Degree Project for Master's Degree (120 credits) in Odontology

Description of this course

Degree Project for Master's Degree (120 credits) in Odontology

Examensarbete för masterexamen i odontologi

Specific entry requirements

• Applicants with a Degree of Master of Science in Dental Surgery comprising 300 or 270 credits are required to have at least 60 credits at the second cycle-level, of which at least 30 credits within the main field of odontology, including the course Scientific Theory and Research Methodology within Dentistry (15 credits), or the equivalent.
• For applicants with a Degree of Master of Science in Dental Surgery comprising 180 credits, an additional 30 credits in completed second cycle courses within the main field of odontology, including the course Scientific Theory and Research Methodology within Dentistry (15 credits) or equivalent, are required. In addition to this, 60 credits in completed courses, of which 30 credits at second cycle level, are required.

Proficiency in Swedish and English equivalent to Swedish B/Swedish 3 and English A/English 6 is also required.

Outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge and comprehension of odontological research, with a particular focus on the chosen dental field.
• Independently and systematically identify and formulate research questions.
• Show advanced knowledge of scientific methods, including data analysis, and apply the acquired knowledge to the field of dentistry.
• Reflect on and integrate relevant ethical aspects in their own research area.
• Identify and reflect on aspects of equal opportunities and sustainability relevant to their own project.
• Independently and systematically search for and collect relevant data.
• Critically review, evaluate and synthesise information.
• Independently and systematically plan, execute and complete a research project in the main field of dentistry within a given time-frame, which contributes to the development of new knowledge.
• Present their work, its conclusions and the knowledge and arguments on which they are based, in written and oral form.
• Communicate in English about odontological research, in written and oral form.
• Critically and objectively assess others' scientific work and give and receive relevant feedback. 
• Evaluate their own work and scientific contribution, and show insight into the possibilities and limitations of research.
• Identify and take responsibility for their own need of further knowledge.
• Demonstrate responsibility and professionalism in collaboration with others, including following timeframes, contributing actively, and maintaining respectful communication.

Content

The student independently, with consultative supervision, plans and carries out a research project in the field of odontology. The student is trained in the different aspects of the research process, including formulation of questions and hypotheses, literature search, critical review of literature, data collection and analysis, as well as in giving oral presentations. By giving feedback on another student's work, the student's critical review skills are further enhanced.

The research conducted is presented in the form of a written scientific master’s thesis. The quality and scope of the thesis should correspond to a publishable article for a scientific journal in the dental field. The thesis is written in English and is supplemented with a summary in Swedish.

Teaching methods

The main part of the course is dedicated to the completion of the research project. The project is carried out as independent and individual work, with the consultation of an approved supervisor. The research project is carried out either at the Department of Dental Medicine at Karolinska Institutet or another university, public authority or company/organisation. The progress is continuously monitored in scheduled seminars. There are also scheduled lectures and workshops on selected topics.

Examination

Examination:

• Written presentation of the research plan; after the research plan is approved, the experiment or collection of material and data may proceed.
• Written and oral progress report of the research project at a half-time seminar, as well as written peer review of another student's written progress report.
• Written and oral presentation of the research project at a seminar, as well as written and oral peer review of another student's thesis.
• The final written version of the thesis is assessed by the examiner.

If the student does not pass the half-time examination, does not submit the written work related to the project by the scheduled time, or does not attend the examination, they must wait until the next examination opportunity. Examinations are carried out once a semester.

Written work related to the project may be supplemented to obtain a pass grade, within a defined frame time.

Compulsory activities: Seminars and workshops.

The examiner decides if, and how, absence from compulsory parts can be compensated. Study results cannot be reported until the student has participated in compulsory course elements or compensated for any absence in accordance with instructions from the examiner. Absence from a compulsory course element could mean that the student can not retake the element until the next time the course is offered.

A student who is not approved after the regular examination opportunity has the right to participate in five additional examination opportunities. If the student has completed six failed examinations, no additional examination opportunity is given. An examination opportunity is counted as the number of times the student has participated in one and the same examination. An examination opportunity for which the student has registered but has not participated is not counted as an examination opportunity.

If there are special grounds, or a need for adaptation for a student with a disability, the examiner may decide to deviate from the syllabus's regulations on the examination form, the number of examination opportunities, the possibility of supplementation or exemptions from the compulsory section/s of the course etc. Content and learning outcomes as well as the level of expected skills, knowledge and abilities may not be changed, removed or reduced.

The examiner may, with immediate effect, interrupt a student's education if the student demonstrates such serious deficiencies in knowledge, skills or attitude that patient safety or patient confidence in dental/health care or the higher education institution is at risk. In the event of such interruption, the student fails the course and one examination opportunity is thus used up. In such cases, an individual action plan must be drawn up, stating which activities and tests are required before the student is given the opportunity to resume their studies. The number of tests within the action plan is limited to three.

Transitional provisions

Examination according to the previous version of the syllabus will be offered for the last time in the spring semester of 2027. If the course undergoes major changes or is closed down, examination according to the current version of the syllabus will be offered no more than two academic years after the implementation of the revision/close-down.

Other directives

Language of instruction: Swedish and English.
Language of examination: English.

Literature and other teaching aids

Recommended literature

• Wallén, Göran, Vetenskapsteori och forskningsmetodik, 2. uppl. : Lund : Studentlitteratur, 1996 - 151 s. ISBN: 91-44-36652-3, LIBRIS-ID: 8353602
• Brunette, Donald Maxwell, Critical thinking: understanding and evaluating dental research, 2nd ed. : Chicago : Quintessence Pub. Co., c2007 - x, 312 p. ISBN: 978-0-86715-426-9 (pbk.), LIBRIS-ID: 10682194
• Riegelman, Richard K., Studying a study and testing a test: how to read the medical evidence, 4. ed. : Philadelphia : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2000 - 356 s. + e 1 DC-ROM ISBN: 0-7817-1860-0, LIBRIS-ID: 8307462
• Godfrey-Smith, Peter, Theory and reality : an introduction to the philosophy of science, Second edition : The University of Chicago Press: 2021, ISBN: 9780226618654
• Johansson, Lars-Göran, Introduktion till vetenskapsteorin, Fjärde upplagan : 2018, ISBN: 9789172351141