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Master of Dental Science Expected Progress

Two-Year Programs

Prior to Year One

Spring

  • Apply to your residency program and receive acceptance from College of Dentistry and the College of Graduate Health Sciences (no additional application is required by the CGHS).

Year One

Fall

  • In consultation with your Residency Director, identify a Faculty Research Advisor.
  • With your Research Advisor, discuss possible research projects, initiate a targeted literature review, and begin research protocol development.
  • Guided by your Research Advisor, assemble your Faculty Committee. Complete  and submit the Student Committee Appointment Form to the CGHS.

Spring

  • Finalize the research protocol. Meet with your Faculty Committee and obtain approval of the protocol.
  • Work with your Research Advisor to produce the first Student Progress Report and submit it to CGHS.
  • Submit your research protocol for funding (optional).
  • Initiate pilot studies and/or the research project. Consult/meet with your Faculty Committee as needed.

Year Two

Fall

  • Bring your research project to completion in close consultation with your Faculty Committee.
  • Work with your Research Advisor to produce the 2ndStudent Progress Report and submit it to CGHS.
  • September:Submit an abstract to AADR/IADR for the following spring (optional).
  • October:Present research at the Hinman Student Research Symposium (optional).
  • Under the close supervision and editorial guidance of your Faculty Committee, initiate the final manuscript.
  • Work with your Research Advisor to complete the Application for Admission to Candidacy and submit it to the CGHS.

Spring

  • Complete the final manuscript and present it to your Faculty Committee for editorial suggestions and approval.
  • January-February: At least 2-weeks prior to the scheduled oral defense of the research project, email the defense date, time, and location to the CGHS Program Coordinator, Lyncie Crawford, lcrawror@uthsc.edu) post advertisements throughout the College of Dentistry.
Note: See the CGHS website for a list of all CGHS forms. An email will be sent to each student indicating necessary forms and deadlines after students have announced their oral defense. If a student does not plan to participate in the May graduation ceremony, he/she may submit the graduation forms 5 days prior to the graduation date in order to receive a diploma in May.


Following successful defense of your research project, submit the Report of Final Examination to the CGHS. Submission of this report must occur no later than April 1st in order to participate in the May graduation ceremony. 

  • March: Work with your Research Advisor to submit the Graduation Application Form in Banner (this form is required by the UTHSC Office of the Registrar).
  • April: Work with your Research Advisor to complete and submit the Report of Manuscript Submission. At the same time, provide an electronic version of your manuscript to the Nancy Wilson, Administrative Assistant in the office of the College of Dentistry’s Associate Dean for Postgraduate Affairs.
  • Submit the final manuscript for publication to reputable peer-reviewed journal. This submission must occur no later than April 1st in order to participate in May graduation.
  • May: Work with your Research Advisor to complete and submit the Graduate Student Clearance Form and the CGHS Exit Interview Form to the CGHS.
  • June: Work with your residency Program Director to complete all department-based exit processes. Additional, request and receive official clearance from the College of Dentistry’s Office of Clinical Affairs.
Three-Year Programs

Prior to Year One

Spring

  • Apply to your residency program and receive acceptance from College of Dentistry and the College of Graduate Health Sciences (no additional application is required by the CGHS).

Year One

Fall 

  • In consultation with your Residency Director, identify a Faculty Research Advisor.
  • With your Research Advisor, discuss possible research projects, initiate a targeted literature review, and begin research protocol development.
  • Guided by your Research Advisor, assemble your Faculty Committee. Complete and submit the Student Committee Appointment Form to the CGHS.

Spring

  • Finalize the research protocol. Meet with your Faculty Committee and obtain approval of the protocol.
  • Work with your Research Advisor to produce the 1stStudent Progress Reportand submit it to CGHS.
  • Submit your research protocol for funding (optional).
  • Initiate pilot studies and/or the research project. Consult/meet with your Faculty Committee as needed.

Year Two

Fall

  • Continue the research project. Consult/meet with your Faculty Committee as needed.

Spring

  • Continue the research project. Consult/meet with your Faculty Committee as needed.
  • Work with your Research Advisor to produce the second Student Progress Report and submit it to CGHS.

Year Three

Fall

  • Bring your research project to completion in close consultation with your Faculty Committee.
  • September: Submit an abstract to AADR/IADR for the following spring (optional).
  • October: Present research at the Hinman Student Research Symposium (optional).
  • Under the close supervision and editorial guidance of your Faculty Committee, initiate the final manuscript.
  • Work with your Research Advisor to complete the Application for Admission to Candidacyand submit it to the CGHS.

Spring

  • Complete the final manuscript and present it to your Faculty Committee for editorial suggestions and approval.
  • January-February: At least 2-weeks prior to the scheduled oral defense of the research project, email the defense date, time, and location to the CGHS Program Coordinator, Lyncie Crawford, lcrawror@uthsc.edu) post advertisements throughout the College of Dentistry. 

Note: See the CGHS website for a list of all CGHS forms. An email will be sent to each student indicating necessary forms and deadlines after students have announced their oral defense. If a student does not plan to participate in the May graduation ceremony, he/she may submit the graduation forms 5 days prior to the graduation date in order to receive a diploma in May.

Following successful defense of your research project, submit the Report of Final Examination to the CGHS. Submission of this report must occur no later than April 1st in order to participate in the May graduation ceremony. 

  • March: Work with your Research Advisor to submit the Graduation Application Form in Banner (this form is required by the UTHSC Office of the Registrar).
  • April: Work with your Research Advisor to complete and submit the Report of Manuscript Submission. At the same time, provide an electronic version of your manuscript to the Nancy Wilson, Administrative Assistant in the office of the College of Dentistry’s Associate Dean for Postgraduate Affairs.
  • Submit the final manuscript for publication to reputable peer-reviewed journal. This submission must occur no later than April 1st in order to participate in May graduation.
  • May: Work with your Research Advisor to complete and submit the Graduate Student Clearance Form and the CGHS Exit Interview Form to the CGHS.
  • June: Work with your residency Program Director to complete all department-based exit processes. Additional, request and receive official clearance from the College of Dentistry’s Office of Clinical Affairs.
May 26, 2022