Pre-Dental Program Requirements at Pacific
Meeting all of the requirements will only guarantee an interview, not a seat, into the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry. On top of the requirements below, all pre-dental students must also take the Dental Admission Test (DAT) and get a minimum score of 18 in all categories.
APPLICATIONS / DAT SCORES MUST BE SUBMITTED BY SEPTEMBER 1ST
2+3 Program Requirements
General Requirements
GPA
3.25 Science & 3.25 Overall
BREADTH PROGRAM
All GE's excluding IIA and IIB classes
PACIFIC SEMINARS
PACS I and II Required
AFTER INVITATION FOR INTERVIEW
No grades less than a 'B' allowed.
General Education (Breadth Program)
I. SOCIAL & BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
IA. Individual & Interpersonal Behaviors
IB. U.S. Studies
IC. Global Studies
II. ARTS & HUMANITIES
IIC. Visual & Performing Arts
III. NATURAL SCIENCES & MATHEMATICS
IIIB. Mathematics & Formal Logic
The Pacific Seminars
PACS001
Pacific Seminar I: What is a Good Society?
PACS002
Pacific Seminar II: Topical Seminar
Required Courses
BIOLOGY
BIOL51: Principles of Biology I
BIOL61: Principles of Biology II
CHEMISTRY
CHEM25: General Chemistry I
CHEM27: General Chemistry II
CHEM121: Organic Chemistry I*
CHEM123: Organic Chemistry II*
PHYSICS
PHYS23: General Physics I
PHYS 25: General Physics II
*These courses do not have to be taken at Pacific; they can be transferred from acceptable universities for credit.
Recommended Biology Electives
BIOL71: Human Anatomy (Lab)
Professors: Dr. Gridi-Papp
BIOL81: Human Physiology (Lab)
Professors: Dr. Rigor, Dr. Thiemann
BIOL101: Genetics (Lab)
Professors: Dr. Wrischnik, Dr. Vierra, Dr. Weiser, Dr. Rivera
BIOL128: Histology (No Lab)
Professor: Dr. Maxwell
BIOL145: Microbiology (Lab)
Professors: Dr. Joan Lin-Cereghino, Dr. Risser
Special Note
Bachelor's Degree
It is possible to gain a degree while staying in the 2+3 program. Some of the courses in dental school can be transferred back to undergrad and are counted towards your graduation. For more details, talk to your advisor or a PDS officer.
3+3 Program Requirements
General Requirements
GPA
3.15 Science & 3.15 Overall
BREADTH PROGRAM
All GE's, and one of the courses must also fulfill the Diversity requirement
PACIFIC SEMINARS
PACS I and II Required
AFTER INVITATION FOR INTERVIEW
No grades less than a 'B' allowed.
General Education (Breadth Program)
I. SOCIAL & BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
IA. Individual & Interpersonal Behaviors
IB. U.S. Studies
IC. Global Studies
II. ARTS & HUMANITIES
IIA. Language & Literature
IIB. Worldviews & Ethics
IIC. Visual & Performing Arts
III. NATURAL SCIENCES & MATHEMATICS
IIIB. Mathematics & Formal Logic
IIIA and IIIC are covered by BIOL and CHEM
The Pacific Seminars
PACS001
Pacific Seminar I: What is a Good Society?
PACS002
Pacific Seminar II: Topical Seminar
PACS003 (If Getting Degree)
Pacific Seminar III: The Ethics of Family, Work, & Citizenship
Required Courses
BIOLOGY
BIOL51: Principles of Biology I
BIOL61: Principles of Biology II
CHEMISTRY
CHEM25: General Chemistry I
CHEM27: General Chemistry II
CHEM121: Organic Chemistry I*
CHEM123: Organic Chemistry II*
PHYSICS
PHYS23: General Physics I
PHYS 25: General Physics II
MATH*
One course above MATH33
AP credit may be accepted for MATH51 and MATH53, and therefore fulfill the MATH requirement for a Biology B.S. degree.
*These courses do not have to be taken at Pacific; they can be transferred from acceptable universities for credit.
Recommended Biology Electives
BIOL71: Human Anatomy (Lab)
Professors: Dr. Gridi-Papp
BIOL81: Human Physiology (Lab)
Professors: Dr. Thiemann
BIOL128: Histology (No Lab)
Professor: Dr. Maxwell
BIOL145: Microbiology (Lab)
Professors: Dr. Joan Lin-Cereghino, Dr. Risser
BIOL168: Elements of Biochemistry (No Lab)
Professor: Dr. Weiser
BIOL168: Elements of Biochemistry (No Lab)
Professor: Dr. Weiser
BIOL197: Research (Lab)
Not necessary, but it's a good way to get to know professors and improve your laboratory skills.
Special Note
Bachelor's Degree
Many 3+ 3 students choose to obtain a bachelor's degree. There are two ways this can be accomplished:
-
Finishing all courses required for a B.A/B.S degree within three years. These students must complete all 4+3 program requirements by graduation. See next column for more details.
-
Some of the courses (as well as units) in dental school can be transferred back to undergrad and are counted towards your graduation. For a BS you must take PACS3 and BIOL 101 and BIOL 175 before advancing, plus an additional 4 electives. For more details, talk to your advisor or a PDS officer.
4+3 Program Requirements
General Requirements
GPA
3.05 Science & 3.05 Overall
BREADTH PROGRAM
One of the courses must also fulfill the Diversity requirement
OBTAIN BIOLOGY B.S. DEGREE
Complete all major requirements and at least 124 units. This includes four core biology courses (51, 61, 101 & 175) and six biology electives (2 of which must have a lab component) and one semester of math.
AFTER INVITATION FOR INTERVIEW
No grades less than a 'B' allowed.
General Education (Breadth Program)
I. SOCIAL & BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
IA. Individual & Interpersonal Behaviors
IB. U.S. Studies
IC. Global Studies
II. ARTS & HUMANITIES
IIA. Language & Literature
IIB. Worldviews & Ethics
IIC. Visual & Performing Arts
III. NATURAL SCIENCES & MATHEMATICS
IIIB. Mathematics & Formal Logic
IIIA and IIIC are covered by BIOL and CHEM
The Pacific Seminars
PACS001
Pacific Seminar I: What is a Good Society?
PACS002
Pacific Seminar II: Topical Seminar
PACS003
Pacific Seminar III: The Ethics of Family, Work, & Citizenship
Required Courses
BIOLOGY
BIOL51: Principles of Biology I
BIOL61: Principles of Biology II
BIOL101: Genetics
BIOL175/176: Ecology
CHEMISTRY
CHEM25: General Chemistry I
CHEM27: General Chemistry II
CHEM121: Organic Chemistry I*
CHEM123: Organic Chemistry II*
PHYSICS
PHYS23: General Physics I
PHYS 25: General Physics II
MATH*
One course above MATH33
AP credit may be accepted for MATH51 and MATH53, and therefore fulfill the MATH requirement for a Biology B.S. degree.
*These courses do not have to be taken at Pacific; they can be transferred from acceptable universities for credit.
Recommended Biology Electives
BIOL71: Human Anatomy (Lab)
Professors: Dr. Gridi-Papp
BIOL81: Human Physiology (Lab)
Professors: Dr. Thiemann
BIOL128: Histology (No Lab)
Professor: Dr. Maxwell
BIOL145: Microbiology (Lab)
Professors: Dr. Joan Lin-Cereghino, Dr. Risser
BIOL168: Elements of Biochemistry (No Lab)
Professor: Dr. Weiser
BIOL197: Research (Lab)
Not necessary, but it's a good way to get to know professors and improve your laboratory skills.