Pre-Dental Requirements
The minimum educational requirement for admission to a dental school is the completion of 90 semester hours of college work and completion of all course requirements. Most pre-dentistry students complete a bachelor's degree prior to beginning dental school. Students pursuing admission to a dentistry program can major in any undergraduate discipline.
The Dental Admissions Test (DAT) will assess an applicant’s knowledge in several areas, including but not limited to the subjects of one-year courses with laboratory in general biology, general chemistry, and organic chemistry. Prerequisites vary among dentistry programs. Students should consult with a pre-health advisor in planning their course of study.
The minimum requirements for Creighton University’s School of Dentistry are as follows:
Educational Requirements
By the end of the spring term preceding the fall in which they intend to enter the Creighton School of Dentistry, all applicants must have earned at least two years’ worth of credits from an accredited college of arts and sciences. This includes a required 64 semester hours (or 96 quarter hours) in academic courses exclusive of physical education and military science.
Required Courses
• General Biology with lab - two courses
• General Chemistry with lab - two courses
• Organic Chemistry with lab - two courses
• Physics with lab – two courses
• English – two courses
Recommended Courses
• Biochemistry
• Microbiology
• Anatomy
• Students are also encouraged to pursue study in the social sciences, humanities, and mathematics.
Extracurricular Requirements
Students applying to dental school should also have a foundation in the following activities:
• Commitment to service of others through both medical and non-medical volunteer activities
• Dental shadowing experiences
• Patient contact through clinical and/or medical experiences
Scientific research, though not required for admission to Creighton University’s School of Dentistry, is also highly valued by the Admissions Committee.