Dental School Course Recommendations

Below are common prerequisites for dental school admission, and UMBC courses that are likely to meet those requirements may be viewed by clicking on the expandable element. However, this guide is intended to serve as a starting point for students who are preparing for health professional school. Each professional school has unique prerequisites. Visit the websites of individual schools to learn about the specific admissions requirements for those programs. Students may also find that the ADEA Dental School Explorer (opens in a new tab) provides helpful information about dental school prerequisites as well as other information and data related to admission.

The recommended courses may have prerequisites of their own. Use the Course Descriptions in the Catalog (opens in a new tab) to find information on course descriptions, prerequisites, and course attributes (to determine if a course satisfies a General Education Program requirement).

While this guide lists only UMBC courses, students may complete prerequisite courses at other institutions. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that they have taken all of the courses necessary to meet the admissions requirements of the dental programs that they intend to apply to. Many dental schools accept prerequisites taken at a community college. However, some professional schools will not consider prerequisite courses taken at a community college, while others may place restrictions on how many, or which courses, may be taken at two-year institutions.  Additionally, some schools will accept AP, IB, or similar test credit for certain prerequisites, while others will not. Policies vary from school to school, but generally, dental schools tend to accept test credit for math and English more often than for chemistry or physics. AP credit for foundational biology (BIOL 140 and 141) is acceptable as well because these courses are prerequisites for the upper-level biology courses that typically meet the biology admissions requirements for dental school. It is the applicant’s responsibility to review the admissions policies of the dental programs that they intend to apply to.

  • Molecular and General Genetics (course code: BIOL 302)
  • Cell Biology (course code: BIOL 303)
  • Experimental Biology Laboratory (course code: BIOL 300L)
  • Either Molecular and General Genetics Laboratory (course code: BIOL 302L) or Cell Biology Laboratory (course code: BIOL 303L)

These upper-level biology courses help students prepare for dental school coursework as well as the Dental Admission Test (DAT). Additionally, Cell Biology is a prerequisite for many upper-level biology courses.

  • Principles of Chemistry I (course code: CHEM 101)
  • Principles of Chemistry II (course code: CHEM 102)
  • Introductory Chemistry Lab (course code: CHEM 102L)

These courses help students prepare for dental school coursework as well as the Dental Admission Test (DAT). Additionally, they are prerequisites for the organic chemistry sequence.

 

 

  • Organic Chemistry I (course code: CHEM 351)
  • Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (course code: CHEM 351L)
  • Organic Chemistry II (course code: CHEM 352)
  • Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (course code: CHEM 352L)

These courses courses help students prepare for dental school coursework as well as the Dental Admission Test (DAT). They also help students prepare to take biochemistry. Note: Organic Chemistry II and lab are typically only offered in the spring and summer terms.

If a student’s major requires algebra-based physics or does not require physics, take the Basic Physics sequence:

  • Basic Physics I (course code: PHYS 111)
  • Basic Physics II (course code: PHYS 112)

Note: these courses include a laboratory section (with no separate course code)

Note: Basic Physics II may conflict with Organic Chemistry Laboratory II

If a student’s major requires calculus-based physics, take the Introductory Physics sequence and the Experimental Physics lab:

  • Introductory Physics I (course code: PHYS 121)
  • Introductory Physics II (course code: PHYS 122)
  • Experimental Physics: Fundamentals with Applications (course code: PHYS 132L)

These courses help students prepare for dental school coursework. This material is not covered on the Dental Admission Test.

Students may choose either of the following two options:

  • Biological Chemistry (course code: BIOL 430) or Comprehensive Biochemistry I (course code: CHEM 437)

Note: Comprehensive Biochemistry I is typically only offered in the Fall semester

This course helps students prepare for dental school coursework. This material is not covered on the Dental Admission Test.

  • Composition (course code: ENGL 100)
  • Any other course with an ENGL prefix

English or Humanities requirements vary among dental schools, however, two semesters of courses with an ENGL prefix will meet the requirements for many schools. English courses that require analyzing literature, typically with a course code in the 200s or above, can help students develop the critical thinking skills that support preparation for the Reading Comprehension section of the Dental Admission Test.

  • Precalculus Mathematics (MATH 150), Applied Calculus (MATH 155) or Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (MATH 151)

Math requirements vary among dental schools. UMBC biology courses that are appropriate for dental school preparation have a math prerequisite of pre-calculus or higher math. Course selection may depend on major requirements for mathematics.  The Dental Admission Test does not cover calculus.

 

  • Introduction to Statistics for the Social Sciences (STAT 121), Statistics with Applications in the Biological Sciences (STAT 350), or another statistics course required by an academic major

Statistics is covered on the Dental Admission Test.

  • General Microbiology (BIOL 375)
  • Microbiology Laboratory (BIOL 273L)

Microbiology for Allied Health (BIOL 273) may also be acceptable, but the upper-level microbiology course may help students prepare for the rigorous dental school curriculum. Dental schools typically publish information about required and recommended courses on their websites.

  • Human Physiology (BIOL 307) and, if required, Physiology lab (BIOL 305L)

For schools that specify anatomy or require two semesters of anatomy and physiology:

  • Human Anatomy and Physiology I (BIOL 251) and Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory (BIOL 251L)
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology II (BIOL 252) and Human Anatomy and Physiology II Laboratory (BIOL 252L)

These courses are sometimes required or recommended by dental schools.