Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC prerequisites

2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

Two semesters with lab. As universal for dental school as it is for medical.

2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

Two semesters with lab. The DAT's general chemistry section assumes the full sequence.

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.

1 semester · 3 credits

Most dental schools ask for 1 semester · 3 credits and list it as required.

Not required at Ostrow, unlike at roughly half of US dental schools. Biochemistry appears only on the recommended side: "We strongly recommend that you take upper-division science courses (such as biochemistry, anatomy, histology, physiology) in addition to the required prerequisites."

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.

8 credits

Most dental schools ask for 2 semesters · 6 credits.

"English composition (1 year)," where a year is 2 semesters or 3 quarters and "a minimum of 8-10 units/credits," and the sequential terminal course rule applies. In practice it is usually moot: "English composition and philosophy/history/fine arts requirements are automatically waived if you have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in the United States or Canada prior to starting dental school," and that degree is required of every matriculant.

No published minimum

"We strongly recommend that you take upper-division science courses (such as biochemistry, anatomy, histology, physiology) in addition to the required prerequisites." No credit figure is attached, and note the phrase "in addition to": these do not substitute for anything on the required list.

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.

8 credits

A full-year humanities prerequisite the dental baseline does not carry: "Philosophy, history or fine arts (1 year)." A year here means 2 semesters or 3 quarters and "a minimum of 8-10 units/credits," and this is the one prerequisite exempt from the rule that classes be sequential and terminal. Read the waiver before planning around it: "English composition and philosophy/history/fine arts requirements are automatically waived if you have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in the United States or Canada prior to starting dental school." Since Ostrow requires that degree of everyone anyway, the line rarely binds.

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

"A committee letter may be substituted if your undergraduate institution offers this service." The sentence sits directly after the two science professor letters and their lecture-performance rule, so that is what it most plainly replaces; the page does not say whether the separate dentist letter is also covered, so confirm with the admissions office before dropping it.

2 letters

Two letters, but with an unusually narrow definition of who counts: "Two letters of recommendation from lecture-based science professors in biology, chemistry or physics, excluding letter of recommendation from a lab instructor or a research PI. Letters must reflect your performance in the lecture component of class." A research mentor who never taught you in lecture cannot write one of these, which is worth knowing a year or two before you ask.

1 letter

"One letter of recommendation from a dentist. (It can be a general DDS or a specialist.)" A specialist counts, so a letter earned in an oral surgery or orthodontics practice answers this as fully as one from a general dentist.