Seven-Year Liberal Arts/Dental Education Program

The faculties of Boston University’s College of Arts & Sciences and the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine have developed a combined preprofessional and professional curriculum leading to the awarding of the bachelor of arts and doctor of dental medicine degrees. This program, patterned after the highly successful seven-year medical program, provides an outstanding dental education while shortening the overall period of study. Qualified applicants include students who are completing four full academic years of secondary education and who are currently high school seniors, or students who have completed high school but have not enrolled in any college-level, degree-granting program. Those accepted are admitted to the College of Arts & Sciences and the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine subject to the review described under “Program Requirements" below.

The first three years and one summer are spent in the College of Arts & Sciences, during which students complete the Predental Science major (composed of specific predental courses), a minor, the BU Hub general education program, and additional elective courses in the humanities and social sciences. The second summer is spent taking a required biology course and courses that fulfill either minor requirements or BU Hub requirements outside the major, so that the undergraduate requirements are completed by the end of the third academic year. Students in this program must complete 112 credits of coursework after matriculation in the College of Arts & Sciences and must meet all requirements for the bachelor of arts.

First-year dental studies begin in the program’s fourth year. The amount of time devoted to dental studies is identical to the standard dental program in the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine. Students are awarded the bachelor of arts in May of their first year at the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine and receive their doctor of dental medicine at the completion of the program.

Acceleration

Acceleration is made possible by the 12-week summer session. Because this program requires only seven semesters of undergraduate work, advanced standing credit may not be used to decrease further the number of courses required for graduation. However, Advanced Placement exam results may be used to meet non-science requirements if approved by the department offering the course.

Scholarship Assistance and Loans

The full range of financial assistance programs is available to students in this program. The awards are based on financial need and academic achievement. Further information may be obtained by contacting the Undergraduate Financial Assistance office and the Boston University Medical Campus Student Financial Services office.

Learning Outcomes

Students graduating with the BA in Predental Science are expected to demonstrate:

  • Mastery of concepts, topics, and methods in the physical and life sciences that are considered foundational for the study of dental medicine.
  • Focused knowledge of an academic discipline or interdisciplinary field of study through the completion of a minor.
  • Academic integrity and mature conduct as a member of the University community.
  • Mastery of the first year of the preclinical curriculum at Boston University’s Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine.

Requirements

Program Requirements

Students must complete the Predental Science major, a minor, the BU Hub requirements, 112 credits of coursework after matriculation, and all requirements for the bachelor of arts. All students entering as freshmen in Fall 2018 and after will pursue coursework in the BU Hub, a general education program that is integrated into the entire undergraduate experience. BU Hub requirements are flexible and can be satisfied in many different ways, through coursework in and beyond the major (or minor) and, in some cases, through co-curricular activities. Students in the Predental Science major will ordinarily, through coursework in the major, satisfy BU Hub requirements in Quantitative Reasoning, Communication, Scientific and Social Inquiry, and the Intellectual Toolkit. Remaining BU Hub requirements will be satisfied by selecting from a wide range of available courses outside the major or, in some cases, co-curricular experiences.

Students in the program must demonstrate their capability to master an accelerated program of study and exhibit a high degree of maturity, integrity, and emotional stability in order to be promoted to the fourth year of the program (DENT I). At the end of each semester, or as necessary, the faculty Committee on Promotions reviews students’ progress. Students are expected to maintain a minimum 3.20 cumulative GPA and 3.00 science GPA to be eligible for promotion to the next semester and ultimately to the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine. Failure to meet the above criteria will result in appropriate action by the Committee, including academic probation, disciplinary probation, remedial coursework, suspension, or dismissal from the program.

At the end of each curricular year, or as necessary, the Committee on Promotions requests a report from Judicial Affairs to determine if students have violated University policies, as well as a report from the College of Arts & Sciences Dean’s office to determine whether students have engaged in academic misconduct. The content of these reports is considered in all promotions decisions, including the decision on promotion to the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine. Any student who has violated University policies or engaged in academic misconduct has the opportunity to submit a written explanation to the Committee on Promotions.

A student who, for any reason (e.g., academic, motivational, ethical, or emotional), is found to be ill-suited for the program may be transferred without loss of credits to the liberal arts curriculum in the College of Arts & Sciences. Such students may still aspire to a dental education at either the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine or another dental school, although it must be by the conventional predental route. Students may voluntarily transfer out of the program at any point without loss of credit and may then continue their education at Boston University.

Seven-year dental students, although admitted to the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, are required to take the Dental Admission Test (DAT) in the fall of their third year. The results of the DAT are considered an important criterion for promotion to the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine. All college and program requirements must be completed by the end of the spring semester of the third year for students to be eligible for promotion to the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine. Students may not apply to other dental schools and remain in the program.

Promotion Requirements to Enter the School of Dental Medicine

Students must complete all requirements of the College of Arts & Sciences and the Seven-Year Liberal Arts/Dental Education Program by the end of the spring semester of the third year to be eligible for promotion to the School of Dental Medicine. Students who have not achieved a 3.20 cumulative GPA and a 3.00 science GPA by the end of the third academic year are ineligible for promotion to the dental school. The results of the DAT are also considered an important criterion for promotion.

A report is also requested from Judicial Affairs to determine if students have violated University policies. A report is also requested from the Dean’s office to determine whether students have engaged in academic misconduct. The content of these reports is considered in promotion decisions.

Graduation Requirements for the Bachelor’s Degree

Students must complete 112 credits of coursework after matriculation in the College of Arts & Sciences and must satisfy all requirements for the bachelor of arts, including completion of all BU Hub general education requirements. In addition, students are required to complete a minor. Students receive their bachelor’s degree after successful completion of the first year of dental school.

The Curriculum

First Year, CAS I

Semester 1
  • CAS CH 101 General Chemistry 1 (4 cr)
  • CAS PY 105 Elementary Physics 1 (4 cr)
  • First-Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 120) (4 cr)
  • BU Hub requirements outside the major; or course for the minor; or elective course (4 cr)
Semester 2
  • CAS CH 102 General Chemistry 2 (4 cr)
  • CAS PY 106 Elementary Physics 2 (4 cr)
  • Writing, Research, and Inquiry (e.g., WR 150/151/152) (4 cr)
  • BU Hub requirements outside the major; or course for the minor; or elective course (4 cr)

Second Year, CAS II

Semester 1
  • CAS BI 107 Biology I (4 cr)
  • CAS CH 203 Organic Chemistry 1 (4 cr)
  • BU Hub requirements outside the major; or course for the minor; or elective course (4 cr)
  • BU Hub requirements outside the major; or course for the minor; or elective course (4 cr)
Semester 2
  • CAS BI 108 Biology II (4 cr)
  • CAS CH 204 Organic Chemistry 2 (4 cr)
  • BU Hub requirements outside the major; or course for the minor; or elective course (4 cr)
  • BU Hub requirements outside the major; or course for the minor; or elective course (4 cr)
Summer II
  • CAS BI 203 Cell Biology (4 cr)
  • BU Hub requirements outside the major; or course for the minor; or elective courses (4 cr)

Third Year, CAS III

  • BU Hub requirements outside the major; or course for the minor; or elective courses (4 cr)

Fourth Year, DENT I

  • First-year dental subjects
  • Basic preclinical sciences

Fifth Year, DENT II

  • Second-year dental subjects
  • Basic preclinical sciences

Sixth Year, DENT III

  • Third-year dental subjects
  • Clinical sciences

Seventh Year, DENT IV

  • Fourth-year dental subjects
  • Clinical sciences

Courses

See CAS course listings for descriptions of natural science courses.