General Pathology
DDS 6253
Summer, 2026
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR COURSE DIRECTOR:
Kristine Krafts, M.D.
Moos 16-206
612-626-7996
kkrafts@umn.edu
Course website: DentalStudentPathology.com
COURSE PURPOSE
General Pathology provides students with a basic understanding of the foundational aspects of
pathology, such as inflammation, tissue injury and repair, and neoplasia. After finishing this course,
students will understand in general how disease impacts body tissues and organ systems, and will
recognize common abnormal patterns produced by oral and systemic diseases. This course
precedes the Systemic Pathology course (DDS 6254) given in the DDS2 fall semester, and provides
the foundational knowledge necessary for understanding systems-based pathology.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
- Understand basic pathologic processes such as inflammation and neoplasia. This will create a
solid foundation for your study of systemic and oral pathology. - Be able to recognize the morphologic appearance of common pathologic patterns of disease,
such as inflammation and tissue injury. This is important for systemic pathology, oral pathology,
and boards. - Learn the basics of the language of pathology (e.g., how to name tumors, what does “dysplasia”
mean). This will prepare you for systemic and oral pathology and for boards.
SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY COMPETENCIES ADDRESSED BY COURSE
Major competencies:
1.4 Recognizing the manifestations of systemic disease and how the disease and its
management may affect the delivery of oral health care.
Minor competencies:
2.2 Communicating and collaborating with other members of the health care team to facilitate
the provision of health care and health promotion.
3.3 Recognizing the importance of maintaining professional growth and life-long learning.
OPTIONAL TEXTBOOK AND READINGS
The optional textbook for this course is Kumar V, et al (eds): Robbins Basic Pathology, 10th ed.,
Philadelphia, WB Saunders, 2017.
There are no specific assigned readings from this textbook; all of the material you are responsible for
in this course will be delivered by lecture in class. The textbook is listed in case you are particularly
interested in a particular topic and wish to do further reading on your own.
There are also additional optional resources for studying (review videos, crosswords, Kahoots) posted on our course website (DentalStudentPathology.com). I have created these resources because students learn in different ways,
and I want to provide as many review resources as possible. Please note, though, that there is no new content
in these resources – so just use them however you see fit.
CREDITS
2
GRADING AND EVALUATION POLICIES
This course uses the following content delivery method: in-person lectures.
Competency in this course is addressed by written assessments. There are three 10-point quizzes
and one 60-point exam in this course.
The point scores of the quizzes and examinations will be added together to give a single numerical score for the course, and grades will be determined as follows:
A = scores greater than or equal to 90% of total course points
B = scores between 80% and 89% of total course points
C = scores between 70% and 79% of total course points
Scores below 70% will be considered failing.
STUDENT EXPECTATIONS
Students’ evaluation of the course and the participating faculty are considered to be a mandatory
requirement for the successful completion of this course and are used to help improve the course
each year. Students will be required to complete evaluations on line before grades will be posted.
GRADE DISPUTES
Grade disputes will follow University and SOD policies listed in the student handbook. All grade
disputes must first be addressed to the course director.
REMEDIATION POLICIES
Students who receive a failing grade may be offered remediation, which may consist of a remedial
examination for the course. All student failures are reviewed by the Preclinical/Didactic
Progression Subcommittee and the ultimate decision for remediation for students in academic
difficulty lies with that committee. If a remediation process is recommended and successfully
completed, the highest grade that can be earned in the course is a C-.
MAKE-UP EXAM POLICIES
Students are expected to take examinations at the scheduled times. If a student has an excused
absence for missing an exam (illness, family emergency, etc.) the make-up examinations for
excused absences may consist of multiple choice, essay, or short answer examinations.
Student must contact the Academic Affairs attendance office at 612.624.3300 as well as the course
director at kkrafts@umn.edu in order to schedule a make-up examination.
ATTENDANCE
Contact the Office of Student and Resident Affairs regarding requests for excused absences. The
School of Dentistry attendance policy may be found on the student intranet.
FEEDBACK
I encourage students to contact me with any questions or concerns as they arise during the course.
This may be done through the class president or vice-president, or on an individual basis, as
deemed appropriate by the students. I am always available by email (kkrafts@umn.edu).
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Academic Integrity violations include, but are not limited to:
Scholastic Dishonesty – Cheating on written examinations, assignments or practical examinations or engaging in
unauthorized collaboration on any academic work.
Plagiarism – presenting the scholarly work of another as one’s own.
Dishonesty – of any type
Falsifying or Forging – attempts to forge or falsify patient records and charts, classroom attendance, or student pre-clinical and clinical records.
Misrepresenting – presenting someone else’s project or clinical work as one’s own.
Consequences of misconduct will be determined by the Code of Conduct Hearing Board and
may include as examples: failure of assignments/examinations, failure of the course,
retaking of examination or project, etc.
COMMUNICATION
All individual and full class email communications will be delivered through your University of Minnesota email account. Announcements intended for the whole class will be posted on our website (DentalStudentPathology.com) as well.
It is a requirement of the course to check your e-mail daily. While in class, please turn off all pagers and cellular phones.
DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTER
The University of Minnesota views disability as an important aspect of diversity, and is committed to
providing equitable access to learning opportunities for all students. The Disability Resource Center
(DRC) is the campus office that collaborates with students who have disabilities to provide and/or
arrange reasonable accommodations.
- If you have, or think you have, a disability in any area such as, mental health, attention,
learning, chronic health, sensory, or physical, please contact the DRC office on your
campus (UM Twin Cities – 612.626.1333) to arrange a confidential discussion regarding
equitable access and reasonable accommodations. - Students with short-term disabilities, such as a broken arm, can often work with instructors
to minimize classroom barriers. In situations where additional assistance is needed,
students should contact the DRC as noted above. - If you are registered with the DRC and have a disability accommodation letter dated for this
semester or this year, please contact your instructor early in the semester to review how the
accommodations will be applied in the course. - If you are registered with the DRC and have questions or concerns about your
accommodations, please contact your access consultant.
Additional information is available on the DRC website: https://diversity.umn.edu/disability/ or email
drc@umn.edu
MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES
As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as
strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty
concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may
lead to diminished academic performance or reduce your ability to participate in daily activities.
University of Minnesota services are available to assist you with addressing these and other
concerns you may be experiencing. You can learn more about the broad range of confidential
mental health services available on campus via http://www.mentalhealth.umn.edu.
(Developed and endorsed by the Provost’s Committee on Student Mental Health, June 2006.)
WELLNESS PROGRAM FOR DENTAL STUDENTS:
The Minnesota Dentist Wellness Program offers a consulting and counseling service to help
Minnesota dentists and dental student members with the many stressors that impact their lives
and their practice of dentistry. Sand Creek is a service offered free of charge to dental students.
Help is available by phone 24 hours a day,7 days a week by call 1-800-632-7643. Face-to-face help
is also offered through a counseling and consulting network with over 500 offices in Minnesota.
APPROPRIATE STUDENT USE OF CLASS NOTES:
Students may not distribute, via internet or other means, instructor-provided lecture notes or
other instructor provided materials except to other members of the same class without the
express consent of instructor.
CHANGES MADE IN RESPONSE TO STUDENT FEEDBACK:
In response to student feedback, our website has been updated with more quiz questions and
explanations. In addition, the number of guest lecturers has been decreased.
FACULTY INFORMATION
Kristine Krafts, M.D. (Course Director) – kkrafts@umn.edu
Dental Student Pathology 