Health Professions

See also:

Pre-Dentistry

Essential Courses

Course # Title Credit Hours Prerequisites
BI 105 Biological Diversity and Ecology 3 None
BI 121 Biology Lab I 1 BI 105 (corequisite)
BI 106 Structure and Function of Cells and Organisms 3 BI 105 and CH 105
BI 122 Biology Lab II 1 BI 105 and BI 121; CH 122 (corequisite)
CH 105 Organic Chemistry Concepts I 3 None
CH 121 Organic Chemistry Lab I 1 CH 105 (corequisite)
CH 106 Organic Chemistry Concepts II 3 CH 105 (with C or better)
CH 122 Organic Chemistry Lab II 1 CH 121; CH 106 (corequisite)
CH 230 Intro to Bioinorganic Chemistry 3 CH 105
CH 250 Analytical Chemistry 5 CH 115 or CH 230
PC 200 General Physics I 3 PC 206 (corequisite)
or
PC 202 Introductory Physics I 3 MA 130 and PC 206 (corequisites)
PC 206 Physics Lab I 1 PC 200 or PC 202 (corequisite)
PC 201 General Physics II 3 PC 200; PC 207 (corequisite)
or
PC 203 Introductory Physics II 3 PC 202 and MA 130; PC 207 (corequisite)
PC 207 Physics Lab II 1 PC 201 or PC 203 (corequisite)
EN ___ English Course 3 Varies

Important Notes:

  1. Strongly recommend Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I and II, Microbiology, Physiology, Anatomy, and Modes of Clay. Also recommend Genetics, calculus, foreign language (especially Spanish), sociology, economics, psychology, accounting and business courses, history, communication courses, and ethics.
  2. These courses reflect program requirements for our affiliation with Temple University School of Dentistry 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Make sure to have an advisor on the Health Professions Committee, preferably Dr. Borgardt.
  5. 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

Temple University School of Dentistry
Regular Progression (4 years at Juniata) OR 3 + 4 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 8
English 6

Recommend (but do not require) histology (or another course close to it), biochemistry, anatomy, physiology, microbiology, psychology, pottery, sociology, foreign language (especially Spanish), additional courses in English DAT is required, no later than October of senior year.

Competitive credentials: Science and overall GPA of 3.2 or better. Science prerequisites with grades of C- or lower must be repeated. Note: May be exempt from specific prerequisite requirements if student has a B.S. degree and a gradepoint average of 3.25 or better, 3 credits of biology, and 9 additional science credits.

Must achieve a minimum score of 19 in the Science section and 19 in the Academic Average section of the DAT.

Helpful websites:
American Dental Association - http://www.ada.org
Temple University School of Dentistry - http://www.temple.edu/dentistry/

SUGGESTED CORE PROGRESSIONS FOR
Pre-DENTISTRY

No Acceleration and No Study Abroad Junior Year

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 BI 105 Biology Lab II
Biology Lab I Organic Chemistry Concepts II (if C or better in OCC I) and Lab
Organic Chemistry Concepts I and Lab  
FALL SPRING
Sophomore Year BI 106 Analytical Chemistry
  Bioinorganic Chemistry English
FALL SPRING
Junior Year Physics I and Lab Physics II and Lab

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.  Also if you have a Biology POE and will not have BI 207 by the time you go abroad, check with the Biology Department to see if there is a Cell and Molecular course you can take abroad that will enable you to take upper level biology offerings at Juniata your senior year that require BI 207 (ex. Physiology, Immunology, and Microbiology)

Be mindful of your POE courses, which are NOT indicated here.  For example, if you have a Biology POE, you will need to take Freshman seminar the fall of your freshman year,  Frontiers of Biology either semester your sophomore year, and Biology 207 at your earliest opportunity after completing Bioinorganic Chemistry.