BSU Catalog Home | Pre-Professional Program

Pre-Dentistry

Dr. Kerry Openshaw (Advisor)

The pre-dental student should fulfill all requirements for a Bachelor of Science Degree at Bemidji State University. The student should declare an academic major. Pre-Dentistry is not an academic major. Although the major may be in any field of study, experience indicates that a Biology major will provide the student with an advantage while attending dental school and in preparing for the Dental Admission Test (DAT). The DAT is taken in the spring of the junior year.

Early entrance into dental school is possible for some students. Most students, however, enter dental school after completing a baccalaureate degree. In addition, some dental schools may require more courses than listed below. It is the responsibility of the pre-dental student to become aware of these additional requirements and to plan his or her pre-dental curriculum accordingly.

The pre-dental student should work closely with the pre-dentistry advisor so all course requirements are filled prior to entrance into dental school. Delay in meeting with the pre-dental advisor will likely result in delayed entrance into dental school.

In addition to a strong background in behavioral sciences, English, and humanities, the following courses are specifically required for entrance into most dental schools:

BIOL 1211, 1212, 2360, 3250, 3260, 3710
CHEM 1211, 1212, 1240, 2311, 2312, 2371, 2372
ENGL 1001, 1002
MATH 1470, 2171, 2172 (or) 2471, 2472
PHYS 1101, 1102 (or) 2101, 2102

The following courses are strongly recommended to be included in the student's pre-dental curriculum:

ACCT 1100
BIOL 3580, 3755, 3920, 4220, 4590
CHEM 3411, 3412
CS 1107
PSY 1100
SOC 1104, 1105
THSP 1100

A suggested pre-dental academic schedule is listed below; numbers in parentheses are semester credits:

Freshman

BIOL 1211, 1212; F, S; (4,4)
CHEM 1211, 1212; F, S; (3,3)
CHEM 1240; S; (2)
ENGL 1001, 1002; F, S; (4,4)
MATH 1470, 2471; F, S; (5,5)
Electives: Consult your Pre-Dentistry Advisor

Sophomore

BIOL 2360, 3710; F, S; (4,4)
BIOL 3920; F or S; (1)
CHEM 2311, 2312; F, S; (3,3)
CHEM 2371, 2372; F, S; (1,1)
MATH 2472; F; (5)
PHYS 2101, 2102; F, S; (5,5)
Electives: Consult your Pre-Dentistry Advisor

Junior

BIOL 3250, 3260; F, S; (4,4)
Electives: Consult your Pre-Dentistry Advisor

Senior

Consult your Pre-Dentistry Advisor