dental · Stony Brook, New York · public
Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine prerequisites
What Stony Brook asks for in the 2026-27 cycle, as read from the school's own admissions page. 6 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
Roughly half of schools require a semester and the share grows every cycle. The DAT does not test it, but first-year dental biochemistry assumes you have seen 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-intensiverequired
2 semesters · 6 credits
Two semesters of English or writing-intensive coursework at most schools that name it.
- Statisticsrecommendedextra here
1 semester · 3 credits
Statistics is not required in its own right. It is one of the two ways to fill the second half of the six credit math block, in place of Calculus II, and it does not substitute for Calculus I.
- Calculusrequiredextra here
2 semesters · 6 credits
The dental baseline names no math at all, and Stony Brook requires two semesters of it: "Calculus I and Calculus II or Calculus I and Statistics (6 credits)". The FAQ is blunt about which half is fixed: "Calculus I is required. To satisfy the Math prerequisite, applicants must take either Calculus I and Calculus II or Calculus I and Statistics." Calculus I is unavoidable; only the second course is a choice.
- 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.
"Dental assisting and/or shadowing", minimum 50 hours. Half the baseline number, and Stony Brook counts paid dental assisting toward it, not only observation.
- Non-clinical volunteeringrecommended
100+ hours
Few schools publish a number; committees still read for a service habit held over time.
Letters
- Committee letterrequireddiffers
1 letter
Most dental schools ask for 1 letter and list it as recommended.
The FAQ makes this the primary route, not an option: a "pre-professional advisory letter is required," and individual science letters cannot be substituted if your institution offers a committee letter. The admissions page words the same rule more softly, "A pre-health committee letter or letter packet is encouraged. However, if your college or university does not provide a committee letter/packet, three recommendation letters will be considered." The stricter FAQ wording is recorded here.
- Science faculty letterrequireddiffers
3 letters
Most dental schools ask for 2 letters.
The fallback route only, for applicants whose college offers no committee letter: "three recommendation letters from science faculty members will be accepted." Three rather than the baseline's two. The admissions page suggests a wider field of writers, "science professors, research mentors, advisors, and employers"; the FAQ restricts the fallback to science faculty and that stricter reading is what is recorded.
- Dentist letternot required here
No dentist letter is named on either Stony Brook page. The requirement is a pre-health committee letter, or three letters in its absence.
Also on the school’s page
Stony Brook publishes a plain credit table: "Biology: 2 semesters with labs (8 credits)", "General Chemistry: 2 semesters with labs (8 credits)", "Organic Chemistry: 2 semesters with labs (8 credits)", "Physics: 2 semesters with labs (8 credits)", "English: 2 semesters writing intensive (6 credits)", "Biochemistry: 1 semester (3 credits)", and "Calculus I and Calculus II or Calculus I and Statistics (6 credits)". Everything except the math block matches the dental baseline, so only math carries a course line here. The FAQ adds that "Non-calculus-based Physics I and II with labs will be accepted" and that for biochemistry "A lab is not required." On outside credit: "We accept community college credit. However, it is preferable that all prerequisites are completed at a four-year college," with a maximum of 60 community college hours before the third year; "Applicants must score a four or above to receive AP credit" and should follow an AP course with a further course of equal or higher level; IB scores are not accepted for prerequisites. Pass/fail is considered only for Spring 2020 through Summer 2021. Three years of college, 90 credits, is the floor for matriculation, "however, it is highly desirable that applicants possess a baccalaureate degree." Preferred minimums are a 3.0 total and 3.0 science GPA, and the DAT "is mandatory" with preferred scores of 17 academic average, 17 perceptual ability, and 17 total science; the 2025 entering class averaged 3.82 overall and 3.85 total science GPA with DAT figures of 23 academic average, 23 perceptual ability, and 22 total science. All of those DAT numbers are on the retired 1 to 30 scale rather than the 200 to 600 scale in use since March 2025, so read them as legacy figures rather than converting them. AADSAS applications are due October 1. The admissions page and the FAQ disagree about letters; the stricter FAQ wording is what the lines below record.
Check your transcript against this list
Cyclios keeps this list beside your coursework and tells you what Stony Brook still needs from you.
See it for dental school