Pre-Dentistry

Oral health is directly tied to overall health and fitness—as a dentist, you can play a role in patients’ general well-being. Central College students succeed in securing acceptance into dental schools with help from an on-campus pre-health advisor, internship coordinator and academic advisors to ensure that you complete the required courses, maintain a GPA of 3.7 or higher and take advantage of many opportunities for professional development.

Although requirements vary at dental schools, a strong foundation in the natural and social sciences as part of a well-rounded liberal arts education is considered excellent preparation. Central’s pre-dentistry program prepares you to pursue dental education in graduate school. With the help of your advisor, you will choose a major that best prepares you for further study.

The Central Difference

Individualized Attention

Thanks to Central's small class and laboratory sizes, faculty are able to provide each student with individualized attention and the opportunity to develop skills necessary for graduate school. Our faculty members also provide personalized advising that ensures students meet the coursework requirements for graduate school. And to help you get into graduate school, faculty provide letters of recommendation that make a vital difference in the decision process for acceptance into medical programs.

Central Prepares Students for Medical School

An astounding 58 percent of Central College graduates who go to graduate school do so in health-related fields.

Heartland Global Health Consortium

Central College is a founding member of the Heartland Global Health Consortium whose mission is to establish and expand multidisciplinary educational, research and service opportunities to inspire and equip students to become leaders in global public health. The consortium provides additional opportunities for students to participate in educational, global research and global medical service experiences.

Hands-On Research

Central faculty provide students with many research and professional development opportunities, of which students are encouraged to take full advantage while on campus including undergraduate research and presentations at scientific meetings, internships, shadowing programs, targeted service-learning opportunities related to career goals and much more.

Off-Campus Experiences

Central students can study off-campus — both internationally or domestically in the United States. These opportunities give students the chance to prepare to be global citizens, equipped to compete in the global job market. Students can check out experiences led by Central faculty or attend select academic programs across the world that provide opportunities for study, service, internships and other types of experiential learning. Options include experiences in Chicago, Washington, D.C., Central America, Ghana, England, the Scottish Highlands and more.

Facilities

Central’s Vermeer Science Center was awarded the silver Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating from the United States Green Building Council, the first LEED-rated building in the state. Students have direct access to classrooms and laboratories equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation and presentation technology.

Beyond Central

Putting the “Hire” in Higher Education

  • Dentist, McCullough Family Dentistry, Ankeny
  • Dentist, Grinnell Family Dentistry
  • Dentist, Bromley Park Dental, Brighton, Colo.
  • Pediatric dentist, Children's Dental Center, Mount Pleasant
  • Dentist, Pella Family Dentistry, Pella
Central College student

Organizations

  • SCATE (Students Concerned About The Environment)
  • Tri-Beta (national biological sciences honor society)
  • Health Professions Club

Graduate Placement

  • Central graduates have recently completed dental school at the University of Iowa and Creighton University.

Internships

  • Pella Family Dentistry
Central College student

Courses & Faculty

Students can choose to major in any discipline that fits their personal and professional life goals. Regardless of major choice, students are required to successfully complete a series of courses in biology, chemistry, physics and English. Students must also complete the Dental Admission Test exam.

The Central College Career Center provides the following activities to help pre-health students narrow career options: individual appointments to identify career options in the health field, job shadowing opportunities with local professionals or Central alumni, assistance with finding and applying for internships and summer opportunities, help with graduate school applications and much more.

Learn more about this discipline in the course catalog.

Meet the Faculty


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Want to find out more about Pre-Dentistry at Central? Contact us to learn more about this discipline and our other strong academic programs.

Visit campus to observe classes and experience The Central Difference firsthand.

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