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

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For First Time Freshman (Scroll Down for Transfer Students)

Course	Credit Hours
Fall Year 1	16 total hours
BIO 100T Transitions	1
BIO 115 The Cellular Basis of Life	3
CHE 201 General College Chemistry	5
ENG 105 Critical Reading, Writing & Inquiry	4
PSY 180 General Psychology or COM 161 Introduction to Public Speaking	3
Spring Year 1	18 total hours
BIO 216 Biological Inquiry & Analysis	4
CHE 202 General Chem & Quantitative Analysis	5
BIO 221 Zoology: Animal Form and Function	4
MAT 150 Algebra & Trigonometry or MAT 250 Calculus & Analytical Geometry I	5
Fall Year 2	16 total hours
BIO 222 Botany: Plant Form & Function	4
BIO 300 Microbiology	4
CHE 312 Organic Chemistry I & Lab	5
PSY 180 General Psychology or COM 161 Introduction to Public Speaking	3
Spring Year 2	15 total hours
BIO 323 Cell Biology: Systems	3
CHE 320 Organic Chemistry II	3
CHE 325 Organic Chemistry II Lab	3
XXX XXX Global Awareness Elective	3
CIV 201 or 202 World Civilization I or II	3
Fall Year 3	14 total hours
BIO 321 Cell Biology: Mechanisms	3
BIO 322 Animal Physiology	4
PHY 130/131 General Physics I & Lab	4
BIO 308 Ethics in Biology	3
Spring Year 3	14 total hours
BIO 333 Genetics	4
CHE 330 Basic Biochemistry	3
PHY 132/133 General Physics II & Lab	4
HUM 211 The Western Tradition	3
DAT Exam, May
Fall Year 4	15-16 total hours
ENG 204  Advanced Expository Writing	3
MGT 250 Introduction to Management	3
XXX XXX Unrestricted Electives	6
STA 135 Intro to Prob & Statistics or PSY 300 Principles of Statistical Analysis	3-4
Spring Year 4	12 total hours
BIO 499 Senior Seminar	1
BIO 320 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy	5
BIO 421 Vertebrate Histology	4
XXX XXX Electives to complete 120 hrs total & 42 hrs of upper level credit	2

 For Transfer Students with an Associate's of Science degree

Note, this 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.

Course	Credit Hours
Fall Year 1 Post Associate's Degree	15 total hours
BIO 221 Zoology: Animal Form & Function	4
BIO 321 Cell Biology: Mechanisms	3
CHE 312 Organic Chemistry I & Lab	5
PSY 300 Principles of Statistical Analysis	3
Spring Year 1 Post Associate's Degree	17 total hours
BIO 300 Microbiology	4
BIO 333 Genetics	4
CHE 320 Organic Chemistry II	3
CHE 330 Basic Biochemistry	3
XXX XXX Unrestricted Electives	3
Fall Year 2 Post Associate's Degree	15 total hours
BIO 222 Botany: Plant Form & Function	4
BIO 322 Animal Physiology	4
ENG 204 Advanced Expository Writing	3
PHY 132/133 General Physics II & Lab	4
Spring Year 2 Post Associate's Degree	13 total hours
BIO 320 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy	5
BIO 421 Vertebrate Histology	4
BIO 499 Senior Seminar	1
CHE 325 Organic Chemistry II Lab	3
DAT Exam, May

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