Pre-Dentistry
The Department of Biological Sciences offers outstanding preparation for a career in dentistry. The suggested curriculum below fulfills the admissions criteria for both the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville schools of Dentistry.
To be a competitive dental school applicant, students should adhere closely to the suggested Pre-Dentistry curriculum, earn an overall GPA of at least 3.2, and earn a Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Math (BCPM) GPA of at least 3.2. A strong performance on the Dental Admissions Test (DAT) is crucial. You must apply to take the DAT exam through the American Dental Association and to find local testing centers/testing dates. The objective is to take the DAT after the Spring semester of the Junior year, so the student should begin preparing for the examination as early as the Fall of the Sophomore year. Dental schools use this national examination to compare applicants from different undergraduate institutions. Presently a score of 18 is average for admission.
Suggested Curriculum
Fall Year 1 (16 total hours)
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BIO 100T Transitions (1 credit hour)
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BIO 115 The Cellular Basis of Life (3 credit hours)
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CHE 201 General College Chemistry (5 credit hours)
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ENG 105 Critical Reading, Writing & Inquiry (4 credit hours)
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PSY 180 General Psychology or COM 161 Introduction to Public Speaking (3 credit hours)
Spring Year 1 (18 total hours)
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BIO 216 Biological Inquiry & Analysis (4 credit hours)
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CHE 202 General Chem & Quantitative Analysis (5 credit hours)
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BIO 221 Zoology: Animal Form & Function (4 credit hours)
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MAT 150 Algebra & Trigonometry or MAT 250 Calculus & Analytical Geometry I (5 credit hours)
Fall Year 2 (16 total hours)
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BIO 222 Botany: Plant Form & Function (4 credit hours)
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BIO 300 Microbiology (4 credit hours)
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CHE 312 Organic Chemistry I & Lab (5 credit hours)
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PSY 180 General Psychology or COM 161 Introduction to Public Speaking ( 3 credit hours)
Spring Year 2 (15 total hours)
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BIO 323 Cell Biology: Systems (3 credit hours)
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CHE 320 Organic Chemistry II (3 credit hours)
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CHE 325 Organic Chemistry II Lab ( 3 credit hours)
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XXX XXX Global Awareness Elective (3 credit hours)
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CIV 201 or 202 World Civilization I or II (3 credit hours)
Fall Year 3 (14 total hours)
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BIO 321 Cell Biology: Mechanisms (3 credit hours)
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BIO 322 Animal Physiology (4 credit hours)
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PHY 130/131 General Physics I & Lab (4 credit hours)
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BIO 308 Ethics in Biology (3 credit hours)
Spring Year 3 (14 total hours)
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BIO 333 Genetics (4 credit hours)
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CHE 330 Basic Biochemistry (3 credit hours)
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PHY 132/133 General Physics II & Lab (4 credit hours)
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HUM 211 The Western Tradition (3 credit hours)
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DAT Exam, May
Fall Year 4 (15-16 total hours)
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ENG 204 Advanced Expository Writing (3 credit hours)
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MGT 250 Introduction to Management (3 credit hours)
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XXX XXX Unrestricted Electives (6 credit hours)
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STA 135 Intro to Prob & Statistics or PSY 300 Principles of Statistical Analysis (3-4 credit hours)
Spring Year 4 (12 total hours)
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BIO 499 Senior Seminar (1 credit hour)
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BIO 320 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy (5 credit hours)
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BIO 421 Vertebrate Histology (4 credit hours)
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XXX XXX Electives to complete 120 hrs total & 42 hrs of upper level credit (2 credit hours)
Fall Year 1 Post Associate's Degree (15 total hours)
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BIO 221 Zoology: Animal Form & Function (4 credit hours)
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BIO 321 Cell Biology: Mechanisms (3 credit hours)
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CHE 312 Organic Chemistry I & Lab (5 credit hours)
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PSY 300 Principles of Statistical Analysis (3 credit hours)
Spring Year 1 Post Associate's Degree (17 total hours)
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BIO 300 Microbiology (4 credit hours)
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BIO 333 Genetics (4 credit hours)
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CHE 320 Organic Chemistry II (3 credit hours)
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CHE 330 Basic Biochemistry (3 credit hours)
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XXX XXX Unrestricted Electives (3 credit hours)
Fall Year 2 Post Associate's Degree (15 total hours)
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BIO 222 Botany: Plant Form & Function (4 credit hours)
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BIO 322 Animal Physiology (4 credit hours)
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ENG 204 Advanced Expository Writing (3 credit hours)
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PHY 132/133 General Physics II & Lab (4 credit hours)
Spring Year 2 Post Associate's Degree (13 total hours)
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BIO 320 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy (5 credit hours)
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BIO 421 Vertebrate Histology (4 credit hours)
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BIO 499 Senior Seminar (1 credit hour)
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CHE 325 Organic Chemistry II Lab (3 credit hours)
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DAT Exam, May
Note, the transfer student pathway follows the pre-Biology Curriculum from WKCTC. It assumes that students have taken courses that will transfer as Murray State's BIO 115, BIO 216, CHE 201, CHE 202, MAT 150 and PHY 130/131. See Murray State Transfer Equivalency Tool to help you figure out how courses transfer from your current institution. NOTE: Students should take BIO 300, BIO 321 (or 323), BIO 322 and CHE 330 before taking the DAT. This exam is taken in May of the year prior to graduation. Therefore, we highly recommend that students take BIO 221 and Microbiology prior to transferring to Murray State. This will allow students to take all of the courses needed to do well on the DAT during their first year at Murray State and to take the DAT Spring Year 1 Post Associate's Degree.
For More Information Please Contact:
Dr. Gary ZeRuth
Associate Professor, Houston Endowed Chair of Pre-Medicine
Department of Biological Sciences
2112 Biology Building
