University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry prerequisites

6 credits · lab

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

"Biological Science 6 semester hours (9 quarter hours)", less than the baseline's two full semesters. The lab is not optional: "All dental school prerequisite science courses must include labs."

2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

UIC does not name general chemistry separately. It asks for 14 semester hours of chemistry in total, of which at least 4 must be organic, so the standard 8 hour general chemistry sequence plus the 4 hour organic minimum comes to 12 and leaves 2 more hours of chemistry to find anywhere in the department. Labs required.

1 semester · 4 credits · lab

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

"at least 4 semester hours in Organic Chemistry (6 quarter hours)", one semester, inside the 14 hour chemistry block rather than beside it. Labs required. Biochemistry is counted on its own line here and does not eat into the chemistry hours.

1 semester · 3 credits

"1 course in Biochemistry (no lab required)." The only prerequisite science course UIC exempts from its blanket laboratory rule.

6 credits · lab

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

"Physics 6 semester hours (9 quarter hours)", short of the baseline's eight, and the laboratory is required because physics is a prerequisite science course.

2 semesters · 6 credits

Six semester hours, and if you arrived with AP credit: "English AP credit coursework can be satisfied by enrolling in 6 hours of upper level Literature, Advanced Composition or Intensive writing classes."

1 semester · 3 credits

"To be competitive, applicants are encouraged to take 3-4 upper level courses from the list of advanced science classes (lab not required but encouraged where possible)": Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, Histology, Microbiology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Immunology, Genetics. Three or four of them, not one. These are electives, so the blanket prerequisite laboratory rule does not reach them.

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.

100+ hours

Most dental schools ask for 100+ hours and list it as required.

Recommended rather than required, at the baseline's number: "It is recommended that applicants obtain 100 or more United States college level dental practice shadowing hours at the time of application submission." Hours must be in United States practice, and "Students often shadow a variety of dentist, including general practitioners."

100+ hours

No number is published, but the expectation is stated plainly: "The UIC College of Dentistry prides itself on serving the underserved. Applicants are expected to have obtained a variety of experiences, including community service and volunteer work. The experiences do not have to be specifically dentistry related."

No published minimum

"Students are encouraged to become exposed to research where possible", and UIC points prospective students to its own research opportunities. No hours figure, and it is encouragement rather than a requirement, but the dental baseline carries no research line at all.

1 letter

"One committee letter of recommendation will satisfy the three-letter requirement." It replaces all three letters, the science references and the dental professional included.

2 letters

Most dental schools ask for 2 letters and list it as required.

Three letters are required, but UIC does not mandate who writes them: "We strongly recommend submitting two academic references, preferably from two science professors." Strongly recommended and preferred, not required, which is why this sits below the baseline's level. Letters must arrive electronically through AADSAS, on letterhead with a signature; paper and emailed letters are not accepted.

1 letter

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

"A third letter from a dental professional (non-relative) that an applicant shadows is highly preferred." Highly preferred rather than required, and it must come from a dentist you actually shadowed and who is not a relative.