DMD Admissions Prerequisites

Prerequisite courses and important notes

Applicants do not need to complete all prerequisite courses before applying to Harvard School of Dental Medicine; however, all prerequisite courses (and/or any degree programs an applicant is enrolled in) must be completed prior to matriculation. A bachelor’s degree is required prior to matriculation.

Applicants may major in any field as long as they complete the required prerequisite courses. The Admissions Committee values diverse academic backgrounds, as a well-rounded class contributes to a dynamic learning environment.

Please review the specific requirements for each subject area below. Note that laboratory components are required for biology, general/inorganic chemistry, and organic chemistry. Advanced-level courses may be used to satisfy basic course requirements. 

 

Required prerequisite courses

Biology

Specifications

  • Should include cellular and molecular aspects.
  • One year with lab experience.
  • Advanced Placement (AP) credits cannot be used; however, if students have earned college credit for biology through AP coursework, upper-level courses in biology will satisfy this requirement.

Chemistry/Biochemistry

Specifications

  • Two-year chemistry sequence (four courses) including inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry is required.
  • Lab experience is required.

Note: All applicants must complete a two-year chemistry sequence that covers inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry providing the foundation for the study of biologically relevant chemistry.

General chemistry preparation should include foundational topics in physical and inorganic chemistry such as bonding, molecular structure, chemical reactivity, equilibrium, energetics, and thermodynamics. 

AP credits that enable students to take an upper-level course may be used to meet one semester or semester equivalent of this requirement.

Physics

Specifications

  • One year is required.
  • Lab experience is recommended but not required.

Note: Students should be well prepared in biologically-relevant areas of mechanics, kinetics, thermodynamics, the properties of matter (quantum theory) and wave theory, electricity and magnetism, and optics.

AP credits that enable students to take an upper-level course may be used to meet one semester or semester equivalent of this requirement.

Writing

Specifications

  • One year is required of writing-intensive coursework.
  • Applicants should have one year of critical writing/thinking preparation, preferably in a course devoted specifically to the development of expository writing skills. 
  • AP credits cannot be used to satisfy this requirement.

Recommended prerequisite courses

Behavioral Sciences

Specification

  • Coursework in Behavioral Sciences (e.g. psychology, sociology, etc.) is recommended.

Mathematics

Specification

  • One year of mathematics (one semester each of calculus and statistics, preferably biostatistics) is recommended.

Important notes

Laboratory experience 

One semester of lab experience should be with corresponding coursework; however, a second semester lab may be fulfilled by independent laboratory-based research.

AP coursework

If advanced placement credits are used to satisfy portions of the chemistry, physics, or mathematics requirements, AP scores must be submitted to admissions office prior to matriculation unless the scores appear on the student’s college transcript. Admissions will only accept AP credits if the score is a 4 or 5 on the respective AP test.

Online coursework

Harvard School of Dental Medicine does not have a specific policy restricting the use of online courses to satisfy prerequisite requirements; however, courses taken on-site/in-person are strongly preferred. Laboratory sciences requirements should not be taken in an online format. 

Educational institution

Applicants should make every effort to take the majority of required courses at the institution that will be conferring their degree. Prerequisite courses taken as part of a post-baccalaureate program of study do not need to be taken at an applicant’s undergraduate institution.