Oral Biology, M.Sc.

Head: Dr. James Gilchrist
Campus Address/General Office: P129B - 770 Bannatyne Avenue
Telephone: 204-789-3571 (Graduate Program Assistant)
Fax: 204-789-3912
Email Address: oral.biology@umanitoba.ca
Website: umanitoba.ca/dentistry/oral-biology
Academic Staff: Please refer to the Oral Biology website for Academic staff information.

Oral Biology Program Information

The Department of Oral Biology offers graduate instruction and research leading to Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees.

Admission Information

Admission to the Faculty of Graduate Studies

Application and Admission Procedures are found in the Academic Guide.

Admission requirements for Master’s students are found in the Master’s Degrees General Regulations section of the Guide.

Oral Biology M.Sc. Admission Requirements

Students should possess an appropriate professional degree or B.Sc. degree with a satisfactory background in biological sciences.

Application Information

Students should complete and submit their online application with supporting documentation by the date indicated on the Oral Biology M.Sc. program of study page.

Degree Requirements

The M.Sc. program requires satisfactory completion of course requirements as specified by each student’s advisory committee and a thesis based on original research. Minimum course requirements are 12 credit hours which must include course ORLB 7190 (unless students have previous credit for this or an equivalent course).

M.Sc. students are expected to attend all departmental seminars. Students shall present one seminar on their research to the department each year, updating it each year.

In addition, students must pass an oral examination on the subject of the thesis and matters relating thereto.

Expected Time to Graduate: 2 years

Progression Chart

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1		Hours
GRAD 7300	Research Integrity Tutorial	0
GRAD 7500	Academic Integrity Tutorial	0
GRAD 7000	Master's Thesis	0
GRAD 7020	Master's Re-registration	0
ORLB 7190	Communication Skills in Dental Research ¹	3
Courses at the 7000 level ²		9
	Hours	12
Year 2
GRAD 7000	Master's Thesis	0
GRAD 7020	Master's Re-registration	0
	Hours	0
	Total Hours	12

¹: ORLB 7190 is required for all Oral Biology Master's students, but may not be offered every year. It may be taken in year 2 of the program.
²: All other courses are chosen through discussion between student and advisor

Registration Information

Students should familiarize themselves with the Faculty of Graduate Studies ‘GRAD’ courses applicable to their program. If you have questions about which GRAD course(s) to register in, please consult your home department/unit.

All new or returning graduate students must have identified a faculty member willing to act as thesis advisor. This must be done through personal interviews prior to admission and registration. All programs of study must be approved by the department head or chair of the Graduate Studies and Research Committee.

Not all departmental graduate level courses are offered each year. Consult with appropriate faculty members.

Regulations

Students must meet the requirements as outlined in both Supplementary Regulation and BFAR documents as approved by Senate.

Supplementary Regulations

Individual units may require specific requirements above and beyond those of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, and students should consult unit supplementary regulations for these specific regulations.

Bona Fide Academic Requirements (BFAR)

Bona Fide Academic Requirements (BFAR) represent the core academic requirements a graduate student must acquire in order to gain, and demonstrate acquisition of, essential knowledge and skills.

All students must successfully complete:

GRAD 7300 prior to applying to any ethics boards which are appropriate to the student’s research or within the student’s first year, whichever comes first; and
GRAD 7500 within the first term of registration;

unless these courses have been completed previously, as per Mandatory Academic Integrity Course and Mandatory Research Integrity Online Course.

Students must also meet additional BFAR requirements that may be specified for their program.

General Regulations

All students must:

maintain a minimum degree grade point average of 3.0 with no grade below C+,
meet the minimum and not exceed the maximum course requirements, and
meet the minimum and not exceed the maximum time requirements (in terms of time in program and lapse or expiration of credit of courses).

Courses

Oral Biology

ORLB 7090 Pharmacology and Therapeutics 3 cr

A combined lecture and seminar course on the pharmacological basis of therapeutics. Special attention will be paid to drugs used commonly in the practice of dentistry, their side effects and their interaction.

ORLB 7100 Oral Microbial Ecology 3 cr

Study of principles of ecology in relation to the various ecosystems in the oral cavity. In depth examination of the taxonomic relationships of oral bacterial species. Emphasis will be placed on the growth and metabolic activities of oral bacteria which lead to successful colonization of the mouth.

ORLB 7110 Infectious Diseases and the Oral Cavity 3 cr

The description of the aetiology of microbial infections in the mouth and infections elsewhere in the body which involve oral bacteria. The control of such infections by vaccines, antibiotics and antimicrobial drugs. Treatment of infections in the immuno-suppressed, post- operative infections and nosocomial infections. The relationships of host immune system to the oral flora.

ORLB 7120 Special Problems in Oral Biology 3 cr

Each student will be required to carry out a minor research project in an area of oral biology other than that of their thesis work. The results of this project will be presented in a seminar and submitted as a written report.

ORLB 7130 Macromolecular Interactions of Connective Tissue in Health and Disease 6 cr

A comprehensive study of the macromolecular constituents of connective tissue, of their synthesis, metabolism, macromolecular interaction in health and disease, and of their regulatory mechanisms.

ORLB 7140 Cell Membrane and Cell Signaling 3 cr

This course will cover the structure and function of cell membrane receptors. The mechanisms and regulation of membrane coupled signal transduction pathways including those stimulated by oral tastants and drugs will also be covered.

ORLB 7150 MECH ORAL & MAX DIS 3 cr

This course deals with the molecular pathology of the oral cavity and maxilofacial complex.

ORLB 7162 Neurophysiology of Pain 3 cr

This course examines the peripheral and central mechanisms associated with pain. Endogenous pain control systems and the pharmacological treatment of pain will also be covered.

ORLB 7180 Recent Advances in Oral Biology 6 cr

This course is given by staff in the form of lectures and tutorials. Additional lectures may be given by visiting scientists. Students are expected to familiarize themselves with the relevant literature and are examined for an in-depth appreciation of the topics covered.

ORLB 7190 Communication Skills in Dental Research 3 cr

A course to develop written, visual and oral communication skills in scientific and clinical disciplines related to dentistry.

Academic Calendar