consists of four phases:
- Coursework:
- Core courses - Required for all DBMS PhD students:
DBMS 608 - Introduction to Biomedical Research (1 credit)
DBMS 618 (section 01) - Seminars in Biomedical Sciences (1 credit)
DBMS 638 - Biostatistics (3 credits)
CIPP 907 - Research Ethics (1 credit) - Advanced courses
All pre-candidacy students are expected to enroll in advanced DBMS and/or GPLS 600+ level courses. Students have maximum flexibility in selecting these courses based on their area of research interest and career goals.
- Core courses - Required for all DBMS PhD students:
- Laboratory rotations
DBMS 708 - Laboratory Rotation (3 credits) - Qualifying examination
- Doctoral dissertation research and thesis defense
DBMS 898 - Pre-candidacy Research (up to 8 credits)
DBMS 899 - Doctoral Dissertation Research (following advancement to candidacy).- Students must complete 12 credits of DBMS 899 prior to the final thesis defense. In addition, as part of the graduation requirements, students must have at least one first-author research paper that is either published or accepted for publication.
How to Apply
Applicants must meet all minimum admission requirements and should have had courses in biology, physics, chemistry, and mathematics through calculus. Applicants should apply directly to the UMB Graduate School online: https://umaryland.elluciancrmrecruit.com/Apply/Account/Login
In addition to the online application, applicants must submit the following directly to the Graduate School by December 15th.
- One (1) set of official transcripts or marks sheets from each undergraduate and graduate institution attended - Each transcript should bear the signature of the registrar and the seal of the granting institution and should include the years of attendance, courses taken, grades received, class standing, and the degree, diploma, or certificate conferred. Although photocopies of credentials are acceptable for initial reviews, the Graduate School must receive official copies of all academic credentials before students are admitted.
- Official standardized score reports - Applicants whose native language or language of the home is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the examination of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Have the testing agency send directly to the Graduate School; our institution code for the TOEFL is #5848. See the program description in the catalog to learn which examinations you must take for admission. You must have one set of official score reports sent to the Graduate School from the responsible testing agency.
- $75 (US) Non-refundable application fee can be paid online or sent directly to Graduate School
- Three (3) letters of recommendation- You must provide three letters of recommendation, preferably from professors or others who can attest to the quality of your academic performance and scholastic potential. Your full name, the semester or session for which admission is desired, and the program to which you are applying must be indicated on the letter or form provided for this purpose. These letters must be sent directly to the program to which you are applying.
- Statement of Academic Goals and Research Interests PDF can be pasted in the online application. If you do not apply online, it must be sent directly to the graduate program to which you are seeking admission. The statement should be 300 to 500 words and outline your goals and objectives in pursuing graduate study.
- Certificate of Finances
Submit the application form and all required documents, credentials, materials, test scores, documentation for funding support for immigration purposes to the address that follows. The Graduate School will not process or review an application until the application fee is paid. We do not waive or defer the application fee. Applications for admission to Graduate School programs must be submitted to:
University of Maryland, Baltimore
Graduate School
620 W. Lexington St., 5th Floor
Baltimore, MD 21201
Minimum Standards and Requirements
The minimum academic standard for full admission to the Graduate School is a B average, or 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in a program resulting in the award of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, or an equivalent degree and standing from a comparable foreign institution.
Major Research Areas and Faculty Mentors
The DBMS PhD program offers unique graduate training opportunities in research laboratories equipped with state-of-the art technologies and access to several core facilities in campus. Faculty mentors in our graduate program are internationally renowned scientists carrying out innovative studies to answer timely research questions in dental, oral, and craniofacial sciences.
Current major areas of research include:
Dental Biomaterials
Oral Medicine and Oral Oncology
Oral Microbial Pathogenesis
Orofacial Neural and Pain Sciences
Tissue Engineering, Nanotechnology, and Regenerative Medicine
Skeletal Biology and Pathology
