The pre-dental requirements can normally be completed in three years but dental schools are increasingly preferring candidates who have completed the baccalaureate degree. If you are planning to complete the undergraduate degree, keep in mind that "pre-dental" is not a major and that requirements for a major and minor must be met to graduate.
To meet dental school course requirements and prepare for the Dental Admission Test (DAT) it is suggested that you include the following in your curriculum:
Chemistry 121, 122 (General Chemistry I and II and Lab I and II) (10 cr.)
Chemistry 231, 232, 236, 237 (Organic Chemistry I and II and Lab I and II) (8 cr.)
Physics 151, 152, 156, 157 (General Physics and Lab) (10 cr.)
Biology 150, 230 (8 cr.)
Note that an additional Biology course (beyond 150 and 230) is necessary to bring this total up to 8 credits.
English 100, 200 (Freshman English) (6-8 cr.)
English Literature is necessary (in addition to English 100 and 200) to finish the 8 semester credit English requirement of the University of Minnesota.
Math 146, 147 (College Algebra and College Algebra and Trig) (6 cr.)
Psychology 101 (3 cr.)
The dental schools to which UW-RF students commonly apply are Marquette University and the University of Minnesota. A comparison of courses required for these programs is provided below:
Marquette University*
University of Minnesota*
Chemistry-General 8 cr.
Chemistry-Organic 8 cr.
Physics 8 cr.
Biology 8 cr.
English 6 cr.Chemistry-General 8 cr.
Chemistry-Organic 8 cr.
Chemistry-Biochemistry 3 cr.
Physics 8 cr.
Biology 8 cr.
English 8 cr.
Applied Human Psychology 3 cr.*All credits are shown as semester credits.
The math prerequisite for General Physics (Math 146 and 147)
will fulfill the math requirement for each school.
Additionally, dental schools strongly advise the applicant to have completed a broadly-based liberal arts curriculum. Electives suggested by each school include:Marquette University (derived from: http://www.dental.mu.edu):
"Additional courses in human-related biology and biochemistry are strongly recommended to furnish a broad foundation, and courses in mathematics are suggested in preparation for physics and advanced chemistry."
". . . it is recommended that English literature, speech, history, philosophy, sociology, political science, economics, accounting and psychology be studied."
University of Minnesota (derived from: http://www1.umn.edu/dental/edprog/dds/applicant.html):
". . . students are encouraged to take the following preferred electives: art, cell biology, histology, human anatomy, microbiology, and physiology. These electives are especially important for persons who have completed only the minimum credits required (87 semester/130 quarter) to enter dental school."
"Additional electives can be chosen from among the following subjects: accounting, analytical chemistry, anthropology, business (practical courses), classics, comparative anatomy, economics, etymology, genetics, history, humanities, immunology, higher mathematics, logic, microscopic anatomy, political science, sociology, and a foreign language."
Explore alternative careers in the health sciences.
Talk to dentists and other health professionals about the nature of their
work.
Engage in a job or volunteer position that demonstrates an interest in working
with people.
The DAT (Dental Admission Test), administered by the American Dental Association, must be taken for application to dental schools. You may take the DAT during the spring (April) of the Junior year or during fall (October) of the Senior year. Application for the exam is due approximately one month in advance. It is important that you plan well ahead for application and preparation for this exam. Extensive information, including coverage and registration for the DAT, is available on the American Dental Association DAT page.
Application to dental schools is carried out through the American Association of Dental Schools Application Service. Look for many important details at the AADSAS Web site.
Marquette University
School of Dentistry
Admissions Office
P.O.Box 1881
Milwaukee, WI 53201-1881
Phone: 414.288.3532
or 800.445.5385
Marquette Admissions Web page: http://www.dental.mu.eduOffice of Enrollment Management
University of Minnesota School of Dentistry
15-226 Malcolm Moos Health Sciences Tower
1515 Delaware Street S.E.
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Phone: 612.625.7149
E-mail: bolan005@tc.umn.eduU of Minnesota Admissions Web page: http://www1.umn.edu/dental/edprog/dds/applicant.html
For application information on other U.S. and Canadian dental schools check the AADSAS Web site.
Information regarding the pre-dental curriculum at UWRF is available through the pre-dental advisor:
| Dr. E. Katherine Miller Department of Biology University of Wisconsin-River Falls 410 South Third Street River Falls, WI 54022 Phone: 715.425.3364 E-mail: e.katherine.miller@uwrf.edu |
University of Wisconsin - River Falls
410 South Third Street
River Falls WI 54022-5001
715.425.3911
