Western University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine prerequisites

2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

Same eight units as the baseline, but two conditions change what counts. It "may not be an introductory course" and it must be a full-year sequence. In exchange the accepted subject list is wide: "May include courses such as biology, zoology, anatomy, physiology, embryology, endocrinology, immunology, cell biology, molecular biology, histology, etc."

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

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

Not a requirement here, unlike at roughly half of dental schools. WesternU lists it under "Not required but highly recommended" alongside "Genetics, Cell Biology, Human Anatomy & Physiology, Microbiology, Calculus 1, Biometrics, Psychology & Conversational Spanish."

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

Six semester or nine quarter units of "College English/English Composition." It "Must be a writing or composition course taken from the English Department or a course that fulfills the GE writing requirement for your school," "May not be a Speech or Communication course," and "May not be an English as a Second Language (ESL) course." Literature counts only "if they include a writing component," and "All writing intensive courses outside of the English Department will require a syllabus to be submitted for review before acceptance."

3 credits

Named by a minority of schools and useful preparation for the first year regardless.

3 credits

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

30+ hours

Most dental schools ask for 100+ hours.

The lowest floor of the California dental schools: "Must have a minimum of 30 hours of experience as a dental assistant, dental hygienist, dental laboratory technician and/or observing dentists," completed at the time of application, paid or volunteer. WesternU counts chairside work as well as observation, which most schools do not. Two procedural traps: "Be sure to list your experience hours in the 'Shadowing Experience' section of your AADSAS application. If you do not list your hours in this section, your application will not be processed," and "The quality of experience hours is also important." The school's own recommended figure differs between pages, 100+ here and 300+ on its 2026 application checklist.

100+ hours

Most dental schools ask for 100+ hours and list it as recommended.

Stronger than the baseline's recommendation and stated flatly: "Demonstrated community service through volunteerism or service-oriented employment is a requirement of the program." No hours figure is published, so bring documented, sustained service rather than a number.

1 letter

A committee letter replaces all three individual letters: "The letters of recommendation requirement may be fulfilled one of two ways: Obtain one (1) letter of recommendation from your undergraduate institution's pre-professional committee; or Obtain three (3) letters of recommendation."

2 letters

Two, as in the baseline, but narrowed: "Two (2) letters of recommendation from science professors. Highly recommend science professor is from a class applicant completed, science professor must teach an accepted subject from provided list." WesternU publishes that list of acceptable subjects for science letters, so check the writer's field against it before asking. Every letter "must be typed on official letterhead and signed," and "Letters that do not meet the above requirements will not be accepted."

1 letter

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

The third letter is "One (1) letter of recommendation from a dentist or another professor (dentist should not be a family member)." A dentist answers it, another professor answers it equally, so it is recommended here rather than required. If you do use a dentist, the family exclusion is explicit.