DIY Pre-Dental Planning Guide
Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Pre-Dental Planning Guide & Self Assessment document provides important resources for UT Austin students planning on applying to Dental School.
Pre-Dental Course Requirements
Dentistry (D.D.S., D.M.D.)
This is a guide to common pre-dental course requirements.
- Individual schools may require or recommend additional courses.
- All Prerequisites must be completed with a letter grade of C or higher.
- Schools vary on Credit-By-Exam (AP/IB/CLEP) policies and preferences for prerequisites.
- School requirements can change. See individual school websites and admissions guides under “Research Dental Schools Before You Apply”.
Texas dental schools require:
- Biology: Lecture – 12-15 hrs; Lab – 2-3 hrs
- General Chemistry: Lecture – 6 hrs; Lab – 2 hrs
- Organic Chemistry: Lecture – 6 hrs; Lab – 2 hrs
- Biochemistry: Lecture – 3 hrs
- General Physics: Lecture – 6 hrs; Lab – 2 hrs
- Math: Statistics – 3 hrs
- English: Rhetoric (Composition) and/or Literature – 6 hrs
We strongly recommend taking courses in the following areas.
- Psychology and Sociology
- Ethics
- Analytical problem-solving and Critical thinking
- Writing, Interpersonal communications, and Presentation skills
- Small business management and Accounting
- Mechanical drawing and studio art
- Cultural studies
- Spanish and other language studies relevant to your career goals
UT Austin courses typically taken to fulfill requirements
In addition to the course lists below, see explanations of requirements on the TMDSAS (Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service) Undergraduate Course Requirements & look at the TMDSAS Approved Course List
Biology
Lecture:
- BIO 311C + BIO 311D + BIO 325 + [BIO 326R or 326M] + BIO 446L + BIO 365S OR
- [BIO 315H + BIO 325H] (honors) + [BIO 326R or 326M] + BIO 446L + BIO 365S
BIO 325 is not specifically required, but it is a UT Austin prerequisite for other required upper-division Biology.
Microbiology, human anatomy w/lab, and human physiology are required by some schools, and others strongly recommend them for adequate preparation.
Lab:
- BIO 206L OR
- 2 hrs of upper-division BIO lab OR
- BCH 369L (for majors)
BIO or BCH lab must be formal lab course work.
Research lab credit, such as BIO 377, does not fulfill this requirement.
General Chemistry
Lecture:
- CH 301 + CH 302 OR
- CH 301H + CH 302H (honors)
Lab:
- CH 204 OR
- CH 317 (honors)
Organic Chemistry
Lecture:
- CH 320M + CH 320N OR
- CH 328M + CH 328N (for majors)
Lab:
- CH 220C OR
- CH 128K + CH 128L (for majors)
General Physics
UT Austin offers 4 accepted lecture/lab sequences. Dental schools have no preference.
- PHY 302K + PHY 102M and PHY 302L + PHY 102N OR
- PHY 317K + PHY 117M and PHY 317L + PHY 117N (meant to include MCAT topics) OR
- PHY 303K + PHY 103M and PHY 303L + PHY 103N (for Engineering majors) OR
- PHY 301 + PHY 101L and PHY 316 + PHY 116L (for some Science and Engineering majors)
Math
Statistics: (usually fulfills math requirement at Texas schools)
See TMDSAS acceptable statistics courses
English
Choose 2 courses from the following.
Some schools require 1 course from each area.
Rhetoric (Composition):
- RHE 306
- RHE 309K
- Any Writing Flag course in RHE Dept.
Literature:
- E 316L
- E 316M
- E 316N
- E 316P
- Any Literature course in English Dept.
Remedial, developmental, and "English As a Second Language" courses are not accepted.
Strong reading and writing skills are essential to success on DAT and in dental school.
See the Dental School Prerequisite Courses Timeline below & also go to the Pre-Dental Science Courses Flowchart.
Dental School Prerequisite Courses Timeline
These timelines present the pre-dental course requirements for Texas and most out-of-state U.S. dental schools.
Completing the pre-dental courses and extra-curricular activities generally requires
six semesters or longer, regardless of the student’s age or year in college.
Your personal timeline may differ from these samples.
Work with your academic advisor to incorporate these courses into your degree plan.
- 4-Year Plan
- 5-Year Plan Including Bridge Year
- Pre-Dental Science Courses Flowchart
Important NoteS
Timelines do not include all course options and details. For Course Options & Details see the Pre-Dental Course Requirements above.
To be sure that you are fulfilling all requirements, see individual school websites. School links are provided below: RESEARCH DENTAL SCHOOLS BEFORE YOU APPLY.
Additional Course Information
- Taking Courses Away from UT
- Are Extension Courses Okay for Dental Pre-Reqs?
- Other courses of interest to health professions students
Stress Management Resources
SELF CARE IS IMPORTANT:
- CMHC Managing Stress
- Mind & Body Lab
- Thrive - app from UT Healthy Horns to help you tackle your toughest and most ambitious goals, explore new ideas and make difficult decisions
- Calm - app for Sleep, Meditation and Relaxation, breathing programs, stretching exercises, and relaxing music. Calm is recommended by top psychologists, therapists, and mental health experts.
- Insight Timer - app for sleep, anxiety and stress and general mediation and mindfulness
- The Smiling Mind - this app is a unique tool developed by psychologists and educators to help bring balance to your life. We suggest 10 minutes a day.
A note from us: Do something you enjoy each day, even if it's only for 5min
CAMPUS RESOURCES:
- UT Student 24-Hour Crisis Line (24/7) 512-471-2255
- CMHC Counseling and Mental Heatlh Center 512-471-3515
- Individual walk-in support M-F, 8-5 pm at the SSB on the 5th floor or by phone
- Counselors in Academic Residence (CARE) Counselors
- CMHC Diversity Coordinators Hold Drop-In Hours for Undergrad & Grad Students
- CMHC Groups
- Student Veterans Counseling Services
- Student Emergency Services in the Office of the Dean of Students
- Behavior Concerns Advice Line (BCAL) 512-232-5050
- Student Ombuds: 512-471-3825, SSB G1.404
- Campus Climate: to report a bias incident that you’ve experienced or observed on campus
- Incident Online Report Form
- Other Resources for our Campus Community
OTHER RESOURCES:
- Mental Health and Wellbeing for College Students
- Student Guide to Surving Stress and Anxiety in College and Beyond
- The Mind/Body Connection for Students: Reaching & Staying in the Zen Zone while in school
- How to Balance Student Stress
- Importance of Sleep for Students
- College Student Mental Health Resources
- Preventing Drug Abuse and Alcohol Addiction
- The College Student's Guide to Stress Management
- Sleeping Well in the Digital Age
DAT Exam
COURSE CONTENT TESTED ON DAT
Courses marked with an asterisk (*) are recommended but not required for the exam
- BIO 311C, BIO 311D, BIO 205L or 206L (Biology)
- BIO 325 (Genetics)
- CH 301, CH 302, CH 204 (General Chemistry)
- CH 320M, CH 320N, CH 220C (Organic Chemistry)
- E 316L or E 316M or E 316N, or E 316P (Literature)
- *Statistics
- *BCH 369 (Biochemistry)
Research Dental Schools Before You Apply!
- ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools
- List of Dental Schools in Texas
Application Services
Application Services
- Dental School Application Process (Presentation)
- Application Time Line
- TMDSAS - Application Handbook
- ADEA AADSAS Application Information & Instructions
TEXAS Dental SCHOOLS REQUIRING SECONDARY APPLICATIONS
Some health professions schools require secondary applications to be completed in addition to the primary
application through TMDSAS & AADSAS. Applications not considered complete until the secondary application is submitted. Most secondary applications require an additional fee and the majority of secondary application fees are non-refundable. Please check the cost with the school.
Letters of Evaluation
Letters of evaluation are key pieces to your dental school application. Each application has its own way of collecting letters and number and type of letters vary from school to school. Check with the application service you are using for additional details. If you are applying to multiple dental school application services we recommend you look into using Interfolio to collect your letters of recommendation.
- HPO Letters of Evaluation RESOURCES
Personal Statements
The personal statement is a critical component of your application to Dental school, as the personal statement can either significantly help or harm your chances for success, it is important to take it seriously. The statement must be personal. This is your chance to let the Admissions Committee hear from you and understand who you are. Take advantage of the opportunity to express your commitments, motivations and values
-
HPO Personal Statement RESOURCES
Volunteer Opportunities
- City of Austin - Community Care Services
- St. David's Dental Program - email
- TDA Smiles Foundation - Texas Mission of Mercy & Health Smiles for Texans
- People’s Community Clinic
- Manos De Cristo
- ADA Volunteer Opportunities
- Austin Volunteer Match
UT-AUSTIN VOLUNTEER RESOURCES
Pre-Dental Resources
- Guidelines for Predental students providing patient care abroad. Guidance given by the ADEA.
- International Volunteering with ADA
- ASDA Blog - Mouthing Off
- Occupational Outlook
- ADEA Video Mentor
- Go Dental (American Dental Education Association)
- American Dental Association (ADA) ONLINE a useful resource for current issues in the dental field
- Dental Find - Find a Dentist and Learn about procedures
- Financing A Dental Education
- Texas Dental Association
- Sample Medical & Dental Interview Questions
- Health Professions Current Event websites
- Post Interview Self Evaluation
Guest Speaker Series
These events are hosted and sponsored by the Texas Pre-Dental Society. Please check with the Texas Pre-Dental Society for further information. Meetings are held on Wednesday nights at 7pm. Please check the calendar for guest speaker events each semester and updated room locations.
