dental · Columbus, Ohio · public
The Ohio State University College of Dentistry prerequisites
What Ohio State asks for in the 2026-27 cycle, as read from the school's own admissions page. 8 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
One semester only, Ohio State equivalent "Physics 1200," against the baseline's two-semester sequence. Whether the lab counts follows the school's rule: it is required if built into the course number and not if listed separately.
- English or writing-intensiverequireddiffers
1 semester · 3 credits
Most dental schools ask for 2 semesters · 6 credits.
One English/composition course (Ohio State equivalent "English/Comp 1110.01") rather than the baseline's two semesters.
- Physiologyrequiredextra here
1 semester · 3 credits
One physiology course. Ohio State's own equivalents are "Physiology 3200 or EEOB 2520 or PHR 3100."
- Anatomy and physiologyrequireddiffers
3 credits
Most dental schools ask for 3 credits and list it as recommended.
This line carries Ohio State's required human anatomy course ("Anatomy 2300 or 3300 or EEOB 2510 or 2511"). The separate physiology course sits on the physiology line.
- Microbiologyrequireddiffers
3 credits
Most dental schools ask for 3 credits and list it as recommended.
One microbiology course; Ohio State's equivalent is "Microbiology 4000." Lab only if it is built into the course number, per the school's lab rule.
Experience hours
- Dentist shadowingrequireddiffers
40+ hours
Most dental schools ask for 100+ hours.
"Complete your required 40 hours of dental experience and report them on your AADSAS application." Without the 40 hours at submission "your application will be considered incomplete and you will not be considered for an interview," and "the average number of hours for students that are admitted is about 120." Dental experience can be paid or unpaid work where you observed patient care, interacted with practitioners, or had responsibility for patient care.
- 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
"If the letter is a committee letter, we will accept it if one of the members of the committee teaches in the area of science."
- Science faculty letternot required here
No two-science-letter rule here. Ohio State asks for "at least two recommendations" and at most four, and only one must come from a college faculty member, science preferred but not required; see the faculty letter line.
- Faculty letter (any discipline)requiredextra here
1 letter
"One letter must be from a college faculty member," preferably a PhD-level science professor. The second required letter "can come from someone who knows you well but is not a relative," with an academic advisor, additional faculty, coach, manager or shadowing dentist given as examples. At least two letters, no more than four, all through AADSAS.
- Dentist letternot required here
No dentist letter is required; a "shadowing dentist" appears only as one example of who could write the second letter.
Also on the school’s page
Ohio State counts courses, not credit hours: twelve prerequisites in nine subjects (anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, microbiology, one English/composition course, one physics course, and two semesters each of biology, chemistry and organic chemistry). "To be eligible to apply to Ohio State's DDS program, you must complete 8 of the 12 prerequisite courses prior to submitting your application," all twelve before classes begin, each with a C or better at "an accredited, educational, English-speaking institution within the United States or Canada." Labs follow the school's own rule: "If a lab is required as part of the specific course number, then the lab IS required. If the lab is listed as a separate course number, it is NOT required." Published minimums: total GPA 3.0, science GPA 3.0, DAT Academic Average 370, Perceptual Ability 360, Survey of Natural Sciences 380, all on the current 200 to 600 scale. Candidates under the GPA floors may still interview with an advanced degree at 3.5 or better, or a 3.5 in the last 45 hours. At least 60 semester hours completed; the Canadian DAT is not accepted and scores are valid three years; the AADSAS deadline is October 1.
School
dentistry.osu.eduCheck your transcript against this list
Cyclios keeps this list beside your coursework and tells you what Ohio State still needs from you.
See it for dental school