Pre-Dentistry

The pre-professional program for pre-dental students provides advising for students preparing to apply to dental school. The recommendations of American dental schools and the requirements for a baccalaureate degree at the University of Maryland form the basis for the advising.

Four-Year Baccalaureate Program

Pre-dental students at the University of Maryland are encouraged to complete a four-year undergraduate degree, with a diversified curriculum, balancing humanities, social sciences and fine arts courses with science and mathematics courses, prior to entering dental school. Courses in which students work with their hands are also advised. Students in the four-year program, must plan an undergraduate experience that satisfies the requirements of their selected major, as well as pre-dental admission requirements. Students should seek pre-dental advising early in order to create an appropriate four-year pre-dental plan. The national associations www.adea.org provides current information for applicants.

Students who have completed AP or IB programs and received credit for courses in the sciences that are required for dental school admission are advised to read the AP/IB section of the HPAO website  (http://prehealth.umd.edu/predentistry/apandibcredit) and review individual school websites for their specific policies toward this credit.

Three-year Arts-Dentistry Degree Program

For highly motivated and academically talented students, the University of Maryland, College Park and University of Maryland School of Dentistry offer the three-year Arts-Dentistry Program. This program gives students the opportunity to apply to the University of Maryland School of Dentistry one year early. This accelerated program requires students to complete their dental school admission requirements in three years, as they apply to dental school at the end of the second year and the beginning of their third year. Competitive students must apply and be accepted by the University of Maryland Dental School. Students accepted in the combined arts-dentistry program, receive the B.S. degree (Arts-Dentistry) after satisfactory completion of the first year at the dental school and upon the recommendation of the Dean of the School of Dentistry and approval of the University of Maryland, College Park. Participation in the combined-degree program at the University of Maryland, College Park does not guarantee admission to the University of Maryland School of Dentistry.

The HPAO strongly urges incoming students interested in this combined-degree program to identify their interest and consult with the Pre-Health advisor very early in their academic career. Please visit the website for specific details and instruction. This is a highly competitive program for top students with broad exposure to the dental field and other extra curricular activities.

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