Harvard School of Dental Medicine prerequisites

2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

"One year with lab experience," and it "should include cellular and molecular aspects." HSDM states no credit count. "Advanced Placement (AP) credits cannot be used; however, if students have earned college credit for biology through AP coursework, upper-level courses in biology will satisfy this requirement."

2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

Part of HSDM's combined chemistry block: "Two-year chemistry sequence (four courses) including inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry is required. Lab experience is required." General chemistry preparation "should include foundational topics in physical and inorganic chemistry such as bonding, molecular structure, chemical reactivity, equilibrium, energetics, and thermodynamics." AP credits that enable an upper-level course may meet one semester of the block.

2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

Counted inside the four-course, two-year chemistry sequence rather than as a standalone two-semester requirement. Upper-level chemistry and organic chemistry courses and labs also satisfy it.

1 semester · 3 credits

Biochemistry is the third named component of the required two-year chemistry sequence "providing the foundation for the study of biologically relevant chemistry," not a separate three-credit line.

2 semesters · 8 credits

Most dental schools ask for 2 semesters · 8 credits · lab.

"One year is required. Lab experience is recommended but not required." Preparation should cover biologically relevant mechanics, kinetics, thermodynamics, properties of matter, wave theory, electricity and magnetism, and optics.

2 semesters · 6 credits

HSDM frames this as writing rather than English: "One year is required of writing-intensive coursework," with "one year of critical writing/thinking preparation, preferably in a course devoted specifically to the development of expository writing skills." AP credits cannot satisfy it.

No published minimum

The statistics half of the recommended year of mathematics, "preferably biostatistics."

No published minimum

"One year of mathematics (one semester each of calculus and statistics, preferably biostatistics) is recommended." This line is the calculus half; the statistics half is its own line.

3 credits

Named by a minority of schools and useful preparation for the first year regardless.

3 credits

Required at a meaningful minority and recommended widely; a strong pick for the spare science slot.

No published minimum

"Coursework in Behavioral Sciences (e.g. psychology, sociology, etc.) is recommended."

100+ hours

Shadowing dentists. Schools that publish a number most often say 100 hours, and admissions committees read breadth across general and specialty practice. Hours shadowing physicians do not answer this; log dental chairside time here. Across the 77 school overlays, 36 require shadowing, 22 recommend it and 19 publish nothing; the numbers those schools name range from 30 hours to 100, so this baseline figure is a planning floor rather than a common standard.

100+ hours

Few schools publish a number; committees still read for a service habit held over time.

1 letter

"Applicants need three individual letters or a Pre-Health committee letter." The committee letter fully replaces the three individual letters.

2 letters

"At least two of the three letters must be from science professors (biology, chemistry, and physics-related courses) who can speak to the candidate's academic abilities and potential for success." The third letter is any individual evaluator; personal references from family, friends, or pastors are not accepted.

Not required at HSDM. "Candidates may also submit an optional fourth letter (e.g., from a dentist the candidate shadowed)." Optional is the school's word, so the baseline's required dentist letter does not apply here.