2024-2025
Pre-Dentistry (minor)
VCU
Community college:
Associate of Science: Life Science (Richard Bland College of William and Mary)
Associate degree
Associate of Science: Life Science
Completing the associate degree will waive VCU's general education requirements.
Program description
The pre-dentistry minor provides foundational courses for students that are preparing to be competitive applicants for Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) programs after completing their bachelor’s degree at VCU. The pre-dentistry minor can be completed as a part of any undergraduate degree. Completing this minor does not guarantee admission into any dentistry program. This minor is structured to academically prepare students to apply for dentistry school broadly. Clinical and non-clinical experiences are a requirement of application to most dental schools. In addition to this minor, students should participate in clinical and non-clinical experiences to develop a competitive application for dental school. Visit the VCU Career Services - Pre-Professional Health Career Advising website for more information and to schedule an appointment with a pre-professional health and STEM career counselor.
Career opportunities
Dental schools across the U.S. have different prerequisites for admission. The list below shows courses that may be required by various schools including the VCU School of Dentistry. It is always recommended that a student visit each program’s webpages and/or attend an information session to obtain requirements for specific programs. Students are encouraged to meet with their academic adviser to integrate these courses into their academic plan. In addition, students are encouraged to discuss career plans with their pre-dentistry minor adviser and VCU career counselor for additional guidance.
Graduate and professional level job titles
- Dentist
- Endodonist
- Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon
- Orthodontist
Contact information
Telephone: (804) 827-1349
Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu
VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist
Telephone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638
Email: ugrad@vcu.edu
Apply Here.
Guaranteed transfer admission requirements
No guaranteed admission.
Degree requirements in Bulletin
Plan of study in Bulletin
n/a
Requirements
Highest level of math required
- MATH 200
Science required
- 5+ additional science courses
Foreign language requirements
- No
Additional tuition/fees
- No
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
- 3.0+
VCU Major Maps
Transfer major map
2024-2025
Pre-Dentistry (minor)
Richard Bland College of William and Mary (Associate of Science: Life Science)
| MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING | GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY | DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY | EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS | PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE | ||
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| Explore | Year 1 |
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| Experience | Year 2 |
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Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Attend RBC Orientation.
- Schedule an appointment with your Learner Mentor to discuss your degree and class plan.
- A stellar GPA is vital to being a competitive student. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
- Review the resources on the VCU Healthcare Pathways website, especially the Pre-Dentistry Advising Guide.
- Explore RBC financial aid resources and submit the FAFSA on time.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Review admission requirements for the VCU D.D.S. program.
- Learn about the transfer admission process for VCU.
- Get involved with student clubs and organizations.
- Cultivate relationships with your professors.
- Review volunteer and shadowing opportunities on the VCU Healthcare Pathways website.
- Register to vote.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
- Attend cultural events at RBC and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
- Attend VCU's annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
- Make friends with people with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Explore possible career opportunities for pre-dentistry students.
- Build a LinkedIn profile.
- Review volunteer and shadowing opportunities to find healthcare volunteering and information about shadowing.
- Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
- Familiarize yourself with the career services offered at RBC and VCU and explore career pathways on the VCU Career Services website.
- Develop personal and career goals and create SMART steps for 2-3 "dream jobs."
Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Be prepared for academic challenges by meeting with your Learner Mentor and understanding RBC Student Support available.
- Explore your eligibility for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant.
- Maintain a high GPA. Use tutoring resources to get ahead. Be prepared to earn good grades at VCU.
- Practice using flashcards and continuously assessing your knowledge of subjects that will be tested on the Dental Admission Test (DAT).
- Submit a transfer advising request to the VCU Transfer Center.
- Submit the FAFSA on time.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Participate in the STEM Transitions: Transfer Success Program after you’re admitted to VCU.
- Volunteer for service learning or community service projects.
- Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
- Apply to VCU.
- Consider applying to the Summer Academic Enrichment Program (SAEP).
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
- Consider learning a foreign language.
- Volunteer with a vulnerable, under-represented and/or underserved community. Reflect on the challenges these populations might face with their healthcare.
- Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
- Become familiar with OMSA at VCU.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Attend Career & Internship Fairs at RBC or VCU to explore your interests.
- Find healthcare experience that’s paid, volunteer or shadowing experience - answer the question, "is this really what I want to do?"
- Search for a summer science opportunity.
- Find out about VCU REAL and learn about REAL graduation requirement.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
- Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
- Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
- Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
- Review resources of the American Dental Association and begin to develop your own plan for applying and taking the Dental Admission Test (DAT).
Recommended courses
2024-2025
Pre-Dentistry (minor)
Richard Bland College of William and Mary (Associate of Science: Life Science)
| Course | Title | Equivalent course | Credits | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGL 101 | Rhetoric and Research I Note: students with credit for AP English Language and Composition will only receive credit for UNIV 111 at VCU and should take ENGL 102 to fulfill the VCU composition requirement. | UNIV 111-112 | 3 | General education (Pre-dentistry requirement) |
| ENGL 102 | Rhetoric and Research II | UNIV 200 | 3 | General education (Pre-dentistry requirement) |
| Language & Ideas | Select 1: ENGL 203, 204, 205, 206, 210, 211, 214, 215, 216, PHIL 101, 201, 202, 203, 270, REL 201, 209, 210, 270, COMM 101, 102, 201. | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
| Fine Arts | Select 1: ART 201, 202, 231, MUS 103, MUS 123, THEA 201. | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
| Human Experience | Select 1: ANTH 103, PHIL 101, 121, 201, 202, 203, PSY 201-202, 217, 218, 240, 250, 292, 295, REL 201, 209, 210, SOC 201, 204, 208, 250, 253. | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
| U.S. & World Cultures | Select 1: ECON 201, 202, GEO 101, GEO 103, GOVT 201, GOVT 202, GOVT 203, HIST 101, HIST 102, HIST 191, 192, HIST 201, HIST 202, HIST 240, REL 209, REL 210, REL 219, REL 220, REL 254. | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
| MATH 151 or MATH 217 | Precalculus II or Introductory Statistics | MATH 151 or STAT 210 | 3 | General education (Pre-dentistry requirement) |
| BIO 151 + Lab | Biological Science I + Lab | BIOL/Z 151 | 4 | General education (Pre-dentistry requirement) |
| BIO 152 + Lab | Biological Science II + Lab | BIOL/Z 152 | 4 | Elective (Pre-dentistry requirement) |
| CHEM 101 + Lab | General Chemistry I + Lab | CHEM/Z 101 | 4 | General education (Pre-dentistry requirement) |
| CHEM 102 + Lab | General Chemistry II + Lab | CHEM/Z 102 | 4 | Elective (Pre-dentistry requirement) |
| PHYS 101 or PHYS 201 | College Physics I (lecture and lab) or University Physics I (Lecture and Lab) | PHYS 201 or PHYS 207 | 4 | Elective (Pre-dentistry requirement) |
| PHYS 102 or PHYS 202 | College Physics II (lecture and lab) or University Physics II (Lecture and Lab) | PHYS 202 or PHYS 208 | 4 | Elective (Pre-dentistry requirement) |
| Complete requirements for associate degree | VCU equivalents | 15 | General education | |
| Richard Bland credits transferred to VCU | 60 | |||
| Course | Title | Credits | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| The courses listed below are required for the minor in Pre-Dentistry. Students must complete at least 9 credits of upper-level course requirements at VCU to be eligible for the minor. Students must also select a VCU major and complete the major requirements. The minimum number of credits required for a bachelor's degree at VCU is 120 credits. | |||
| BIOL 300 | Cellular and Molecular Biology | 3 | Elective (Pre-Dentistry minor) |
| BIOL 303 | Microbiology | 3 | Elective (Pre-dentistry recommendation) |
| CHEM/Z 301 | Organic Chemistry I and Laboratory | 5 | Elective (Pre-dentistry requirement) |
| CHEM/Z 302 | Organic Chemistry II and Laboratory | 5 | Elective (Pre-dentistry requirement) |
| CHEM 403 | Biochemistry I | 3 | Elective (Pre-dentistry requirement) |
| Courses required for VCU major and electives Other upper-level science courses in general microbiology, bacteriology, animal or vertebrate physiology, anatomy, genetics and cell biology are strongly recommended. If time permits and the courses are available, courses in immunology, embryology, or developmental biology and histology are highly recommended. Additionally, non-science courses in the behavioral sciences and those involving psychomotor skills are recommended. | 41 | Major | |
| REAL | The REAL requirement may be satisfied by successfully completing a 300-level (or higher) course that has received a REAL attribute of Level 2, 3 or 4 or through an approved “REAL” co-curricular experience that has received a REAL attribute of Level 3 or 4. See VCU advisor for options. | 0 | Major |
| Minimum number of credits completed at VCU | 60 | ||
| Minimum number of credits required for a bachelor's degree | 120 | ||