Pre-Dental Schools and Courses
A pre-dental undergraduate program provides you with an introduction to general health and anatomy. Get information on schools that offer pre-dental degree programs, and find out what courses are included.
What You Need To Know
In order to pursue a career in the field of dental work, it is necessary to find a four-year college or university that offers pre-dental programs in its undergraduate curriculum, such as Johns Hopkins University. Obtaining a B.A. or B.S. is what is required by all dentistry schools after graduating, and taking undergrad courses focusing on sciences such as chemistry and biology are typically preferred and included in pre-dental undergraduate programs.
<table border="1"><tr><td> <b>Schools</b> </td><td> Any four year college or university that offers B.A or B.A. degrees, but schools with pre-dental programs are preferred (e.g., Johns Hopkins University, Towson University, and Marquette University).</td></tr>
<tr><td> <b>Degrees</b> </td><td> B.A. or B.S.</td></tr>
<tr><td> <b>Courses</b> </td><td> Organic chemistry, Biology, English, prep for DAT or Dental Admissions Test.</td></tr>
</table><h3 id="section---WhatArePreDentalPrograms">What Are Pre-Dental Programs?</h3><p>A pre-dental program is an undergraduate credit program that allows you to complete a bachelor's degree while receiving credit for a future, professional dental degree. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), an American Dental Association (ADA)-accredited dental school accepts students when they hold all the necessary pre-dental requirements. While these requirements can be completed through a pre-dental program, they can also be completed in other types of undergraduate programs. Some dental schools will only require you to finish 2-3 years of undergraduate credits that cover your pre-dental requirements and general education courses (<i>www.bls.gov</i>).
</p><h3 id="section---WhatKindOfSchoolsProvideThisTraining">What Kind of Schools Provide This Training?</h3><p>All dental schools require you to complete credits from a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree program in order to gain admittance. Within a 4-year B.A. or B.S. program, you can enroll in a pre-dental program that supplements the courses you take in your B.A. or B.S. major; for example, you might pursue a B.S. in Chemistry and also enroll in a pre-dental curriculum. Hence, you need to choose a college or university that offers 4-year programs with pre-dental courses. A 2-year associate's degree program cannot offer the necessary credits for applying to dental school.
</p><p>Some colleges and universities that offer pre-dental programs include:
</p><ul><li>Auburn University
</li><li>Eastern University
</li><li>Michigan State University
</li><li>Murray State University
</li><li>The Ohio State University
</li><li>Johns Hopkins University
</li><li>Towson University
</li><li>Marquette University
</li></ul><h3 id="section---WhatCoursesAreUsuallyTaken">What Courses Are Usually Taken?</h3><p>The specific courses that most pre-dental programs include are heavily science-based, though other subjects are also needed. Course topics usually include the following:
</p><ul><li>Organic chemistry lab
</li><li>Chemistry lab
</li><li>Biology lab
</li><li>Physics
</li><li>Biochemistry
</li></ul><p>Non-science coursework typically includes:
</p><ul><li>English or English composition
</li><li>Introductory psychology
</li><li>Introductory sociology
</li><li>Statistics
</li></ul><h3 id="section---HowDoesAPreDentalProgramHelp">How Does a Pre-Dental Program Help?</h3><p>You do not have to declare a specific major to be accepted at most dental schools. However, dental school applications require you to hold credits in biology, chemistry and physics before enrollment. Some pre-dental programs require you to take the Dental Admissions Test (DAT) during your undergraduate years, and a pre-dental program will prepare you to take this exam.</p>