dental · Ann Arbor, Michigan · public
University of Michigan School of Dentistry prerequisites
What Michigan asks for in the 2026-27 cycle, as read from the school's own admissions page. 4 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
English Composition specifically: "literature coursework is only accepted for 3 of the 6 credits - i.e., only one literature course can count towards this requirement. English Composition courses must be taken in the US or Canada, and ESL courses are not accepted."
- Psychologyrequiredextra here
1 semester · 3 credits
Psychology is a named prerequisite here, 3 semester hours, which few dental schools require.
- Sociologyrequiredextra here
1 semester · 3 credits
"Only a sociology class (generally demarcated by a course code of SOC or SOCI) can fulfill this requirement. The class must be taken in the US or Canada."
- 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.
Three semester hours, no lab asked. In Michigan's table only biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry and physics carry "with labs."
Experience hours
- Dentist shadowingrequired
100+ hours
A hard gate: "100 hours of dental shadowing is required and must be completed at the time of application submission. Applicants without this minimum number of hours will not be reviewed or considered for interview." The majority should be under general dentists; dental assistant work counts toward the hours but should not be their only source, and volunteering or pre-dental club time does not count.
- 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
Accepted nearly everywhere in place of individual faculty letters where your college offers one.
- Science faculty letterrequired
2 letters
"Two letters must be written by science professors who have taught and graded the applicant at the university level." Pass/fail courses do not count as graded; basic science is preferred, psychology instructors are accepted, and a research faculty letter must correspond to a graded course on the transcript.
- Dentist letternot required here
No dentist letter is required. The third required letter is "One letter by an evaluator of the applicant's choice," who "could be a dentist, another professor (science or non-science), an employer, a mentor, or another individual who can write in support of the applicant."
Also on the school’s page
Michigan publishes a nine-subject table in semester hours: biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry and physics at 8 each with labs; English composition at 6; and biochemistry, microbiology, psychology and sociology at 3 each. Everything needs a C or better by May of the entering year: "Grades of C- or lower and courses taken pass/fail or credit/no credit will not be accepted." The minimum is 90 semester hours of coursework; community college credit is accepted but not recommended for prerequisites, online coursework needs pre-approval, AP counts if on a transcript, CLEP does not. Other recommended courses: anatomy, physiology, histology, public speaking, genetics, and art. On the DAT, "there is no minimum or cutoff" but scores near the latest entering class averages are competitive; scores older than 3 years and the Canadian DAT are not accepted, and scores must arrive by the October 15 deadline. Three letters are required, four accepted, and a pre-health committee letter or packet can replace all three. A $75 supplemental fee goes directly to Michigan, and interviews use the MMI format.
School
dent.umich.eduCheck your transcript against this list
Cyclios keeps this list beside your coursework and tells you what Michigan still needs from you.
See it for dental school