Pre-Dentistry
Start your journey to becoming a dental professional.
Take Prerequisites Courses.
University of Nebraska Lincoln offers the classes you need to apply for a dental program while earning your bachelor’s degree. See the list below for a brief overview of required prerequisite courses.
Talk to an Advisor Each Semester.
There’s a lot of coordination and planning that needs to happen to make sure you do everything you need before graduate school. The Explore Center’s advisors are here to help you navigate this journey. Meet with an advisor today to get a personalized 4-year pre-dentistry plan!
Get Experience.
Start building your shadowing and volunteer hours to be a more competitive dental school applicant. Don’t forget to keep track of your hours!
Pre-Dentistry Roadmap at UNL
Dentistry Prerequisite Classes
Depending on the school you plan to attend, you may need additional prerequisite courses. Meet with an advisor for more information.
Typical Dentistry School Requirements
Biology – 2 semesters
General Chemistry – 2 semesters
Organic Chemistry – 2 semesters
Biochemistry – 1 semester
Physics with lab – 2 semesters
English – 2 courses
What to Take at University of Nebraska Lincoln
Some classes require prerequisites. Meet with an advisor for help planning your courses and for suggested electives.
Biology – LIFE 120/120L, LIFE 121/121L, BIOS 213/213L, or BIOS 214
General Chemistry – CHEM 109A/L & 110A/L or 113A/L & 114 & 221L
Organic Chemistry – CHEM 251/253 & 252/254 or 261/263 & 262/264
Biochemistry – BIOC 401/401L or BIOC 431/433
Physics with lab – PHYS 141 & 142 or 211/221 & 212/222
English – ENGL 150, 151, 254, or 354
The above coursework recommendations fulfill the entrance requirements for UNMC College of Dentistry and Creighton University School of Dentistry. Students who are considering dental schools outside of Nebraska are encouraged to contact those schools directly for a list of entrance requirements.
Other Notes:
- Math Requirement: Some required science courses, like chemistry, require math as a prerequisite. See your pre-health advisor for math placement information.
- AP/IB/CLEP: UNMC and Creighton will accept AP credit if listed on undergraduate transcript, but students with AP in science areas should take additional, advanced level courses beyond the requirements here.
- Community College credit: For Creighton, any pre-req course completed at a community college must be accepted as an equivalent at UNL.
- DAT Content: Not all content on the DAT may be covered by pre-requisite courses. See below list for courses that help prep you for the DAT.
DAT Exam Recommended Courses
LIFE 120/120L
LIFE 121/121L
BIOS 213/213L
CHEM 109A/L & 110A/L or 113A/L & 114A/L
CHEM 251/253 & 252/254 or 261/263 & 262/264
Math section of test includes quantitative reasoning, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, probability, statistics, and applied word problems.
Meet with an Explore Center advisor to develop your DAT preparation plan.
Suggested Sequencing
Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
Semester 3 | Semester 4 |
Semester 5 | Semester 6 |
**Take the DAT 13-15 months before you | |
Semester 7 | Semester 8 |
*Sequence may vary from above depending on declared major requirements
Extracurricular Involvement and Activities:
Pursuing dental school requires more than just coursework. Your extracurricular activities, employment, and healthcare experiences like shadowing and volunteering will contribute greatly to your success in this field. See your pre-health advisor in the Explore Center to plan extracurricular activities that will prepare you for this program.
Application and Admission
Application: Most dental schools, including UNMC College of Dentistry and Creighton School of Dentistry, participate in the American Association of Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS). This service is usually available in May of each year. It is best to apply well before stated application deadlines.
Entrance Exam: The Dental Admissions Test (DAT) is required. It is each applicant's responsibility to provide official Dental Admissions Test score reports to each school to which they apply. DAT examinations are computer based and are coordinated by the Dental Admission Testing Program and administered at Prometric Test Centers. Information on the DAT is available at ada.org/en/educationcareers/dental-admission-test.
Additional admission requirements: Creighton requires 65 hours of shadowing in the dental profession.