Dentistry (Pre)
Why study Pre-Dentistry?
Dentists spend their days making people’s lives better by relieving their pain, improving their appearance and self-confidence, and preventing disease. Oral health has a direct relationship to overall health, meaning dentists are trained to diagnose and treat conditions that can range from routine to very complex. As a dentist, you can be your own boss and choose any number of specializations.
As a Pre-Dentistry student at Aurora University, you will major in Health Science, acquiring the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in the ever-changing field of health care. You will also enroll in the Pre-Dentistry program, which offers a curated collection of prerequisite courses necessary to be accepted into dental school.
To help you navigate your academic career and prepare for dental school, AU offers one-on-one guidance with our own Pre-Medical Professions Advisor C.J. Chen. A longtime biology professor at AU, Chen is an expert in the application process for health profession schools. Internship opportunities are also available so you can experience, first hand, what it is like to practice dental medicine.
At AU, you will also have an opportunity to participate in research, a step that will enhance your dental school application. AU offers students unique opportunities to conduct laboratory research with expert faculty in the field. Developing research experience deepens your understanding of what you learn in the classroom and prepares you with the skills to succeed in dental school. Advanced coursework prepares you for the Dental Admission Test (DAT) examination and the dental school application process.
How much education is required to become a dentist?
After you earn your undergraduate degree, you need to attend dental school for four years, then pass the National Board Dental Examinations and a state or regional clinical examination. Additional post-graduate training is required if you want to specialize.
Qualified Pre-Dentistry students can benefit from AU’s agreements with Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM)’s Early Acceptance Program and Midwestern University. Please visit our academic affiliations page to learn more.
- Advanced Academic Writing
- Anatomy and Physiology I
- Anatomy and Physiology II
- Biochemistry
- General Biology I
- General Biology II
- General Chemistry I
- General Chemistry II
- Microbiology
- Organic Chemistry I
- Organic Chemistry II
- Physics I
- Physics II
- Precalculus
- AU Science Organization
- Healthcare Professionals of the Future
- Mu Sigma Pi Pre-Health Service Club
annual median salary for dentists
2023-2033 projected job growth rate
Experiential learning
You will have the opportunity to complete an internship, clinical, or field experience at a dental facility. AU’s pre-medical professions advisor will work with you to find internships in the dental field that fit with your interests so you can experience your targeted profession first hand. You will also have the unique opportunity to conduct laboratory research with faculty, preparing you with the skills to succeed in dental school.
Internship sites
- All Brite Family Dental
- Staten Dentistry
- Valley View Dental
Where AU graduates attend medical school
- Nova Southeastern University Florida
- University of Colorado Denver
- University of Illinois Chicago
- University of Michigan
- University of Utah