Indiana University School of Dentistry prerequisites

5 semesters · 20 credits · lab

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

"Biological Sciences - Complete a minimum of 20 semester credit hours (13 of those credit hours must include these)": anatomy or histology with labs, physiology, microbiology or immunology, and cell biology, biochemistry, or molecular biology. IUSD names no introductory biology sequence; it counts a large total instead, with the named upper level courses carried on their own lines here. Laboratory is specified for the anatomy or histology portion.

2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

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

1 semester · 4 credits · lab

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

"Organic Chemistry with lab (4 cr hrs)", one semester rather than the usual two, inside a chemistry bucket of at least 12 hours.

1 semester · 3 credits

"Cell Biology, Biochemistry, or Molecular biology (3 cr hors)" [sic]. The three hour slot is required, but biochemistry is only one of three courses that fill it, so cell biology or molecular biology answers it equally.

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.

IUSD names no English requirement. "English Composition" appears only as one of five ways to fill the 3 hour humanities block, beside history, literature, philosophy and foreign language, and that block is carried on the social sciences and humanities line.

7 credits · lab

Most dental schools ask for 3 credits and list it as recommended.

"Anatomy or Histology with labs - Human, Mammalian, or Comparative (4 cr hrs)" plus "Physiology - Human, Mammalian, or Cell (3 cr hrs)", which is 7 hours taken separately. IUSD adds: "If Anatomy and Physiology are combined, must complete A/P I / II with labs (8 cr hrs)." Histology substitutes for anatomy.

3 credits

Most dental schools ask for 3 credits and list it as recommended.

"Microbiology or Immunology (3 cr hrs)" sits inside the 13 named hours of the biological sciences bucket, so it is required here rather than merely recommended. Immunology answers the line just as well. No laboratory is specified for this course.

2 semesters · 6 credits

Two separate three hour blocks. "Social sciences - Complete a minimum of 3 semester credit hours and must include one of these: Psychology, Communication Studies." "Humanities - Complete a minimum of 3 semester credit hours and must include one of these: History, Literature, Philosophy, Foreign Language, English Composition." Community college credit is accepted for both blocks, unlike the sciences.

100+ hours

"100 total hours of shadowing is required and must be completed by the October 1st application deadline." Breadth is prescribed, not just the total: "Shadowing is to be completed within General Dentistry and at least two (2) different dentistry specialty practices, for example, oral surgery, periodontics, orthodontics, etc. Shadowing in public health clinics and other health environments are acceptable. Shadowing can be completed in-person or virtual."

100+ hours

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

1 letter

"Committee letters are accepted and counted as one letter, instead of three." A committee letter therefore covers only one of the two required letters here, so plan a second writer alongside it.

1 letter

Most dental schools ask for 2 letters.

"You must submit two letters of academic recommendation as part of your application... One of the letters must be from science faculty member or research faculty member, under whom you studied in a university setting." One science letter, not the baseline's two, and a research faculty member counts. Letters must be on official letterhead with the evaluator's mailing address, phone number, email address and signature, and IUSD calls recommenders at random to verify.

1 letter

Two letters are required in total. The first must be science or research faculty; of the second IUSD says, "The second letter may be from an academic area of study or a dentist with whom you have shadowed within the 12 months prior to the date of your application." A professor in any discipline answers that second slot, and so does a dentist, so neither writer is required on its own.

1 letter

Most dental schools ask for 1 letter and list it as required.

Not required. A dentist is one of two accepted writers for the second letter: "The second letter may be from an academic area of study or a dentist with whom you have shadowed within the 12 months prior to the date of your application, and who is able to evaluate your skill, character, and potential for success in the program." Note the 12 month recency window if you choose this route.