Pre-Dental Students

Course Requirements

DENTAL SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS

The majority of Dental Schools require the following science courses in addition to other subjects normally taken by all students: two semesters of English composition (ENGL 1013, 1023 or advanced writing courses), two semesters each of general and organic chemistry (CHEM 1103/1101L, 1123/1121L, 3603/3601L, 3613/3611L), two semesters physics (PHYS 2013/2011L, 2033/2031L), and one semester introductory biology (BIOL 1543/1541L) along with introduction to zoology (BIOL 1603/1601L). One or two advanced biology courses (such as anatomy, physiology, microbiology, Dental Science (ANTH 4523), and biochemistry (CHEM 3813) are recommended. Practicing dentists recommend business courses such as business law, management concepts, and accounting.

Current variations from this general pattern are listed below:
The University of Alabama in Birmingham requires six hours of mathematics, but three hours could be statistics, computer science, accounting etc.
The Baylor College of Dentistry has the standard requirements and recommendations.
The Louisiana State University requires nine hours beyond the introductory biology course to be chosen from: cell biology, molecular biology, histology, anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, and embryology. They further require that three semesters of English be taken.
The University of Louisville requires only the first semester of physics (mechanics) and three semesters of biology after the introductory semester to be chosen from: anatomy, physiology, cellular biology, microbiology, histology, biochemistry, and immunology.
The University of Missouri at Kansas City requires a total of 4 semesters of biology including biology I, anatomy, physiology and cell biology and recommends additional courses such as histology, neuroscience, and microbiology. A college course in mathematics (college algebra or higher) can be substituted for the second semester of physics. Applied art classes such as jewelry making and sculpting are recommended.
The University of Oklahoma requires a semester of psychology.
The University of Tennessee, Memphis requires that the applicant take two of the following courses before beginning dental school: biochemistry, genetics, comparative anatomy, developmental biology, cell biology, histology, microbiology, molecular biology, physiology or neurobiology.