GENERAL INFORMATION

The mission of the programs in Graduate Studies is to (1) provide the highest quality residency programs to train outstanding dental specialists in clinical treatment of dental and craniofacial disorders and (2) educate outstanding biomedical and clinician scientists who will be academic leaders in the field of dental education and research. The specific goals are to:

• provide an educational and training experience that emphasizes the development of a strong basic science background coupled with advanced diagnostic and clinical competence;
• develop a highly skilled specialist with the analytical, clinical and management abilities necessary to provide optimum oral health care;
• produce a graduate who will have the ability to critically evaluate research literature as well as have the inquiring attitude necessary to pursue advancement in the practice, research and/or teaching of specialized oral health care; and

• produce the basic scientists and clinical scientists who will be the future leaders in dental and biomedical education and research.

Overview of Graduate Studies Programs

Admissions Procedures for Clinical Specialties

Admission Procedures for Biomedical Sciences

Application Deadlines

Required of All New Students

Fees

Links to Graduate Programs

GRADUATE STUDIES PROGRAMS

The programs in Graduate Studies are comprised of three major components. Two of these components - the nine certificate programs in each of the major dental specialty areas and three graduate programs that lead to a Masters (M.S.) degree related to the dental profession - are administered directly by the Office of the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies (OADRGS) of the Texas A&M University Baylor College of Dentistry (TAMBCD). The Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences leading to Masters and/or Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences is through the OADRGS by the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) of the Texas A&M University Health Science Center.

Clinical Certificate Programs

Programs leading to a certificate in a clinical dental specialty consist of a sequence of advance didactic courses and seminars as well as correlative clinical instruction for the dentist seeking specialty training and board eligibility requirement. Clinical training programs may offer the specialty certificate only, an option of a certificate combined with a graduate degree (M.S. or Ph.D.), or a requirement of a certificate combined with a graduate degree.  Programs vary from one year to four years in duration depending on the specific options and requirements. All programs are approved by the Texas Education Agency so that those students who are eligible may use VA benefits.

The Graduate Studies program in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is a fully-integrated program leading to an M.D. degree. The resident attends medical school with advanced standing at Texas Tech University Health Science Center in Lubbock, Texas. Surgical internship and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery training are completed at Baylor University Medical Center and TAMBCD.

Master's Programs

Texas A&M Baylor College of Dentistry provides advanced graduate education leading to an M.S. degree in the following programs: (1) Education of Health Professionals, with concentrations in Dental Hygiene or Health Professions Education; and (2) Oral Biology. Clinical specialty students in programs requiring a graduate degree typically enroll in the M.S. Program in Oral Biology, however, matriculation in one of the other graduate programs may be permissible with the approval of the program directors of the clinical training program and the relevant M.S. program.

Master of Science in Oral Biology (with concentrations in clinical specialties)

The Master of Science in Oral biology is available to residents who are simultaneously pursuing clinical training programs leading to a specialty certificate. This program is designed to extend the competence of the dental specialist in both general and special areas of practice in clinical disciplines.

Master of Science in Educating Health Professionals

Dental Hygiene

The primary objective of the program leading to a graduate program in Dental Hygiene is to prepare the dental hygienist for leadership roles in education or health administration and to meet the need for educators in dental hygiene programs and managers/administrators in institutional health care settings. The program is designed to be flexible, individualized and student-centered. Students enroll in a core of required courses and may choose between an educational or an administrative managerial track that best meets their individual interests and career goals.

Health Professions Education

The graduate program in Health Professions Education provides students with the foundations for academic careers in dental education settings. Specific programs objectives are for students to: develop foundational knowledge and skills for conducting research; develop teaching skills and construct effective learning environments; and become well versed in higher education issues.

The graduate program in Dental Hygiene is administered by the Caruth School of Dental Hygiene and the graduate program in Health Professions Education is administered by the Office of Student Development through the OADRGS at TAMBCD, under the auspices of the SGS of the TAMHSC.

Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences

The Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences is an individualized, interdisciplinary advanced training program leading to M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in areas of basic biomedical science that have strong clinical relevance. This program is designed primarily for outstanding D.D.S/D.M.D. and dental specialty students who are interested in academic careers as basic scientists and clinician-scientists in the dental health sciences. Students who plan to matriculate into a clinical specialty certificate program at TAMBCD may be considered for either an M.S. or Ph.D. with the approval of the clinical program director and after consultation with the program director of the GPBS. The Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences is administered by the Department of Biomedical Sciences through the OADRGS at TAMBCD, under the auspices of the SGS of the TAMHSC.

Research Training and Support for Students

Support for predoctoral students wishing to pursue dual-degree training as dentist-scientists, for dentists desiring to study for a PhD in craniofacial research, and for post-doctoral fellowship students is available through a major training grant - the National Research Service Awards (NRSA) Institutional Research Training Grants (T32)- funded by the National Institutes of Health/National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIH/NIDCR) in mid-2008. The T32 grant is administered by the Department of Biomedical Sciences through the OADRGS at TAMBCD with degrees awarded by the TAMHSC School of Graduate Studies.

• General Information and Graduate Studies Information
• TAMBCD Graduate Programs Brochure
• TAMBCD Programs Catalog
• Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences

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Admission Procedures for Clinical Specialty Programs

DENTPIN®

The DENTPIN (DENTal Ppersonal Iidentifier Number) is a unique personal identifier for applicants and students involved with the U.S. dental education system and standardized testing programs. You must register or retrieve a DENTPIN from the American Dental Association site and use it to proceed with your application to a dental education program or application service, your application to test, or your score report request.

The following programs use the DENTPIN to identify students and test-takers and for the confidential, secure reporting, transmission and tracking of test scores and academic data:

• Dental Admission Test (DAT)

• National Board Dental Examination (NBDE) Part I/Part II

• National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE)

• American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Associated American Dental Schools Application Services (AADSAS)

• Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS)

• ADEA Postdoctoral Application Support Service (PASS),

• ADEA Centralized Application for Advanced Placement for International Dentists (CAAPID)

Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD)
Dental Public Health
Endodontics
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Orthodontics
Pediatric Dentistry
Prosthodontics

The following specialty certificate programs and degree programs require the TAMBCD paper application to be submitted:

Graduate Programs Application Form

Graduate EDHP-Dental Hygiene Application Form

Instructions for Application Form

Applications for Graduate Studies Programs are to be completed and returned to the

Office of the Registrar
Texas A&M University Baylor College of Dentistry
3302 Gaston Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75246. 

An application processing fee of $35 is non-refundable and must be included with your application. The application renewal fee is $25. International applicants must submit a money order drawn on an U.S. bank. Applications are valid for one year only and a re-application fee must accompany subsequent applications.

Individuals requesting a combined clinical specialty/M.S. or Ph.D. program may do so using a single application form.  If applying through PASS or Match programs, please contact PASS (202-332-8795 or www.adea.org/PASS) or Match (416-977-3431 or www.natmatch.com/dentres) directly for applications. If applying through the PASS Program, it is not necessary to send another application or an application fee to Texas A&M Baylor College of Dentistry.

To check the status of an application, contact the Office of the Registrar at 214-828-8345, or email cimo@tamhsc.edu.

Distribute the reference forms to each person writing a recommendation, along with a stamped, addressed envelope. (Note that these go directly from the recommending person to the Director of Admissions.) As you probably know, it is considered discourteous to give a person's name as a reference unless you have first received permission to do so. A brief visit or telephone call will both obtain their permission and show your appreciation for the effort.

Request official transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended be sent to the Director of Admissions. As indicated on side two of the application, these should be sent directly from the college or university to TAMBCD, and not included with this application. International applicants must have transcripts evaluated by Educational Credentials Evaluators. They can be reached at PO Box 514070, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53203-3470, by telephone at (414) 289-3400, or by fax at (414) 289-3411. Their web site address is www.ece.org. You should request the "course-by-course" report.

If you have a dental degree, or expect to receive one, request that a letter from the Dean of the dental school, certifying your grade point average and class standing, be sent to the Director of Admissions.

Clinical programs that also require or offer the option of an MS or PhD degree require applicants to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General Test. (U.S. applicants for Prosthodontics and Endodontics may substitute National Board Dental Exam scores). GRE scores made more than five calendar years prior to application for admission may not normally be used, except when the applicant has been involved in graduate or professional academic programs for the majority of the time since the testing date. GRE scores made more than ten calendar years prior to application for admission to graduate studies may not be used.

Except for international applicants, National Board scores for all clinical programs must be furnished.

International students from non-English-speaking countries must present an acceptable TOEFL score of 79-80 on the Internet-based test, 550 minimum paper based; 213 computer based and be fluent in both written and spoken English.

Include with your application a copy of your Curriculum Vitae, or resume and a narrative on your goals and objectives.

Personal interviews may be required at the discretion of the Department.

Application Deadlines 

NEW! Bacterial Meningitis Vaccine

The 82nd Texas Legislature approved Senate Bill 1107, requiring all new students under the age of 30 to submit evidence of immunization against bacterial meningitis. The bacterial meningitis vaccination requirements applies to all:

Proof that immunization against bacterial meningitis was administered within the five-year period immediately preceding - and at least 10 days prior to - the first semester enrolled or re-enrolled at the TAMHSC must be submitted to the college upon admission.

At least one of the following forms of documentation (that includes the month, day and year the vaccination was administered) must be faxed, mailed or submitted in person to the college:

Students who fail to submit the required documents will not be allowed to register for classes.

The following students are not required to submit verification of an immunization:

• Students who are 30 years old or older;
• Students with a signed affidavit or certificate from a physician who is duly registered and licensed to practice medicine in the United States, that states the vaccination would be injurious to the health of the student;
• Students who sign an affidavit stating that the student declines the vaccination for reasons of conscience, including a religious belief.  A conscientious exemption form from the Texas Department of State and Health Services must be used;
• Students taking only distance learning courses where attendance on any HSC campus is not a requirement.

 Notice Regarding Bacterial Meningitis Vaccine

Drug Screening

Effective as of September 2006, individuals accepted into programs of  TAMBCD must submit to and satisfactorily complete a drug screening as a condition of admission. This screen must be completed and satisfactory results received by TAMBCD within 30 days after matriculation or before participation in a rotation or patient treatment that requires such a screening, whichever comes first. This policy also applies to those students or program participants entering or continuing in programs that do not involve the review of the Admissions Committee or a Program Director.  Students who refuse to submit to or do not pass the drug screening review may be dismissed from the program. 

Drug screening results will be honored by TAMBCD and all of its affiliates for the duration of the student's enrollment in the program if the participating student has not had a break in enrollment at TAMBCD. A break in enrollment is defined as nonattendance of one full semester (fall or spring) or more. The above information must be verifiable through TAMBCD. 

The drug screening test will be performed by the Concentra Health Services Laboratory here at TAMBCD on the first day of your scheduled orientation.  This is an unobserved urine screen generally acceptable for prescreening of employees and students in educational rotations where they have access to vulnerable populations. A report of the results of this test will be provided to Ms. Sharon Limes, TAMBCD Student Health Clinic Nurse, and students cannot attend rotations at the facilities that require a screen until she receives an acceptable result from the laboratory.

Students are responsible for the cost of the screening. Fees for the test, approximately $45, will be charged to the student's school account. Students will be instructed when to report to the TAMBCD Student Health Clinic on the first day of orientation.

http://www.tamhsc.edu/facultystaff/rules/  The pertinent rule is 11.04.99.Z1.02

Criminal Background Checks (CBC)

Individuals accepted into programs at TAMBCD must satisfactorily complete a CBC review as a condition of matriculation. These CBCs disclose all actions including convictions, arrests, charges, grand jury indictments and deferred adjudications. Enrollment will not be final until the completion of the CBC with results deemed favorable. Admission may be rescinded based on a review of the CBC. This policy also applies to those students or program participants entering or continuing in programs that do not involve the review of the Admissions Committee or a Program Director. Some international students with no experience in employment or education in the USA and a first time entry into the LStates may be exempt from this requirement due to Homeland Security background screening.

Students who refuse to submit to or do not pass the LCBC review may be refused admission or dismissed from the program.

The CBC will be done by CertifiedBackgroundcom. This is an online process that allows the applicant to see the results of the CBC and to release a report to the TAMBCD security office.  The Security staff will access the report online and relay any remarkable findings to the administrative committee responsible for review of any adverse results. Students have the right to challenge the results of the agency providing the information and should contact CertifiedBackground.com if they feel there are errors in the report to be sent to TAMBCD.

The applicant is responsible for the cost of the CBC and may pay with credit card or money order. The company will quote the package fee of $40 but individuals with multiple names or residents of counties outside the State of Texas will incur additional fees. 

To access the complete policy concerning CBC review please visit the following website: http://www.tamhsc.edu/facultystaff/rules/  The pertinent rule is 11.04.99.Z2.01

Mandatory Health Insurance

Experiences of our students reinforce the wisdom of maintaining health insurance.  With this in mind TAMBCD has a mandatory requirement for this coverage.  The Texas A&M University System (TAMUS) does offer a policy but the student may fulfill this obligation in any way he or she chooses. The information and enrollment forms for the policy offered to students through TAMUS may be accessed at the following Internet address www.tamuinsurance.com.  Choose "Baylor College of Dentistry (TAMU) campus".

Questions or concerns may be directed to Ms. Moira Allen, TAMBCD Director of Student Affairs at 214-828-8210 or email mallen@bcd.tamhsc.edu. 

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Tuition and Fees for Graduate Students

Effective July 1, 2012 (subject to change) 

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Links to Graduate Programs

Advanced Clinical Programs

• Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD)
• Endodontics
• Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology
• Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
• Orthodontics
• Pediatric Dentistry
• Periodontics
• Prosthodontics
• Public Health

M.S. & Ph.D. Programs

• Dental Hygiene
• Health Professions Education
• Biomedical Sciences (BMS)
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Catalog

• HSC Catalog
• BCD Catalog