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Admission Requirements

The majority of students accepted to the University of Colorado Denver (UCD) School of Dental Medicine has completed at least four years of undergraduate work and have received an undergraduate degree.  This degree does not necessarily have to be in science or predentistry.  The School of Dental Medicine does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, national origin, or gender.  Women and men of all ethnic minority groups are encouraged to apply for admission.

The following areas of study are required for the minimum predental program.  Laboratory work should be included in each of these disciplines.  The basic requirement for admission to the School of Dental Medicine is completion of at least 90 semester hours or the equivalent, with at least 30 hours of upper division for a letter grade.  Credit hours from a community/junior college are limited to no more than 60 semester hours.  High School Advanced Placement (AP) courses will not be counted for prerequisite course work.

Prerequisite Requirements:

General Biology/Zoology with lab:  One academic year.  Since dentistry is dependent upon knowledge of normal and abnormal biology/zoology including laboratory work, this field is of major importance.  The applicant should be concerned with complete preparation for dental education.  Appropriate course selection in the biological sciences should lead to a thorough understanding of the principles of modern biology.

General Chemistry with lab:  One academic year.  A program in general chemistry should include the following: principles of chemistry, the descriptive chemistry of atomic and molecular structure, chemical bonding, stoichiometry, chemical kinetics, chemical equilibrium, and electro-chemistry.  This program should include laboratory work that serves as an introduction to the principles of qualitative analysis, including ionic equilibria, ionic separation, and the detection of selected simple and complex ions.

Organic Chemistry with lab:  One academic year.  Course work in organic chemistry, including laboratory work, should cover the nomenclature, reactions, and electronic or structural features of compounds which frequently are involved in biological reactions.

General Physics with lab:  One academic year.  The concept of mechanics as the action of forces through levers and the performance of work in the exchange of forms of energy should be understood.  The range of electromagnetic radiation from infrared through visible light to X-rays and waves of other lengths should also demonstrate the basic principles of generation, conduction, and measurement of electrical forces.

Humanities or English Literature:  One academic year.

English Composition:  One semester.

Suggested Electives: Courses in, business management/finance, psychology, communications, cell biology, anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, immunology, and histology are electives to consider.  Students should select subjects that stimulate them intellectually, challenge them to a maximum performance, and contribute to their overall development and maturation.  The courses may aim toward a thorough study of a single area with a general background in many areas, or may group together several related areas in the sciences or humanities.

Each applicant's scholastic record will be evaluated on its own merit, however, the School of Dental Medicine reserves the right to review transcripts and make the final determination as to course and requirement suitability.

The University of Colorado Denver School of Dental Medicine actively accepts both residents and non-residents for its Dental Program.

The UCD School of Dental Medicine is a member of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) program.  This exchange program helps students in the Western states to enroll in selected out-of-state professional programs.  Students who are residents of Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota and Wyoming are considered for acceptance under this program.  For additional information, and to apply for certification (deadline is October 15th of the year preceding admission), please visit the WICHE web page.  If you should not receive WICHE funding, the Accountable Student/Non-Resident information below will pertain to you.

For Non-Resident applicants, the Colorado State Legislature recently implemented a law concerning tuition for professional schools.  All non-resident students will be required to pay an Accountable Student Fee along with their tuition.  Non-Residents will be responsible for the Accountable Student Fee for each of the four years of enrollment at the School of Dental Medicine.  It is no longer possible in Colorado to enroll and then change residency status following completion of the first year of school.  You must be a legal Colorado resident at the time of acceptance in order to qualify for in-state tuition.

See Admission Procedures

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