Cyclios

dental · San Francisco, California · private

University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry prerequisites

What Pacific Dugoni 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.

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Coursework

  • Biology with labrequireddiffers

    4 semesters · 16 credits · lab

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

    The heaviest biology ask among California's dental schools: "4 semesters or 6 quarters" of biological sciences with lab, double the baseline's one-year sequence. Pacific publishes the requirement in semesters, not units; 16 is the customary semester-unit equivalent of four lab science semesters.

  • 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

    "2 semesters or 3 quarters" with lab, matching the baseline in length, but Dugoni names a substitution the baseline only hints at: "applicants complete either two semesters of organic chemistry or one semester each of organic chemistry and biochemistry."

  • Biochemistryrecommendeddiffers

    1 semester · 3 credits

    Most dental schools ask for 1 semester · 3 credits and list it as required.

    Not a standalone requirement here. Biochemistry appears only as the alternative to a second organic semester: "either two semesters of organic chemistry or one semester each of organic chemistry and biochemistry." The FAQ separately encourages it among advanced biomedical coursework.

  • 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

    Same two semesters as the baseline, but the subject is broader than English: the requirement reads "English, Speech, or Communication," so a speech or communication course closes 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 shadowingrequireddiffers

    40+ hours

    Most dental schools ask for 100+ hours.

    "40 hours minimum (minimum hours must be completed with a general dentist)." Well under the baseline's 100, with one exclusion worth planning around: "Dental assisting experience cannot be counted towards shadowing."

  • 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

    A committee letter substitutes for the entire set: "Three Letters of Recommendation (two from science professors, one of your choice) OR a committee letter."

  • Science faculty letterrequired

    2 letters

    Two science professors, or a committee letter where your school offers one.

  • Dentist letterrecommendeddiffers

    1 letter

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

    Dugoni names no dentist letter. "We require three letters of recommendation. Two of the letters must be from science professors and one letter should be from someone of your choice," so a dentist can fill the free slot but nothing requires it.

Also on the school’s page

Dugoni states its prerequisites in semesters rather than units: biological sciences with lab "4 semesters or 6 quarters", inorganic chemistry with lab "2 semesters or 3 quarters", organic chemistry with lab "2 semesters or 3 quarters", physics with lab "2 semesters or 3 quarters", and English, speech or communication "2 semesters or 3 quarters". The credit figures in this file are the customary unit equivalents of those semester counts; where a number matters to you, read the school's own semester wording first. Applicants need "three years of undergraduate coursework (90 semester or 135 quarter units)"; a bachelor's degree is not required, though the school says it is "highly recommended to have one to make an application more competitive." GPA and other academic standards are "assessed on an individual basis" with no published minimum, and the FAQ reports "Our incoming class grade point averages (GPA) are 3.6 overall and 3.5 science." On testing, "Preference is given to students who provide Dental Admissions Test scores no later than November of each cycle," and for the 2026 to 2027 cycle "DATs taken before June of 2024 will not be accepted." Class average DAT scores are published on the current 200 to 600 scale: academic average 460, perceptual ability 470, total science 460, quantitative reasoning 450, reading comprehension 450, biology 460, general chemistry 460, organic chemistry 460. Two letter mechanics are easy to trip over: letters "must be physically signed by the writer before submission (unsigned letters will not be accepted)" and "Additional letters will not be accepted" past the AADSAS maximum of four. Dugoni also says research experience is not required but is highly recommended, and encourages advanced biomedical coursework in anatomy, histology, biochemistry, physiology and microbiology beyond the required list.

School

dental.pacific.edu

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