dental · Kirksville, Missouri · private
A.T. Still University Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health prerequisites
What ATSU Missouri asks for in the 2026-27 cycle, as read from the school's own admissions page. 4 lines differ from the standard dental school set, marked below.
Coursework
- Biology with labrequired
2 semesters · 8 credits · lab
Two semesters with lab. As universal for dental school as it is for medical.
- General chemistry with labrequired
2 semesters · 8 credits · lab
Two semesters with lab. The DAT's general chemistry section assumes the full sequence.
- Organic chemistry with labrequired
2 semesters · 8 credits · lab
Two semesters with lab at most schools. A small number accept one semester plus biochemistry; confirm on the school's page before planning around it.
- Biochemistryrequired
1 semester · 3 credits
"Three semester hours/Four quarter hours (minimum 300-level)." The level floor matters more than the hours here: a survey or introductory biochemistry course below 300 level does not answer it.
- Physics with labrequired
2 semesters · 8 credits · lab
Two semesters, algebra-based accepted essentially everywhere. A handful of schools want only one semester; the two-semester plan covers them all.
- English or writing-intensiverequireddiffers
1 semester · 3 credits
Most dental schools ask for 2 semesters · 6 credits.
"English composition/Technical writing, minimum of three semester hours/four quarter hours." One semester, half the baseline's two, and technical writing counts.
- Anatomy and physiologyrequireddiffers
6 credits
Most dental schools ask for 3 credits and list it as recommended.
Required outright where the baseline only recommends it, and listed as two separate courses: "Human Anatomy, Three semester hours/four quarter hours" and "Human Physiology, Three semester hours/four quarter hours". The page does not require laboratory for either, unlike the four year long science sequences it explicitly marks as lecture and lab.
- Microbiologyrecommended
3 credits
Required at a meaningful minority and recommended widely; a strong pick for the spare science slot.
Experience hours
- Dentist shadowingrecommendeddiffers
100+ hours
Most dental schools ask for 100+ hours and list it as required.
"Significant clinical shadowing or experience (100 hours strongly recommended)." Strongly recommended rather than required, and paid or volunteer dental experience counts alongside observation.
- Non-clinical volunteeringrecommended
100+ hours
"Significant leadership and service to underserved populations (100 hours strongly recommended)." MOSDOH names the population, not just the habit: service to the underserved is the school's stated mission and generic volunteering is a weaker answer to this line.
Letters
- Committee letterrecommended
1 letter
Accepted in place of the science faculty letter: "one from a science faculty member or committee letter". It does not replace the dentist letter, which is required either way.
- Science faculty letterrequireddiffers
1 letter
Most dental schools ask for 2 letters.
"Applicants must provide a minimum of two (2) letters of recommendation: one from a science faculty member or committee letter and one from a dentist." One science faculty letter, not the baseline's two, and a committee letter can take its place.
- Dentist letterrequired
1 letter
"one from a dentist." One of only two letters MOSDOH requires, and nothing else substitutes for it.
Also on the school’s page
MOSDOH publishes prerequisites in both semester and quarter hours, and requires that "All prerequisite coursework must be completed at a regionally accredited U.S. institution". The year long sequences are general biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry and algebra based physics, each "One year lecture and lab, minimum of eight semester hours/12 quarter hours", which matches the baseline exactly. The single semester courses are human anatomy, human physiology, biochemistry and English composition or technical writing. On scores, "Applicants must have a minimum cumulative and science grade point average of 2.50 on a 4.0 scale (3.0 recommended)", one of the lower published floors among US dental schools, and the DAT is required with official scores submitted through ADEA AADSAS by January 31 of the application year. No DAT number is published, but "Scores older than three years will not be accepted." The AADSAS deadline is December 1. MOSDOH also runs a Still Scholars early assurance route with its own separate requirements, not recorded here.
School
atsu.eduCheck your transcript against this list
Cyclios keeps this list beside your coursework and tells you what ATSU Missouri still needs from you.
See it for dental school