Pre-Dental Medicine . . . Most pre-dentistry students at Pitt start as undergraduates in the School of Arts and Sciences (A&S) where they have over 50 majors from which to choose. After completing an undergraduate degree, including prerequisite coursework for dental school, earning a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) in the School of Dental Medicine requires an additional four years of study. You do not have to be a science major to complete dental school prerequisites in A&S, as long as your studies include the following: English 6 credits Biology (lab must be included) 8 credits Physics 6 credits Chemistry 8 credits Organic Chemistry 6 credits Biochemistry 4 credits You can choose any major that interests you and still apply to the School of Dental Medicine. For example, if you love poetry and novels, you can still be an English Literature major. A Guarantee to Graduate School . . . Exceptional high school students who indicate an interest in pre-dentistry on their admissions applications can be offered guaranteed admission to the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. These students will have a spot reserved for them in the DMD program upon their graduation from the School of Arts and Sciences provided they successfully complete the prerequisite undergraduate courses and attain a DAT score that will be set the summer before the student's senior year in college. Experience . . . In addition to academic coursework, Pitt provides many extracurricular activities that are ideal for prospective dental students. For example, joining Pitt's Dental Science Club will give you opportunities to meet professionals in the field, as well as become involved in projects and activities at the University's School of Dental Medicine. There are also undergraduate research opportunities, internships, and work-study positions available in the dental and science fields that can give your dental school admissions portfolio an added dimension. Professional Advisement . . . Pitt has special advisors in the Career Services Office dedicated to helping dental students complete the professional school admissions process. These advisors will help you prepare for the Dental School Admissions Test (DAT), typically taken at the end of your junior year or the beginning of your senior year. They will also help you assemble a complete admissions portfolio, from assisting you in acquiring the needed documents to critiquing your essays and letters and providing you with mock interviews. Once you have completed this program, you will have the added polish professional school admissions committees are looking for. Dental Hygiene . . . If you like the idea of working in the dental health field, but you do not want to be a dentist, the School of Dental Medicine offers a Certificate of Dental Hygiene Program. This program is a five-term course of intensive study that qualifies you to take national, state, and regional licensing exams. As part of the program, you will get real world, practical experience working with faculty members in their private practices. An abundance of health related professions . . . Many students begin their studies at the University of Pittsburgh with one health profession goal in mind and then find they're interested in another. Because the University offers such a variety of health-related majors, as well as the opportunity to prepare for graduate/professional health-related fields, and because it is associated with a major medical center-the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Health System, it is a terrific place to investigate different options. Just check out our list of Academic Departments and Programs to get an idea. Remember, there are academic advisors to help you plan along the way.