Director: Judith Maloney, Ph.D., Clinical Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences
Department of Biomedical Sciences website

In partnership with the Marquette University School of Dentistry, the Department of Biomedical Sciences in the College of Health Sciences offers a pre-dental enhancement program.

This non-degree program is designed to help students build a more competitive dental school application in 12 months. The program is for students who already have a significant scientific background but seek to strengthen their academic resumes by taking an intensive pre-dental curriculum that includes graduate- and professional-level biomedical course work and exposure to the dental field.

This is a unique opportunity, which not only enhances academic credentials, but also emphasizes the growing public health concerns within the field of dentistry and includes service learning experiences, as well as community health-oriented courses. The program not only brings together the academic and clinical strengths of the Department of Biomedical Sciences and the School of Dentistry, but also educates students about social justice issues in health care and dental health disparities.

Therefore, this program both prepares future health professionals and develops men and women for others who can champion social change in health care.

The program is an intensive, 12-month curriculum with an emphasis on courses that strengthen a student’s academic skills and knowledge of the dental health profession, such that they are well positioned for success in dental school.

The exposure to public health related courses and the service learning experiences are designed to increase students’ awareness and understanding of the challenges and values of diverse and under-served populations. These opportunities are aligned with the increasing involvement of dental schools, including the Marquette University School of Dentistry, in public health dentistry.

• Participation in an intensive pre-dental curriculum that includes graduate- and professional-level biomedical course work and immersion in the dental field through the Marquette University School of Dentistry.

• Personal pre-dental advising that focuses on student success, career advising, assistance with the dental school application process and interview techniques.

• Opportunities for students who meet program standards to receive interviews with the Marquette University School of Dentistry with the possibility for entry upon completion of the program without an additional gap year.

Program Qualifications

A qualified applicant to our Biomedical Sciences Pre-Dental (BMPD) enhancement program would already meet minimum qualifications to apply to dental school but needs to strengthen their academic preparation.

Criteria

1. Completion of all prerequisite course work for dental school admission.

2. Obtained competitive scores on the Dental Admissions Test (DAT) (typically a score of 17 or higher, academic average and all subscores, achieved prior to the start of the program).

3. Have an academic background that is enriched by and not redundant with the program’s curriculum.

4. Have a minimum GPA of 2.750 (based on performance in all undergraduate and post-graduate courses). An applicant with a lower GPA, but who is a strong candidate based on a holistic review of the application, may be considered for admission on probation status.  

Application requirements include submission of official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended; DAT scores (may be copies that were sent to you); and 3 letters of recommendation. An applicant may request to have application reviewed without DAT scores, but if accepted, a student must have a competitive DAT score by the start of the program.

As an enhancement program, students in the BMPD do not qualify for financial aid. Financial assistance may be available for selected applicants from under-represented backgrounds.

Biomedical Sciences Pre-Dental Enhancement Program

A course of study that is a pre-dental enhancement program consisting of three terms of study (summer, fall and spring). This program is not eligible for Title IV federal aid.

Required Course Work:

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Biomedical Sciences Core: Students are required to take a minimum of two science courses in the summer term, four science courses in the fall term, and two science course in the spring term. Science content includes anatomy, nutrition, pathology, physiology, genetics, microbiology, biochemistry, embryology, endocrinology and pharmacology.
BISC 3110	Nutritional Aspects of Health	3
BISC 3150	General Pathology	3
BISC 3213	Biochemistry	4
BISC 4147	Human Physiology Laboratory	1
BISC 5145	Human Physiology	4
BISC 5340	Human and Applied Medical Genetics	3
BISC 7215	Clinical Microbiology with Lab	4
BISC 5135	Clinical Human Anatomy	4
Choose from one of the following:		3
BISC 4020	Molecular Neuroscience
BISC 4120	Pharmacology
BISC 5173	Principles of Human Embryology
BISC 5325	Endocrinology
Professional Development Core: Prepares students for a successful application to dental school or other graduate/career path upon completion of the program. Content includes personal statement writing, resume development, interview skills and other aspects of career development.
BISC 7005	Professional Development 1	0
BISC 7006	Professional Development 2	0
BISC 7007	Professional Development 3	0
Public Health and Health Policy Core: Prepare students with the knowledge and cultural competency skills and encourage a personal commitment to serve underserved patients in order to decrease health disparities are key goals of the program. Students therefore not only enhance their academic credentials but also gain valuable experience working with underserved populations that make them both more competitive applicants to dental schools and more empathetic, culturally competent dental health care providers.
BISC 7160	Foundations in Public Health	3
Choose one of the following:		3
BISC 7150	Outbreaks, Epidemics and Pandemics
BISC 4153	Epidemiology
Choose one of the following:		3
BISC 4461	Comparative Health Politics and Policy
HEAL 1025	Culture and Health
HEAL 1200	Women's Health
SOWJ 1001	Introduction to Social Welfare and Justice
SOWJ 4700	Global Aid and Humanitarianism
Other courses with approval of program director
Dental Foundations Core: These courses are designed to give students basic foundational knowledge in the area of dentistry to facilitate smooth transition to dental school.
BISC 7001	Principles of Dentistry	1
BISC 7002	Dental Health and Society	1
BISC 7021	Medical and Dental Terminology	1
Total Credit Hours:		41

To remain in good academic standing and enrolled in the program, students are required to meet a minimum term GPA of 2.400 and C or better in all course work.  

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