dental · Lexington, Kentucky · public
University of Kentucky College of Dentistry prerequisites
What Kentucky asks for in the 2026-27 cycle, as read from the school's own admissions page. 3 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 labrequireddiffers
1 semester · 4 credits · lab
Most dental schools ask for 2 semesters · 8 credits · lab.
"One semester or two quarters of general physics with laboratory." Half the usual sequence, one of the lighter physics requirements in dentistry.
- English or writing-intensiverequired
2 semesters · 6 credits
"Two semesters or three quarters of English with emphasis on communications." Two semesters as at most schools, but the communications emphasis is the college's own wording and worth matching when you choose the courses.
- Anatomy and physiologyrecommended
3 credits
Named by a minority of schools and useful preparation for the first year regardless.
- Microbiologyrequireddiffers
3 credits
Most dental schools ask for 3 credits and list it as recommended.
"One semester or two quarters of microbiology" is on the required list here, not the recommended one. The college specifies laboratories for biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry and physics but not for microbiology.
Experience hours
- Dentist shadowingrequireddiffers
50+ hours
Most dental schools ask for 100+ hours.
"UKCD is continuing to require at least 50 hours of dental shadowing this year. The majority of shadowing hours should come from a general dentistry environment, supplemented by specialty practice hours." Half the baseline number, but a required dentist letter comes out of that same time.
- Non-clinical volunteeringrecommended
100+ hours
No number is published. "As a caring attitude is central to the practice of dentistry, applicants should demonstrate a commitment to service, more specifically direct service, and a desire to help others. Applicants may wish to highlight volunteer and service activities, including tutoring, assisting seniors, volunteer EMT, coaching youth sports, mentoring, etc." Note the emphasis on direct service.
Letters
- Committee letterrecommended
1 letter
"A committee letter from an institution, in place of individual science letters, will also satisfy the science letter requirement." It replaces the two science letters only; the dentist letter is still needed separately.
- Science faculty letterrequired
2 letters
"Two letters written by science faculty are required. These faculty should have served as the applicant's course instructor in a classroom-based science course... These letters should come from faculty in prerequisite science areas such as biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, microbiology, or biochemistry." The classroom restriction has teeth: "Research mentors or professors who have not taught the applicant in a classroom setting should be submitted as the optional fourth letter, as they do not fulfill the criteria of a required science letter."
- Dentist letterrequired
1 letter
"A third letter must be provided from a dentist the applicant has shadowed. This letter should provide insight into the applicant's understanding of the dental profession, professionalism, interpersonal skills, and motivation for a career in dentistry." The writer must be a dentist you shadowed, so line this up while logging the 50 hours.
Also on the school’s page
UKCD lists its prerequisites in semesters, not credit hours: "Two semesters or three quarters of biology with laboratories; Two semesters or three quarters of general chemistry with laboratories; Two semesters or three quarters of organic chemistry with laboratories; One semester or two quarters of general physics with laboratory; Two semesters or three quarters of English with emphasis on communications; One semester or two quarters of microbiology; and One semester or two quarters of biochemistry." Only one semester of physics is required, and microbiology is required rather than merely suggested. "All prerequisite coursework must be taken at a regionally accredited US institution and must be completed by matriculation in July. It is the sole responsibility of admitted applicants to ensure completion of prerequisite coursework prior to matriculation into the DMD program. An offer of admission can be rescinded if prerequisite coursework has not been completed within the stated timeline." Beyond the list, the college recommends more basic science, "anatomy (human), biochemistry, cell biology, embryology, genetics, histology, immunology, molecular biology, and physiology (animal and/or human) but only after degree requirements have been completed," plus social sciences, history, literature, economics, philosophy and psychology. The college publishes no minimum GPA or DAT score on either the pre-dental requirements page or the DMD admissions page, and it invites early applications even before a DAT score arrives: unofficial scores may be uploaded to AADSAS with an email to the admissions office. Transfer students and transfer credits are not accepted. A $75 processing fee follows AADSAS verification, interviews run from late August into December in a panel format, and no acceptance is offered before December 15.
School
dentistry.uky.eduCheck your transcript against this list
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