The major criterion of the MS in oral biology is original research. This original research may be conducted in basic, behavioral or clinical sciences. Adherence to all standards established by the School of Graduate Studies is necessary for final acceptance and approval of the thesis.
Thesis Committee
Each student is responsible for selecting a thesis committee chair who must be an Oral Biology faculty member. The selection of a thesis chair must be completed within the students first semester of study and approved by the Department of Oral Biology Director of Graduate Research Programs. Once the chair is selected, the student and the chair will select two or more additional faculty members to serve on the thesis committee. One additional member of the thesis committee must be a member of the Department of Oral Biology and all of the faculty selected must be members of the graduate faculty. Committee members should be selected for their ability to provide additional advice and resources to augment the thesis research of the student.
Following committee selection, the Program of Study form must be completed. This document serves as the record of selected committee members and required courses for each student. The Program of Study form and example course lists (for concurrent specialty certificate program students) are available on the Oral Biology Web site at http://dentistry.umkc.edu/oralbio/MasterOralBiology.shtml. The completed Program of Study must be signed by all committee members; the Department of Oral Biology Director of Graduate Research Programs; the Department of Oral Biology Chair; and the Dean or Graduate Officer, School of Dentistry. The completed form must meet all Department of Oral Biology and School of Graduate Studies requirements.
All thesis committee members must approve a thesis research proposal before the research project is initiated. The thesis committee members also advise and guide the students in the successful completion of their research and determine when the MS thesis is complete.
Thesis
Original research will be used to construct a formal thesis conforming to the standards set by the School of Graduate Studies (see University of Missouri-Kansas City Guide to Formatting Graduate Theses, which can be obtained at the UMKC Dental Library). At least ten weeks prior to graduation, the completed thesis must be submitted to the thesis committee for its preliminary approval.
After all members of the thesis committee have read and given preliminary approval to the content of the thesis, and the instructor(s) of the course RES-ME 5703 Thesis Writing has given preliminary approval to the format of the thesis, and at least six weeks prior to graduation, the original typewritten copy must be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies for certification by the dean of Graduate Faculties and Research. After the thesis has been certified for acceptance by the dean of Graduate Faculties and Research, the thesis committee will require the student to defend the thesis. School of Dentistry regulations require students to defend their theses by presenting university-wide seminars on their research. In addition to the required distribution of copies (see the UMKC Guide to Formatting Graduate Theses and the General Graduate Academic Regulations and Information section of this catalog), a copy of the thesis also must be received for retention by the Dental Library of the School of Dentistry.
