UNLV School of Dental Medicine prerequisites

2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

Two semesters with lab. As universal for dental school as it is for medical.

2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

Two semesters with lab. The DAT's general chemistry section assumes the full sequence.

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.

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.

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.

2 semesters · 6 credits

Two semesters of English or writing-intensive coursework at most schools that name it.

3 credits

Most dental schools ask for 3 credits and list it as recommended.

Required here where the baseline only recommends it: "1 semester or 2 quarters of Human Anatomy, or 1 full year or three quarters of Anatomy and Physiology with lab." Two routes, and they are not equal in length. One semester of standalone human anatomy satisfies it, and UNLV attaches the lab requirement only to the full year A&P alternative, so no credit figure and no blanket lab flag is recorded.

3 credits

Required at a meaningful minority and recommended widely; a strong pick for the spare science slot.

100+ hours

UNLV publishes no hours figure, so none is recorded, but chairside time is not optional here. One of the four required letters must come "from a dentist with whom the applicant has shadowed or worked", which means the relationship has to be real and long enough for a dentist to write about you. Paid dental work satisfies it as well as observation.

100+ hours

Few schools publish a number; committees still read for a service habit held over time.

1 letter

A committee letter from your college's pre-health professions committee satisfies the letters requirement on its own. The four individual letters, dentist included, are what you submit only if your school has no such committee.

2 letters

"Two of the letters must be from hard science professors." UNLV says hard science, not simply science, so social science faculty do not answer this line. These are two of four required individual letters; the fourth "may be from any professor, employer, volunteer supervisor, etc.", the only open slot in the packet.

1 letter

"the third letter must be from a dentist with whom the applicant has shadowed or worked." The shadowing or work relationship is part of the requirement, so a dentist who merely knows you does not qualify.