Dental Student Research Involvement – Suggested Sequence

The School of Dentistry provides all dental students exposure to research during their matriculation. Research experience is looked upon favorably among specialty residency

programs and gives those who plan to pursue academics insight and training in evidence-based learning.

D1/D2/D3D1 D3 Summer D3 Fall to D4 Spring

Fall Summer D4 Fall/Spring D4 Spring

Research Methods

(DENT 647)See description

below

** These courses can be taken in any order; however, this is the suggested sequence.

Conduct of Research (DENT 698-9) Elective

See description below

Honors in Research

Program

Summer Research Program (UPSTART)

Introduction to Research Research Training Hands-on Research Research publications and presentations

DENT 647 COURSE DESCRIPTIONThis course will provide an in-depth description of fundamental research methods and theirassociated statistical analyses. Students will learn how research studies are designed,beginning with identifying a rationale for the research project, determining an appropriateresearch methodology for the study, assessing how data are collected and analyzed, andinterpreting and communicating results. Students will learn to critically evaluate the publishedliterature. The course format includes lectures and group discussions.Goals:A. To provide students with an understanding of how various research designs canaddress scientific questions.B. To familiarize students with potential pitfalls of various designs and practicaldifficulties that might arise when conducting research.C. To develop students’ understanding of how statistical analyses are used to describeand analyze data.

DENT 698-9The main objective of this elective is to permit exposure of dental students to research. This exposure may be a first time event or may be a continuation of previous research experiences. The participating students will be trained in design and successful implementation of a research project through a didactic summer seminar series and hands-on research in the Summer, Fall, or Spring Semester. Students can participate in this elective anytime during their sophomore (D2), junior (D3), or senior (D4) years with prior approval from the Course Coordinator; however, the elective credit will be posted only in the D4 year. Students can complete all requirements to obtain this elective credit prior to or during their D4 year.