The program is housed in the School of Dentistry, which is part of a major health sciences complex. There is an extensive tissue culture facility and laboratories for salivary chemistry, cell biology and immunology, mineralized tissue studies, microbiology, neuroscience, biomaterials, and biophysics of oral function. Excellent animal facilities are available. A large patient population is available for a variety of clinical studies. Graduate level courses, tutorials and laboratory experiences are offered under the direction of Oral Biology faculty.
Students also participate in a weekly seminar.
Depending on the academic background of the student, prerequisite courses may be necessary before undertaking advanced level course-work. Research leading to the M.S. degree or the Ph.D. degree will be conducted under the supervision of an Oral Biology faculty member. Tutorial experience in the laboratories of individual faculty members is available as an aid for selection of the research advisor. In conjuction with the advisor, the student develops a research project and selects appropriate classwork for the research area. An M.S. program without a research thesis requirement is also available, and requires additional courseworks and the writing of critical reviews of the literature or reports based on laboratory work.