DENTIST

***Dentists are healthcare providers who diagnose and treat oral health conditions.***

Admission requirements for Dental programs vary from one program to another. However, most programs share a group of prerequisite courses, and the Hendrix courses that fulfill these requirements are listed below.

In addition, some schools require time spent observing, shadowing, or interning with a dentist. A Hendrix internship is an excellent way to get 120 of these hours, and volunteering or working at a clinic can also help you build up this part of your resume.

Common Course Requirements for Dental Programs

English Composition - 2 courses
Choose from:
- Courses in writing and rhetoric
- Introduction to Literary Studies (ENGL 2xx) courses
- Advanced studies in Literature courses may also qualify
- Writing Level II (W2) courses may also qualify

Biology - 4 lab courses
- BIOL 150 Fundamentals of Cellular Life (w/Lab)
- BIOL 205/215 Anatomy and Physiology I & II (w/Lab)
- BIOL 190/220/OR 250 Botany (w/Lab), Zoology (w/Lab), OR Genetics (w/Lab)

Chemistry - 5 lab courses
- CHEM 110/120 General Chemistry I & II (w/Lab)
- CHEM 240/250 Organic Chemistry I & II (w/Lab)
- CHEM 330 Biochemistry (w/Lab)

Physics - 2 lab courses
- PHYS 235/245 General Physics I & II (Workshop)

Mathematics - up to 2 courses
- MATH 130 Calculus I
- MATH 215/OR PSYC 290 Introductory Statistics OR Statistics

Psychology - 1 course
Choose from:
- PSYC 110 Introduction to Psychology
- PSYC 185 Sleep & Dreaming
- PSYC 225 Psychology and Religion
- PSYC 243 Counseling Theory & Practice
- PSYC 251 Introduction to Clinical Psychology
- PSYC 295 Research Methods (w/Lab)

Science Electives - 2 courses
Choose from:
- BIOL 325 Neurobiology (w/Lab)
- BIOL 340 Microbiology (w/Lab) - Recommended
- BIOL 355 Eukaryotic Cell Biology

Other Possible Science Electives
- Histology
- Molecular Biology

One possible course plan appears below.

Please note: This plan does not include all of the necessary courses to fulfill the First-Year Experience, Learning Domains, Capacities, Odyssey, or Major requirements. Students are strongly encouraged to work with their Academic Advisor to make sure all of the requirements for graduation are fulfilled, as well as the prerequisites for specific dental programs.

Dentists must complete four years of graduate level training at a dental school after receiving a bachelor's degree from an undergraduate institution. Requirements for entry into dental schools include the DAT (Dental Aptitude Test) and having taken coursework that meets a particular dental school's requirements.

Arkansas has no dental schools, but Arkansas residents can apply for financial assistance for attending certain dental school programs through grants offered by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education. These programs include the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN; Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN; Louisiana State University, New Orleans, LA; University of Louisville, Louisville, KY; University of Missouri, Kansas City, MO; University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK; Texas A&M System HSC, Dallas, TX; and the University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL.

Most of our graduates who enroll in dental school attend the University of Tennessee Health Science Center at Memphis.

Look to the Future

Because admission requirements for dental schools vary from one dental school to another, students should contact the dental school(s) of their choice early in their Hendrix career. Most dental programs have a similar list of required courses in the sciences and in English. Also remember that Dentist is not a major at Hendrix.

Get involved!

Community service, health care experiences, and leadership activities are essential.

Shadow Dentists

Some schools have a formal requirement, but all of them like to see that you have developed an experience-based understanding of their program.

Keep your academic record strong

Few individuals get admitted with the minimal requirements, which usually includes a minimum GPA of 3.5. More often programs are looking for the most highly qualified students and therefore have higher expectations and standards, admitting students with qualifications and GPAs higher than the minimum requirements. When choosing your schools to apply to, check to make sure you meet or exceed the requirements.

Develop relationships

Get to know some dentists, faculty and work/volunteer supervisors. All of these individuals can be a resource for you to obtain new and valuable opportunities. Always maintain a good rapport with these contacts as well. You never know when you will need a letter of recommendation, and you want to make sure they can provide you with a great letter, not a mediocre one.

Stay up to date on current healthcare issues

Read newspapers and reliable sources such as The New York Times, The Economist, The Commonwealth Fund Website, USAToday, or the Kaiser Family Foundation. Also refer to the ADEA website for tips and insight on attending dental schools.