Current Students
As a current Oral Health Sciences student, here you will find GMS forms and information to help guide you through your academic career at Boston University. This page provides access to important information regarding registration and coursework, program calendars, student support services, faculty advising and assistance with your thesis/capstone and dental school applications.
Calendars & Program Timeline
2024-2025 STUDENTS
Orientation: Thursday August 1, 2024
Classes Start : Monday, August 5, 2024Spring Classes Start: January 6, 2025 ( GSDM academic calendar)
GMS Masters Commencement: May 15, 2025
Program End Date: August 25, 2025
Capstone Due Date: July 8, 2025 (tentative)
2025-2026 STUDENTS
BU academic calendar
GSDM academic calendar (2024-2025, but 25-26 should be posted in summer)
Orientation: Thursday July 31,2025
Classes Start : Monday, August 4, 2026
Thanksgiving break: Wednesday November 26, 2026
Classes Resume: Monday December 1
Last exam for fall semester: Tentative, December 15
Spring Classes Start: Tentative, January 5, 2026
MLK Jr. Day Holiday, Classes Suspended: Monday, January 19
No formal spring break as dental school does not have a break
GMS Spring Break: March 7-15
GMS Masters Commencement: May 14, 2026
Program End Date: August 25, 2026
Capstone Due Date: July 8, 2026 (tentative)
Other Calendars
- OHS Calendar
- GMS Academic Calendars
- GSDM Academic Calendar
- GMS calendar
- Student Life & Wellness Calendar
- Professional Life Calendar
Since OHS students take several DMD courses, they follow irregular start and end course dates. (The tentative dates are for the academic year are as follows. Orientation is usually the last week of July.)
- OH 730 Physiology: August – December
- OH 731 Physiology: January – Feb
- OH 735 Applied Physiology: August-December
- OH 751 Biochemistry: August – December
- OH 770 Evidence Based Dentistry: September – December
- OH 700 Pathology: March – May
- OH 740 Microbiology & Immunology: January – May
- OH 710 Applied Histology: January-April
- Other GMS courses: January – May (Infectious Diseases, Head & Neck Anatomy, Prevention & Oral Health Promotion in Dentistry, Biomedical Information, Biostatistics)
Handbook, Forms & Policies
Mentoring, Tutoring & Academic Support
Advising
- Students are advised by Dr. Davies (Director), Dr. Young (Assistant Director) and Dr. Bottenfield ( Senior Academic Program Manager) who advise on study and time management skills, assist with registration, and thesis and capstone mentoring. Additionally, the program supports your dental school goals by providing mock interviews, personal statement critique, and letters of recommendations as well as other advice for a successful dental admissions cycle.
Review Sessions
- Review sessions are provided by a TA/Group Tutor on Monday and Tuesday evenings (5-7pm) throughout both semesters for the DMD courses for all OHS. This sessions are optional. Sessions are taught by an OHS alum who is a D1 student at BUGSDM.
Tutoring
- One-on-one tutoring is available 2hours/wk for any OHS student who struggles in a course. This is covered by OHS and continues throughout the semester.
- Group tutoring is also provided for students who need work on test taking or work on larger conceptual content that is better studied in small groups led by a tutor. This is generally on Wednesday and Thursday evenings (5-7pm).
- All tutors, are current D1 students who are OHS alumni who received advanced standing in a particular course
Peer Mentoring
- Near-Peer Mentoring is a large part of the success of the OHS program. OHS students who have completed the program and matriculated to BU’s Goldman School of Dental Medicine are excited to give back to current OHS students. Current mentoring opportunities includes programs like DentMent which helps students adjust to the rigor of the OHS program by providing guidance with time management, test taking and study skills while also helping with adjusting to Boston as well as Big Sib program which is similar but more social. These mentors along with the tutors serve to support current OHS and provide invaluable resources whether social or academic.
Students & Student Services
Student Services
- GMS Students Webpage
- GMS Community Catalyst Center C3
- Disability & Access Services
- Resource Guide by Student Health Services
Employment & Assistantships
Student Life
Diversity & Inclusion
Student Life & Wellness
- Student Groups in GMS
- Student Life and Wellness
- Student Groups in GSDM open to OHS students
- American Association of Public Health Dentistry, BU Chapter (AAPHD) (email: aaphd@bu.edu)
- Asian Dental Student Organization (ADSO) (email: buadso@bu.edu)
- Hispanic Student Dental Association, BU Chapter (HSDA) (email: hsda@bu.edu)
- Muslim Student Association (MSA) (email: msagsdm@bu.edu)
- Persian Student Dental Association (PSDA) (email: psda@bu.edu)
- Student National Dental Association, BU Chapter (SNDA) (email: snda@bu.edu)
- Wellness in GMS
Dental School
Dental School Applications
- Dental School Applications
- Dental Links
- Additional Information can be found on the OHS Blackboard site
Professional Life in GMS
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer & BU Employment Opportunities
- Great Boston Food Bank
- Haley House
- Oral Health Promotion – BU Dental’s Health Policy and Health Service Dept
- Outreach Van Project at BUSM
- Pine Street Inn
- Rosie’s place
- Doing Good Together
- VolunteerMatch
- Boston Cares
- BostonVolunteer
- Boston Healthcare for the Homeless
- Community Service (on GMS)
- Job Opportunities (on BU)