Pre-Dentistry Program in Pennsylvania
Prepare for dentistry school through a personalized advising pathway within a major of your choosing.
Study Pre-Dentistry at a Christian University
Are you interested in a career in dentistry? Messiah University, a private Christian university in Pennsylvania, offers pre-health advising options to help you prepare for a health-related career after obtaining your undergraduate degree.
Pre-dentistry is not structured as a major at Messiah University. Instead, we find it more effective to help prepare you for dentistry school through a personalized, rigorous advising pathway within a major you choose. You will work one-on-one with our dedicated pre-health advisor to get answers to your questions; explore a career path that matches your passions and skills; and to help ensure you complete the prerequisite courses and application materials required for acceptance into dental school.
While we have students from various majors go on to dental school, some of the more widely selected majors for dental school-bound students at Messiah include:
- Applied Health Science
- Biochemistry (B.S. and B.A.)
- Biology – Biomedical concentration
- Biopsychology
- Molecular Biology
While specific requirements vary by school, you will likely be required to take the following courses to be able to apply to dental school.
- One year of general biology
- One year of general chemistry
- One year of organic chemistry
- One year introductory or general physics
Pre-dentistry advising students at Messiah have been accepted to many prestigious medical schools, including:
- University of Maryland School of Dentistry
- University of Tennessee College of Dentistry
- Midwestern School of Dentistry
Messiah University + LECOM dentistry
The Bachelor’s + DMD Early Assurance Program (EAP) leading to a Doctorate in Dental Medicine (DMD) is the result of a new and exciting collaboration between Messiah University and Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM). Students will complete their bachelor’s degree at Messiah University and then proceed to LECOM to obtain their DMD degree. This early assurance program is open to high school students who are accepted and plan to attend Messiah University and current Messiah University students prior to the start of their junior year.
For academic and application requirements, career planning tools and more.
Questions?
Contact Martha Stigelman, Pre-health professions advising coordinator
717-766-2511, ext. 3936
In the Pre-Dentistry program, you will take a selection of courses that successfully prepare you for a career in a related field. Hands-on experiences and classroom learning within the framework of Christian faith will give you the skills and knowledge to achieve your goals. Our programs offer a wide variety of courses that will not only help you excel in your future career, but challenge you to develop a deeper understanding of your field of study.
Pre-Dentistry careers and outcomes
Where our grads work
Graduates of the Pre-Dentistry program work in positions of leadership in their places of employment, using the tools and knowledge a Messiah University education prepared them with. Each year, eager employers and some of the nation's best graduate schools welcome Messiah graduates into their organizations.
95% of the Class of 2024 respondents were employed or in graduate school within 6-9 months of graduation.
Our Alumni
Regional and national employers seek out Messiah graduates for their academic preparation, work ethic and personal character. The transformation you experience at Messiah readies you to transform the lives of others through your chosen career path.
Messiah's unique approach to hands-on learning
Learning in the classroom is important but actually applying that knowledge in a hands-on way can make all the difference. At Messiah University, the Experiential Learning Initiative (ELI) allows Messiah to take this hands-on learning to a new level by giving students the opportunity to apply what they have learned to various real world contexts--such as an internship/practica, service learning, off-campus program, holding a student leadership position, or participating in undergraduate research.