Dentistry
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Pre-Dental Program

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The predental requirements are similar but not exactly the same at U.S. dental schools. The requirements of the Indiana University School of Dentistry are summarized below since a large majority of Franklin College predental students are Indiana residents and make that school their first choice. The course requirements for other schools are listed in the current edition of “Admissions Requirements of U.S. and Canadian Dental Schools”, which can be checked out from Dr. Browder. Indiana University School of Dentistry requirements for admission (courses in parentheses are the Franklin College Courses that satisfy these requirements)

  • Biology 2 semesters (BIO 134 Principles of Biology, BIO 140 Cell Biology)
  • Anatomy and Physiology 2 Semesters (BIO 115 and 120  Human Anatomy and Physiology I & II)
  • Biochemistry 1 Semester (BIO/CHE 334-Biochemistry)
  • Microbiology (BIO 373)
  • General Physics 2 semesters (PHY 121  and 122 General Physics I & II)
  • Inorganic Chemistry 2 semesters (CHE 121, 122, 123, and 124 General Chemistry I & II)
  • Organic Chemistry 1 semester (CHE 221 and 223 Organic Chemistry I)

ALL SCIENCE COURSES, EXCEPT BIOCHEMISTRY, MUST INCLUDE LABORATORIES

  • English 1 semester (LA 101 The Self and Society)
  • Introductory Psychology 1 semester (PSY 117 General Psychology)
  • Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking 1 semester (LA 111 Public Speaking)

In addition to the above courses, the following courses are strongly recommended but not required by I.U. Dental School: genetics, molecular biology, hands-on art courses (i.e. ceramics), and business management.

The DAT exam and a minimum of 90 semester hours is required for admission.

The predental student may select any major field offered by the college. While the majority of students select Biology or Chemistry, dental schools do not express a preference for any major. The minimum predental course requirements in science should be completed in the first three years if possible because most predental students take the Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) in the spring of the Junior year.
A better than average academic record is a necessity for predental students. The following information is taken from the Indiana University School of Dentistry Bulletin.

“Applicants should have a minimum of 3.0 (on a 4.0=A scale) overall grade-point average and  a 3.0 science grade-point average. DAT scores should be average or above (approximately 15).
Selection criteria include, but are not limited to, overall grade-point average, science grade-point average, Dental Admission Test scores, interviews, recommendations, residency, years and hours of college credit, degrees received, motivation, exploration of dentistry, manual and artistic skills, character, personality, ethics, and health).
 
For admission to the Indiana University School of Dentistry, a student must have earned a minimum of 90 semester hours. Most students admitted to dental schools have completed the B.A. degree.”