Dental
Preprofessional Studies
Bright futures, and smiles.
Prepare for dental school and take the first steps toward a satisfying career—and as there is no predental major, you can tailor your undergraduate journey to meet your needs.
The details
What you need to know.
Dental school can lead you toward two different degrees (doctor of dental surgery or doctor of medical dentistry) and many career paths. Once you earn one of these degrees, you will need to pass a licensing examination.
Workplace Environment
- Established dental practice
- Private practice
- Public health
- Research
- Academics
- Oral surgery (with further education)
- Orthodontics (with further education)
- Endodontics (with further education)
- No specific undergraduate major required
- Prerequisite courses required
- Meet with your preprofessional advisor as early as possible
Note: Once you have finalized your major and academic plan, a discipline-specific faculty member may also be assigned as a predental mentor and guide.
Dental school can lead you toward two different degrees (doctor of dental surgery or doctor of medical dentistry) and many career paths. Once you earn one of these degrees, you will need to pass a licensing examination.
Workplace Environment
- Established dental practice
- Private practice
- Public health
- Research
- Academics
- Oral surgery (with further education)
- Orthodontics (with further education)
- Endodontics (with further education)
- No specific undergraduate major required
- Prerequisite courses required
- Meet with your preprofessional advisor as early as possible
Note: Once you have finalized your major and academic plan, a discipline-specific faculty member may also be assigned as a predental mentor and guide.
Requirements and Recommendations
What to expect from your preprofessional studies.
The following list includes some of the most common prerequisites for many of the dental schools in the United States:
- General biology with labs (at least two semesters)
- Anatomy and physiology with labs (at least two semesters)
- Microbiology and/or biochemistry
- General chemistry with labs (at least two semesters)
- Organic chemistry with labs (at least two semesters)
- General physics with labs (at least two semesters)
- Psychology
- Composition
- Communication
Be sure to spend time observing practicing dentists to be certain that dentistry is the right field for you. Also, most dental schools require about 100 hours of observation before applying, and it is a good idea to space those hours throughout your time as an undergrad. It is also strongly recommended that you begin to develop your fine-motor skills. This can be done through numerous hobbies that involve hand dexterity, such as the following:
- Building models
- Knitting
- Painting
- Stitching
- Playing the guitar
Applying to Graduate or Preprofessional school
Prepare for the next step.
You should submit your application to dental school early in the application cycle, so preparation for your application should start well before any deadlines. In order to apply for dental school, you should take the following steps:
- Research potential dental schools as early as your freshman year
- Prepare for and pass the Dental Admission Test (generally taken in the spring or summer before senior year
- Use the American Association of Dental Schools Application Services, a common application utilized by most dental schools that
- Provide a personal essay and letters of recommendation
- Interview
It can be a long, complex journey to achieve admission to a good dental school, so it is important to consistently work with your preprofessional advisor and mentor.
Contact Us
Have questions?
Contact Marcy Ball, preprofessional advisor for health programs, at [email protected] or 260-481-5735.