Pre-Dentistry
Lay the groundwork for a successful career in dentistry.
Dentists diagnose, prevent and treat problems of the teeth, gums and jaw. As a pre-dentistry student, you’ll:
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- Select a major that reflects your interests, and — with the aid of faculty and staff advisors — curate an academic pathway that prepares you for dental school.
- Get practical laboratory and research experience.
- Access free private test preparation via our partnership with Kaplan.
At A Glance
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12:1Student-to-faculty ratio
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18Average class size
Possible Careers
Lay the groundwork for a successful career in dentistry.
Dentists diagnose, prevent and treat problems of the teeth, gums and jaw. As a pre-dentistry student, you’ll:
-
- Select a major that reflects your interests, and — with the aid of faculty and staff advisors — curate an academic pathway that prepares you for dental school.
- Get practical laboratory and research experience.
- Access free private test preparation via our partnership with Kaplan.
Get to Know Pre-Dentistry
Meet the Pre-Health Professions Committee (PHPC)
The Alma Venture
Dream it, learn it, do it. Through our Venture program, you can design a unique, hands-on learning experience at home or abroad. Find out more about the Alma Venture.
Explore the Curriculum
Learn more about the fundamental courses that will offer a roadmap for your academic growth and expertise development.
Tailored support. Hands-on experience.
At Alma, our broad liberal arts focus helps you cultivate core critical thinking, analytical and research abilities.
Most pre-dentistry students choose to major in biochemistry, biology, chemistry, integrative physiology and health science, or psychology. However, our pre-dentistry track can align with a wide variety of majors.
You can also take advantage of opportunities directly related to the dental field. You’ll practice dissection in the human anatomy lab. Take courses in ceramics and sculpture, where you’ll develop crucial motor dexterity skills. And study pharmaceuticals, genetics, microbiology and more.
We have specialized resources to position you for admission to dental school, too. Through our partnership with Kaplan — a leading private test preparation provider — you’ll take a for-credit class to prepare you for your Dental Admissions Test (DAT).
What You Need to Know
To work as a dentist, you’ll need a doctor of dental surgery (DDS) or a doctor of dental medicine (DMD) degree. For those pursuing a specialty — such as endodontics, oral radiology or oral pathology — an additional 2-6 year residency is required.
Students from our program have an excellent graduate school placement rate. Some of the institutions our alumni have chosen are:
- Case Western Reserve University
- University of Michigan
- Midwestern University
Get Connected
Student Organizations
Whether you’re looking for ways to stretch yourself academically, stay active or engage with the local community, there’s something for everyone in our 100+ student organizations.