Pre-Dentistry Biology (B.S.) or Integrative Studies (B.S.) or Biology (A.S.) or Chemistry (A.S.)
| Faculty Advisors | General and Career Information | Schools of Dentistry | | Recommended Curriculum | Course Sequencing |
Important Notice: Due to the approval of the B.S. degree in Biology, the A.S. degree in Biology has been eliminated as a degree choice for new pre-Dentistry students. Pre-Dentistry students who had previously selected the A.S. in Biology will, of course, be permitted to graduate with that degree. New students, interested in pre-dentistry as their major, should select the biomedical track of the B.S. degree in Biology. New pre-Dentistry students may still select the A.S. degree in Chemistry.
Faculty Advisor
| Dr. Terapane |
|---|
| e-mail address |
| home page |
| Current Schedule |
| Office: Arts and Sciences Room G-105 A |
| phone: (770) 960-4369 |
General and Career Information
Dentistry involves the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of problems of the teeth and tissues of the mouth (modified from BLS description of dentists).
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) maintains detailed and current information on dental careers.
The American Dental Association provides career related information for students and new dentists at this link.
Schools of Dentistry
Upon completion of a bachelor's degree, many students choose to complete their bachelors degree within the State of Georgia. The only dental school in the State of Georgia is part of the Medical College of Georgia. Links to the School of Dentistry and the Medical College of Georgia are provided below:
| Institution | Dentistry Link | Degrees |
|---|---|---|
| Medical College of Georgia | School of Dentistry | D.D.M. |
Admissions to dental school is generally very competitive. Completion of the curriculum described in this advisement page does not guarantee admission into a dental program.
Additionally, dental schools require completion (and a high score) of the Dental Admissions Test (DAT).
The American Association of Dental Schools provides a listing of all colleges and universities in the United States and Canada that offer degrees in dentistry.
Recommended Curriculum
Dental School admissions requirements generally allow a student to complete a bachelors degree in any discipline. However, there are minimum course requirements in science disciplines. Typically, there is a requirement for a minimum of one year of biology, one year of general chemistry, one year of organic chemistry, and one year of physics. Additionally, students must take and score well on the Dental Admissions Test (DAT). One section of the DAT is a survey of the natural sciences.
There are three possible tracks for pre-dentistry students to follow at Clayton State University:
- B.S.
in Biology (Biomedical Applications
emphasis area). This degree program is
designed to provide all the recommended
coursework required for preparation for admission
to dental school, and provides a bachelor of
science degree in Biology. The curriculum
for the Biology degree program is
provided at the following link:
- B.S. in Biology (select Biomedical Application emphasis area)
- B.S. in Integrative Studies - Pre-Professional Science. This degee program is designed to provide all the recommended coursework required for preparation for admission to dental school, and meet the requirement for a bachelor's degree. The curriculum for this degree is developed by the student and advisor, and then must be approved by the program coordinator upon recommendation of a faculty advisory group. A sample curriculum for the Pre-Professional Science degree program is provided at the following link:
- A.S. in Biology or Chemistry for students planning to transfer. Because it is unlikely (though possible) that majors other than those based in the sciences can meet the minimum science course requirements and prepare the student for the DAT, we recommend that students at Clayton State University who plan to transfer to other institutions to complete their bachelor's degree select either the A.S. degree in Biology or Chemistry to best prepare them for dental school requirements. These programs provide science courses included in those required for admission to dental school. These programs are designed for students who desire to transfer to other institutions to complete bachelor's degrees in either biology or chemistry prior to applying for admission to medical school. Detailed information on the curriculum for those about those two degrees are available through the following Web sites:
Course Sequencing
Because of the strong prerequisite dependencies for the required chemistry courses within the pre-dentistry curriculum, it is important that chemistry coursework begin in the first semester of attendance. Students who were undecided and failed to begin chemistry by their first term may have significant difficulty completing either of the B.S. degree in four years and will not be able to complete the A.S. degree in pre-dentistry in four semesters - summer terms and/or additional semesters will be required.
Course sequencing information for the B.S. in Applied Biology is available through the following link:
An example of course sequencing for the B.S. in Integrative Studies, Pre-Professional Science, is provided at the following link:
Course sequencing information for the A.S. in Biology and Chemistry is available through the following links: