Essential Courses (students entering Fall 2020 and after)

Course # Title
BI 101 General Biology I
BI 102 General Biology II
CH 142 Integrated Chemistry Principles I
CH 143 Integrated Chemistry Principles I Lab
CH 144 Integrated Chemistry Principles II
CH 145 Integrated Chemistry Principles II Lab
CH 232 Organic Chemistry I
CH 233 Organic Chemistry I Lab
CH 312 Biochemistry
CH 332 Organic Chemistry II (with Laboratory)
PC 200 and PC 200L General Physics I and Lab I
PC 201 and PC 201L General Physics II and Lab II
EN ___ English Course (in addition to FYC)

Important Notes

  • Many schools REQUIRE at least one semester of Biochemistry. Strongly recommend Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Microbiology, Physiology, Anatomy, Modes of Clay, and accounting and business courses. Also recommend genetics, calculus, foreign language (especially Spanish), sociology, economics, psychology, history, communication courses, and ethics.
  • These courses reflect program requirements for our affiliation with LECOM School of Dental Medicine only. Although this course list will be sufficient for most other programs, make sure to check requirements of other schools in which you are interested no later than your sophomore year.
  • This course list does NOT represent a POE, nor does it cover College requirements. Design a POE, preferably in an academic area, in consultation with your advisor. Note: If you are in a 3 +_ program, course work during the first year of professional school can count toward upper level POE requirements.
  • Make sure to have an advisor on the Health Professions Committee, preferably Dr. Borgardt.
  • In addition to your course work you are urged to gain some experience in dentistry either during the school year or over the summer.

Requirements

LECOM School of Dental Medicine (4 + 4 Early Acceptance B.S./D.M.D)

Classes Credits
General Biology and Lab 8
Inorganic Chemistry and Lab 8
Organic Chemistry and Lab 8
Physics and Lab (Temple only)* 8
English 6
Biochemistry (LECOM only) 3

*LECOM strongly recommends Physics (4 credits) and the DAT is required no later than October of the senior year. LECOM also strongly recommends physiology, anatomy,and/or microbiology

Competitive Credentials

LECOM: 4 + 4 LECOM students must first have a successful pre-Juniata interview at LECOM and then enroll in the LECOM phase no later than the start of their junior year at Juniata. Transfer students must complete at least 2 consecutive years at Juniata. High school students who have at least 1170 on the Math and Verbal sections of the SAT OR at least 26 on the ACT may also apply. International students are not eligible. Application to the Early Acceptance Program consists of informing Patricia Hunt of your intentions and then submitting an online application to LECOM. LECOM will accept up to 5 qualified students per year into the Early Acceptance Program. Students in the Early Acceptance Program cannot apply to any other dental school and must attend at least one annual LECOM On-Campus Day event. LECOM wants no summer course work unless extenuating circumstances (LECOM permission required: consult with Patricia Hunt). POEs that are not in the biological or physical sciences require approval by LECOM. A criminal background check needs to be initiative by January of the year of matriculation. Anatomy, physiology, immunology, and histology are recommended but are not required.

Cumulative GPA each semester must be at least a 3.0 overall and in science, with a grade of C (not C-) or better in all prerequisite courses. GPA at the time of application must be at least 3.4 overall and 3.2 in the sciences. Also students must take at least 13 credits the first semester and at least 14 credits a semester thereafter. DAT needs to be 16 or better in each section. 100 hours of shadowing in a clinical dental setting is highly recommended.

Helpful websites:

American Dental Education Association- http://www.adea.org/

American Dental Association - http://www.ada.org

LECOM School of Dental Medicine- http://lecom.edu/school-dental-medicine.php

General Information: http://explorehealthcareers.org/en/home

Suggested Core Progression for Pre-Dentistry*

*If you are planning to study abroad or if you are in accelerated program consult with your Health Professions advisor to plan your course progression

Bolded courses are offered only in the indicated semester and/or require a specific sequence due to Juniata prerequisites. Non-bolded courses are either offered in both semesters or represent open-ended choices, making them more flexible in when they can be taken. Course progressions after the freshman year are not carved in stone. Your particular course sequence may be different, depending on your situation. Consult with your advisor.

  FALL SPRING
Freshman Year BI101 BI102
  CH 142 and CH 143 CH 144 and CH145
  FALL SPRING
Sophomore Year CH 232 and CH233 CH332
    English course
  FALL SPRING
Junior Year Physics I and Lab Physics II and Lab
  CH 312 Biochemistry  
  HP 270 Health Careers Seminar  

*Both semesters of the year you plan to take the exam.

If you do an accelerated program plan to finish most or all of the prerequisite courses the year before your final year at Juniata. If you have one or two courses to complete your final year at Juniata, you could be conditionally accepted to professional school based on your academic record up to that point and on successful completion of the remaining prerequisite courses.

If you study abroad the SAFEST strategy is to take ALL prerequisite courses for professional school in the U.S., which may require you to take courses in the U.S. over the summer, preferably at a 4 year institution. However, if this is extremely difficult for your situation, check with the professional schools you wish to attend to see if they will accept courses taken abroad and if so, get their response in writing.

Be mindful of your POE courses, which are NOT indicated here. Always work with both your POE and Health Professions Advisor to ensure proper academic progress towards meeting both POE requirements and prerequisites for medical school.