Wichita State University
Dentistry
Preparation for a Profession in Dentistry
A bachelor’s degree is required for admissions into most dental schools. Any academic major is acceptable, as long as the degree includes the prerequisite core courses in math and sciences. Dental schools expect candidates to demonstrate the intellectual, analytical, and problem-solving skills necessary to succeed in dental school. Students are strongly advised to balance coursework in the natural sciences with coursework in humanities and social sciences. The General Education component of a Liberal Arts degree provides a sound foundation for demonstrating an interest in and knowledge of a diverse and global society. Candidates should also consider coursework in areas such as anthropology, communication, economics, ethics, logic, psychology, sociology, and statistics.
A profile of the freshman class is usually posted on the website of each dental school.
Most schools base admissions decisions on a balanced combination of the following:
- Grade point average: This varies by school but is usually above a 3.0 minimum.
- DAT (Dental Admission Test) scores
- Personal statement from the candidate
- Professional experience (employment, volunteer work, shadowing, etc.)
- Interview
- Recommendations from academic instructors (usually in the sciences), an academic advisor, and a dental professional
Core Courses for Dental Programs (Minimum Requirements)
- Both English 101 College English I (3) and English 102 College English II (3)
- Communication 111 Public Speaking (3)
- One of:
- Math 111 College Algebra (3) and Math 123 College Trigonometry (3)
- Math 112 Pre-Calculus (5)
- Chemistry 211 General Chemistry I (5) and Chemistry 212 General Chemistry II (5)
- Chemistry 531 Organic Chemistry I (5) and Chemistry 532 Organic Chemistry II (5)
- Chemistry 661 Principles of Biochemistry (3)
- Biology 210 General Biology I (4) and Biology 211 General Biology II (4)
- Biology 420 Molecular Cell Biology (4)
- Biology 527 Comparative Anatomy (5) or Biology 640AB/AL Human Anatomy w/lab (5)
- Biology 534/535 Human Physiology w/lab (5)
- One of:
- Physics 213 General Physics I (5) and Physics 214 General Physics II (5)
- Physics 313 University Physics I with lab (315) and Physics 314 University Physics II with lab (316)
The core classes above meet the minimum prerequisites for admission to most dental schools.
Recommended additional science courses include Biology 330 General Microbiology (5), Biology 590 Immunobiology (5), Statistics 370 Elementary Statistics (3), and histology. Courses demonstrating manual dexterity such as sculpting or jewelry making can be beneficial. Core courses may require prerequisites and are not offered every semester – consult with your advisor.
Admission Test: The Dental Admissions Test (DAT) is required for admission to dental school. To be a competitive applicant, a grade point average of 3.5 and DAT score of 19 or higher is required.
Application: The application period for dental school occurs during the summer and fall before the fall semester one wishes to begin dental studies. All applications are processed through AADSAS, the Association of American Dental Schools Application Service. The state of Kansas maintains a contract for seats each year with the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) School of Dentistry. Since competition for these seats is highly competitive, students are encouraged to apply to a number of schools for admission. If you would like to know more about specific dental schools in the US, your advisor has access to a book listing US dental schools.