Master after Master Program of Forensic Odontology

History.

You can find some information on the Bologna declaration that was signed in 29 countries across Europe. This declaration has had and continuous to have an enormous impact on the way higher education will be organized in future throughout Europe and the rest of the world.

GGS Forensic Odontology and Dental Law.

The Bologna declaration had also an important impact on the training program in Forensic Odontology. Initiated in 2001 by Prof. Dr. Guy Willems the Forensic Odontology curriculum was intended for Belgian dentists, either freshly graduated from university or practicing dentistry in private offices. The consequence was that in stead of a one year full time training the postgraduate course was designed as a two-year half-time program. This program consisted of the major forensic topics related to odontology and was combined with aspects of Belgian Law related to dentistry and the dentist as an expert.

Master of Forensic Odontology.

The new curriculum (starting october 2005) of the Master after Master in Forensic Odontology (correct "Bologna"-terminology) is basically the same but is taught in english. The existing two-year half-time postgraduate course is redesigned into a one-year full-time program. All major forensic topics remain included but are now spread over compulsory and optional courses. Together with the master apprenticeship each student should earn 60 study points during the academic year. The details of the master in forensic odontology program are available if you click here.

The amount of the special registration fee is 5.600,00 euro (changed as of 2009-2010).

Prerequisites

The candidate should have an interest for science, be eager to learn, have a critical mind, be accurate and have a feeling for detail, be able to work in teams, be communicative and social, have a good knowledge of English, be able to analyse and synthesise problems, be in good mental and physical health and be able to cope with highly stressful situations, be able to concentrate and take decisions, have knowledge of basic science such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology, and be proficient in dental science.

Admission requirements

The program is open to Masters in Dentistry or equivalent degrees.

Prototypical path

Path and figure Master of Forensic Ondontology

Master of Forensic Odontology

20 credits mandatory from Medical Courses, 6 credits mandatory from Biomedical Science Courses, 14 credits from Optional Courses, 20 credits mandatory from Master Proof = 60 credits total.

MASTER PROOF

The apprenticeship or master thesis is an essential part of the curriculum which should enable students to familiarize themselves with the different steps in combined forensic odontology and biomedical research: formulation of a research hypothesis, the actual experimental work, data analysis and interpretation, drawing conclusions and writing a scientific report worthy of publication in an international peer reviewed journal.
The first part of the master apprenticeship consists of the actual research activity under the supervision of a faculty member. In the second part, the students will write a report on their research activities under the format of a research paper that has to be accepted for publication after submission to an international peer reviewed journal. The research work for the master thesis will be performed in one of the research units of the dental or medical faculty. The thesis research will be performed throughout the academic year.