Academic requirements

College studies should be completed at an accredited four-year college or university. All requirements must be completed before the student begins his/her freshman year in the School of Dentistry. Any exceptions to this policy must be approved by the dean or his designee.

The minimum entrance requirement is 90 semester credits of liberal arts study, including:

Chemistry 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours)

Eight (8) semester hours (at least two courses) in general inorganic chemistry, including laboratory work, are required. A course in quantitative and qualitative analysis may be accepted in lieu of one course in general inorganic chemistry. Eight hours (8) of organic chemistry (at least two courses), including laboratory work, are required.

 
Biology 8 Semester Hours (12 Quarter Hours)

Zoology and a course in comparative vertebrate anatomy are preferred but not mandatory. Only four semester hours of botany or that portion of a general biology course pertaining to botany will apply toward the biology requirement. Laboratory work must be included.
 
Physics 8 Semester Hours (12 Quarter Hours)

College physics courses, including laboratory work, are required.
 
English 6 Semester Hours (9 Quarter Hours)

Six semester hours of English are required. Composition, literature and/or comparative literature will fulfill the requirement.
 
Biochemistry** 3 Semester Hours (5 Quarter Hours)

Three semester hours in biochemistry are required. This course must be taken at a four-year institution. Laboratory work is not required.
 
Electives 49 Semester Hours

Suggested pre-doctoral science electives include anatomy, cell biology, genetics, microbiology and physiology. Math courses are suggested in preparation for physics and advanced chemistry. Students are advised to gain through their college studies an understanding and an appreciation of various cultural backgrounds in preparation for their futures as professionals and community leaders. With these ideas in mind, it is recommended that courses in English composition and literature, speech, history, philosophy, sociology, political science, economics, psychology, foreign language, and the like be included in the schedule of pre-dental studies.

** There are many variations to the scope, breadth and depth of the material covered in courses titled biochemistry. When considering the biochemistry class that best satisfies our requirement, we suggest a general, broad-based introductory course. Typical course content would include biological compounds, sugars and carbohydrates, amino acids and proteins, nutrients and minerals, metabolism, bioenergetics, enzymology, catabolism, lipids, nucleic acids and metabolism, anabolism, urea cycle, regulation, molecular and cellular biology, DNA/RNA and protein synthesis, genetic engineering, and cell cycle. Biochemistry content covered on the National Board Part I can be seen on pages 32–33 of the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations official document.