Pre-Dental

A pre-dental degree develops students in areas preferred by dental schools, including the natural sciences, social studies and humanities. Earning a bachelor's degree with emphasis in pre-dentistry will lay the groundwork for more focused study in the dental or science field of your choosing. 

The field of oral healthcare is diverse and rewarding. Whether you hope to pursue a role in general dentistry or a specialty in oral surgery, this career sector is expected to add 11,100 new jobs by 2030, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Those pursuing dental studies have the flexibility to target multiple degree options and, ultimately, work in a variety of settings, including dental clinics, physicians' offices and outpatient care centers. 

The short answer is yes, majoring in pre-dentistry is absolutely worth it! A few benefits of pursuing your pre-dentistry degree here at UC are career preparation, flexible career opportunities, and personalized advising. In addition, this degree program will teach you highly valued skills like critical thinking and reasoning, empathy for patients, time management skills, and the ability to communicate well orally and on paper. 

Courses for your pre-dentistry emphasis will be based on whether you choose to officially major in biology or chemistry. Along with your chosen science and required mathematics courses, you will also do basic coursework in areas such as English, humanities and social sciences, and world cultures – all areas dental schools prefer for their students to be familiar with. 

We’re proud to say: Yes! Taking part in our pre-dental degree program will position you more competitively than other major degree programs when it comes to applying to dental school (or other graduate school programs). Ultimately, our goal is to prepare you to pursue a wide range of rewarding career paths, even if you change your mind from dentistry in the future. What matters most is your success, no matter your career choice.