dental · Baltimore, Maryland · public
University of Maryland School of Dentistry prerequisites
What Maryland 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 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.
- 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 shadowingrequired
100+ hours
"Applicants are required to complete a minimum of 100 shadowing hours with a General Dentist." The hours are not self-reported: the required dentist letter has to document them, and "if hours span multiple practices, a letter from one general dentist is preferred over a dental specialist." Time with a specialist is not excluded, but the general dentist is the writer Maryland wants.
- 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.
Maryland's default is the committee package, not individual letters: it asks for "a recommendation package from the applicant's institutional pre-professional committee and a letter from a general or specialized dentist documenting at least 100 shadowing hours." If your college has a pre-professional committee, use it. Two letters are the minimum and four are the maximum accepted.
- Science faculty letterrequireddiffers
1 letter
Most dental schools ask for 2 letters.
Only a fallback, and only one letter rather than the baseline's two: where no committee exists, "a letter of recommendation from one science professor may be substituted." Applicants whose college runs a committee should send the committee package instead.
- Dentist letterrequired
1 letter
The one letter with no way around it. Maryland states there are "no substitutions for the letter of recommendation from a general or specialized dentist," and that letter must document at least 100 shadowing hours.
Also on the school’s page
Maryland publishes a prerequisite table in semester hours: 8 general biology, 8 general or inorganic chemistry, 8 organic chemistry and 8 physics, all four with laboratory, plus 3 of biochemistry and 6 of English composition without lab. Quarter-hour equivalents are 12, 12, 12, 12, 5 and 9. The course lines match the dental baseline exactly, so nothing is restated here; what is unusual at Maryland is the fine print. "All prerequisites must receive a passing grade of 'C' or higher. A 'C-' will not be accepted." There is a recency window: "All pre-requisite coursework must be completed 10 years from matriculation into the program, with the exception of English Composition," and for the 2026-2027 cycle prerequisites taken before Fall 2017 will not be accepted. "In-person labs for prerequisite science coursework are preferred; however, online lab coursework is accepted from accredited colleges and universities." "No more than 60 of the minimum required credits will be accepted from a community college or junior college." Timing matters for interviews: "Most of your prerequisite coursework should be completed at the time of the application. More than two in-progress or planned pre-requisites will prevent an interview invitation." A bachelor's degree is strongly encouraged but at least three academic years, 90 credit hours, may be considered. On scores, the application process page states that all applicants must take the US DAT, official scores are due by December 15, Canadian DAT scores are no longer accepted, and tests from 2024 onward are accepted; no minimum is published, and applicants are expected to show "science and cumulative grade point averages (GPA)...which exceed the national averages." The letters and shadowing wording quoted below comes from that second page, https://www.dental.umaryland.edu/academics--admissions/degree-programs/doctor-of-dental-surgery-program-dds/application-process--timeline/, which does not contradict the prerequisites page.
School
dental.umaryland.eduCheck your transcript against this list
Cyclios keeps this list beside your coursework and tells you what Maryland still needs from you.
See it for dental school