dental · Portland, Oregon · public
OHSU School of Dentistry prerequisites
What OHSU asks for in the 2026-27 cycle, as read from the school's own admissions page. 2 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 quarters or two semesters," with lab. Note the asymmetry: biology, general chemistry and physics each want three quarters, organic chemistry only two, so on a quarter calendar organic is the one short sequence.
- Biochemistryrequired
1 semester · 3 credits
"One quarter or one semester." OHSU requires labs with every basic science prerequisite except this one: the FAQ states the school "requires that you take all labs that correspond with basic science prerequisite courses with the exception of Biochemistry, in which a lab course is highly recommended."
- 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-intensiverequired
2 semesters · 6 credits
Two semesters of English or writing-intensive coursework at most schools that name it.
- Statisticsrequiredextra here
1 semester · 3 credits
"Math/statistics: one quarter or one semester." OHSU names math or statistics as a prerequisite in its own right, which the dental baseline does not carry. Either satisfies it.
- Anatomy and physiologyrecommended
3 credits
Named by a minority of schools and useful preparation for the first year regardless.
- Microbiologyrecommended
3 credits
Required at a meaningful minority and recommended widely; a strong pick for the spare science slot.
Experience hours
- Dentist shadowingrequireddiffers
50+ hours
Most dental schools ask for 100+ hours.
"At least 50 clinical observation hours in a dental setting. Of the 50 hours, at least 25 hours should be in a general practice setting." Half the baseline's 100, but with the split specified. The FAQ softens the same figure to "recommended to have accumulated at least 50 documented clinical hours of dental observation, or 'shadowing'," so treat 50 as a floor rather than a ceiling.
- Non-clinical volunteeringrecommended
100+ hours
Few schools publish a number; committees still read for a service habit held over time.
Letters
- Committee letterrecommended
1 letter
OHSU accepts "one pre-professional committee letter" as a complete substitute for the two science faculty letters and the dentist letter, not as an addition to them. If your college offers one, it is the shorter path here.
- Science faculty letterrequired
2 letters
"Two letters of evaluation from basic science faculty and one from a dental professional, or one pre-professional committee letter." The FAQ words the same writers as "two letters of evaluation from natural basic science faculty." Two is the count only if you go the individual-letters route; a committee letter replaces the whole set.
- Dentist letterrequired
1 letter
The dental evaluation "must be from a dentist you shadowed or worked with," which ties this letter directly to the observation hours. The FAQ names the writer as "a dentist or dental specialist." Required unless you submit a pre-professional committee letter instead.
Also on the school’s page
OHSU states its prerequisites in quarters and semesters side by side, which matters because Oregon runs on quarters: three quarters or two semesters each of general biology, general chemistry, physics and English composition, two quarters or two semesters of organic chemistry, and one quarter or one semester each of biochemistry and math or statistics. Everything must be completed "for a grade of C or higher," science courses "should be completed as a sequence (for example, 201/202/203 or 201a/201b/201c)," and the admissions FAQ adds that "Prerequisite coursework must be completed for a letter grade, unless a letter grade option is unavailable" and that "Applicants should minimize the number of courses completed for pass/no pass credit." The FAQ also says OHSU "highly recommends that applicants complete prerequisite courses in a traditional classroom setting versus online" and that the school "currently does not have a statute of limitations on coursework," so old credit does not expire here. A degree is not mandatory: "Although OHSU does not require a baccalaureate (B.A., B.S.) degree for admission, it is highly recommended," with a minimum of three years, 90 semester or 135 quarter credit hours, of pre-dental education suggested. No minimum GPA or DAT score is published; the DAT is required, "Canadian DAT scores are not accepted," and the priority deadline for receipt of official scores is January 1. A drug screening must be completed within 14 days from the date of matriculation, with the background check run after a conditional acceptance offer. One disagreement between OHSU's own pages: the admission requirements page states the 50 dental observation hours as a requirement while the FAQ calls them recommended. The stricter page is recorded here.
School
ohsu.eduCheck your transcript against this list
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