POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA IN ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY
COURSE STRUCTURE
This course involves coursework, clinical placement and a research project of no more than 5,000 words. In addition, if you have a single undergraduate degree, you will complete a number of nominated subjects designed to bridge into the MBBS or BDSc course. You will be expected to maintain high professional and academic standards throughout the course.
ASSESSMENT
Assessment may vary slightly for individual subjects. Assessment will consist of continuous evidence of satisfactory progress, a research project and the satisfactory audit of a surgical log-book. Written work (75%) [subdivided into an assignment (25%) and written examinations (50%)] and oral examinations (25%) are held at the end of the year with a pass required in each area of assessment to obtain the Graduate Diploma. The level of surgical attainment and professional practice and skill will be assessed through the Offices of the RACDS and RACS through the processes of surgical mentoring and competency assessments. Satisfactory passes in both professional and research components are required and these two components are independent of each other.
This course is approximately 50% clinical practice and 50% in research. This distribution accords with international best practice leading to clinical specialisation in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. All subjects are year-long subjects.
| Subject No. | Subject title | Points | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| 511-871 | Research Design 1 | 12.5 | 1 |
| 511-873 | Research Project 1 | 12.5 | 1 |
| 511-875 | OMS Clinical Practice 1 | 25 | 1 |
| 511-872 | Research Design 2 | 12.5 | 2 |
| 511-874 | Research Project 2 | 12.5 | 2 |
| 511-876 | OMS Clinical Practice 2 | 25 | 2 |
| 100 | |||
Dental Practice Board of Victoria Continuing Professional Development hours are approved for this course. Please refer to this link for details: http://www.dentprac.vic.gov.au/cpdactivities.asp.
511-871 Research Design 1 and 511-872 Research Design 2
These subjects will introduce you to critical analysis of literature, planning a research protocol and writing a thesis. This is intended to assist you to develop the necessary analytical and writing skills that are needed for thesis preparation and publication.
Assessment: Each subject is assessed with an assignment worth 100% of the final mark. The assignments are open-book in style, and address current issues in information collection, critical analysis of current literature and research design.
Contact Hours/Time Commitment: One 1-hour lecture each week. Three hours of non-contact private study each week.
511-873 Research Project 1 and 511-874 Research Project 2
The research project should be structured so that you participate in all steps involved in research including the formulation of the research question(s), the design of the study including the selection of appropriate methodology, the collection and analysis of data, the interpretation of the findings and the preparation of the report. You will select a research topic and complete a literature review, leading to the development of a research project which should be submitted as an assignment for review by the end of second semester.
Assessment: You must submit an assignment of no more than 5000 words.
Contact Hours/Time Commitment: Regular meetings with your supervisor. These may be weekly, fortnightly or as determined by agreement between the student and the supervisor. Three hours of non-contact study each week for the preparation of the research proposal.
511-875 OMS Clinical Practice 1 and 511-876 Clinical Practice 2
A series of seminars, assigned readings, student-prepared assignments, case presentation, written examination answers and PBL exercises in relation to the practice of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. To pass this subject, you must achieve an overall pass in written examinations, assignments, case presentations, viva voce and objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). The Curriculum will be that defined by RACDS for the training of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.
Assessment: Surgical skills and knowledge will be assessed by means of written and practical examinations including viva voce, OSCE and simulated surgery. Professional and peer review together with the provision of a surgical log book will be required to confirm the level of excellence required for a pass in this subject. The standards will be those defined by RACDS for the training of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.
Contact Hours/Time Commitment: Five 3-hour sessions each week attending assigned clinics including one 3-hr session of clinical demonstration to undergraduate students.