Pre-Dentistry

  What is Pre-Dentistry?

Dentists diagnose and treat diseases, injuries and malformations of the teeth, gums and related oral structures. Pre-dentistry is a two-year associate of arts degree program comprising basic science courses. These courses can be transferred to a bachelor’s degree program designed to prepare students for admission to dental school. To become a dentist, a student must complete three or four years of additional schooling beyond the bachelor’s degree. He or she must pass a state board examination and is then awarded a doctor of dental surgery (DDS) or a doctor of dental medicine (DDM).

  Success Factors

For information about success factors for dentists, contact:

Pre-Professional Advising Center
503 Dabney Hall
University of Cincinnati
PO Box 210007
Cincinnati, Oh 45221-0007
Phone: 513-556-2166
www.admissions.uc.edu

  Career Possibilities

Dentists work in many different areas in the private or public sector. They may work in private practice or in institutional settings such as hospitals and clinics, or they may devote themselves to research –- working toward the control and elimination of dental disease. Another option is government employment, where they may work in public health. Many dentists pursue teaching careers in clinical and/or classroom situations within a university.

  Majoring in Pre-Dentistry

Successful completion of this program will allow you to transfer to many four-year colleges and universities and enter directly into the junior year. Your program adviser will guide your course work in order for you to transfer to UC’s McMicken College of Arts and Sciences or to another four-year institution.

However, McMicken College of Arts & Sciences does not offer a bachelor’s degree in pre-dentistry. Entering the junior year, a student must select a major. Frequently that choice is biology or chemistry, although other appropriate majors are available. If chemistry or biology is the student’s choice, he or she should consider the pre-chemistry or pre-biology associate degrees offered by Raymond Walters College. If the selection of a major is deferred until the junior year, the student is advised to take the sophomore biology sequence (Cell Structure & Function, Genetics, and Ecology and Evolution) during the sophomore year.

  Curriculum

This curriculum information is intended as a general information guide for students considering enrollment in this program. These online tools are designed to assist you, but are not a substitute for planning with an academic or faculty advisor.

If you are currently confirmed or enrolled, you can check your degree requirements online. If you are considering transferring to this major from another school use the Course Applicability System (CAS) to see how credits you have earned will apply to this major at UC. For course descriptions by college, click here.

Prerequisites: Placement at the level of Finite Math & Calculus I on the mathematics portion of the college’s placement test.  Four years of college-preparatory mathematics, high school chemistry and biology, all with grades of “C” or better.  Students lacking these prerequisites may take them as part of the program.

FIRST YEAR

Fall Quarter

Course Name	Course Number	Credits
English Composition I	28ENGL101	3
First Year Chemistry Lecture I	28CHEM101	4
First Year Chemistry Lab I	28CHEM111	1
Calculus I*		3-5
Biology I	28BIOL101	5
Total		16-18

Winter Quarter

Course Name	Course Number	Credits
English Composition II	28ENGL102	3
First Year Chemistry Lecture II	28CHEM102	4
First Year Chemistry Lab II	28CHEM112	1
Calculus II		3-5
Biology II	28BIOL102	5
Total		16-18

Spring Quarter

Course Name	Course Number	Credits
First Year Chemistry Lecture III	28CHEM103	4
First Year Chemistry Lab III	28CHEM113	1
Calculus III		3-5
Biology III	28BIOL103	5
Social Science Gen Ed. Elective*		3
Total		16-18

SECOND YEAR

Fall Quarter

Course Name	Course Number	Credits
History General Education Elective I**		3
Organic Chemistry Lecture I	28CHEM201	4
Organic Chemistry Lab I	28CHEM211	1
Literature General Education Elective**		3
Physics I*		4
Physics Lab I*		1
Total		16

Winter Quarter

Course Name	Course Number	Credits
History General Education Elective II**		3
Organic Chemistry Lecture II	28CHEM202	4
Organic Chemistry Lab II	28CHEM212	1
Literature General Education Elective*		3
Physics II		4
Physics Lab I		1
Total		16

Spring Quarter

Course Name	Course Number	Credits
History General Education Elective III**		3
Organic Chemistry Lecture III	28CHEM203	4
Organic Chemistry Lab III	28CHEM213	2
Physics III		4
Physics Lab III		1
Intermediate Composition	28ENGL289	3
Total		17

*Some baccalaureate programs require specific calculus and physics sequences.  Consult your adviser for details.
**See the UC General Education booklet for a list of approved courses.

Students planning to transfer into McMicken College of Arts and Sciences at UC may also fulfill the foreign language and social/behavioral science requirements prior to transfer.

  Special Programs

A solid foundation to build upon is important to achieving success in dentistry. RWC's small classes and well-qualified, dedicated faculty will help you get a good start on your education and provide a firm basis for future learning.

  Admission Requirements

Admission to the College

You may enroll in Raymond Walters College if you graduated from an accredited high school or preparatory school, or have a GED certificate (minimum composite score of 45). The college’s rolling admissions policy allows you to start any quarter: Fall, winter, spring or summer.

High school students who are considering RWC should take either the SAT or ACT college entrance examination for use in guidance and counseling. All students entering a degree program must also take the college’s placement test prior to registering for classes. This test is given on the RWC campus.

The RWC Admissions Office provides an application for admission and all the information you’ll need to enroll in the college.

Admission to the Program

In addition to the college admission requirements, applicants to this program must also meet these prerequisites:

• Placement at the level of Finite Math & Calculus I on the mathematics portion of the college's placement test.
• Four years of college-preparatory mathematics, high school chemistry and biology, all with grades of “C” or better.
• Students lacking these prerequisites may take them as part of the program.

  Transferring to UC Requirements

Transferring to Raymond Walters College

A student wishing to transfer to Raymond Walters College from another accredited college or university should be guided by the following statement of policy:

1. Transfer applications are individually reviewed, and acceptance is based on receipt of application materials, as well as official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended. An official evaluation of transfer credit from other colleges will be processed after the student's file is complete.
2. Credits are accepted from any institution currently accredited by any of the six regional accrediting agencies. Enrollment Services shall have discretionary authority to accept credits from other institutions in consultation with program directors or department chairpersons.
3. Only grades of "C" or better are accepted. Special exceptions may be granted at the discretion of Enrollment Services in consultation with program directors or department chairpersons.
4. There is a 10-year expiration limit for acceptance of transfer credits. Exceptions can be made by Enrollment Services in consultation with the appropriate program directors or department chairpersons.
5. For all situations not covered by the above, the decision will be referred to the department involved when appropriate.

  Changing Majors within UC Requirements

Students changing majors from other programs or colleges within UC will be considered based on the same criteria as outside transfers.

  International Student Requirements

Students who did not graduate from a high school in the United States of America must take an ability-to-benefit test and achieve the minimum specified score to be eligible for admission to a degree or certificate program at Raymond Walters College. The scores will be used for placement in English courses and general advising for all courses.

  Application Deadlines

Students may enter the program during any quarter. Many courses are sequential, however, and are offered only one quarter per academic year. Entering during winter or spring may extend the length of the program.

  Accreditation

The University of Cincinnati is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
The University of Cincinnati Raymond Walters College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Asociation of Colleges and Schools.