Dental schools give preference to applicants who have a bachelor of arts degree. Augustana’s program is designed to provide a strong foundation in the sciences as well as preparation for dental school and the Dental Admission Test. Augustana graduates gain entry into dental school nearly double the national average, which is below 50%.
To become a good dentist, along with a strong foundation in the sciences you’ll want excellent problem-solving and communication skills, broad learning, and the empathy that comes from being exposed to diverse perspectives.
Your Augustana liberal arts education builds that for you, too. Plus, you’ll have strong connections with mentors, making sure you are on track and have the clinical experience you need to meet your goals.
What you'll learn
Disciplinary knowledge
Gain a deep understanding of your subject and how it connects to other subjects.
Quantitative literacy
Interpret, represent and summarize information. Use math and statistics to solve problems.
Critical thinking and information literacy
Judge and construct arguments, raise questions and define problems. Make a conclusion based on evidence.
Communication competence
Read and listen carefully. Express ideas (writing or speaking) suited to the audience.
Ethical citizenship
Examine and embrace your strengths, passions and values. Develop ethical convictions and act on them.
Distinctions
• Like most of the pre-professional health programs at Augustana (pre-med is the one exception), pre-dentistry is not an actual major. Most students choose a biology major with the pre-dentistry program. The pre-dentistry advising list of courses gives an idea of the path students take.
• Augustana’s pre-dentistry mentoring program helps students find the best clinical placements to familiarize them with dentistry practice and techniques. Pre-dentistry students typically begin their clinical hours in their sophomore year.
• Among the high-tech laboratories in Augustana’s Hanson Hall of Science are individual labs for anatomy and physiology, cell biology, genetics and human cadaver dissection — a rare opportunity for undergraduates.
• Augustana’s internship program in Sydney, Australia, is popular with pre-dentistry students, who are placed directly into dental offices for their internships. Many students use their Augie Choice $2,000 to help cover expenses.
Pre-dentistry advisor Dr. Jason Koontz with, from left, Kelly Walker, Amber Were, Carli Hogan and Lauren Nicholson.
Recent grads
Lauren Hogan ’19 attends Marquette University School of Dentistry in Milwaukee, Wis.
Jack Morkin ’19 attends Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine in Alton, Ill.
Jacob Groselak '15 is a dentist at Groselak Family Dentistry in Lemont, Ill.
Tim Johnson '15 is a dentist at DDS Dentures + Implant Solutions in Alton, Ill.
Maggie Hoscheit '14 is a dentist at Mason, Faith, and Hoscheit DDS in the Chicago area.
Katherine Kasia '12 Staniek is a dentist at Beverly Farms Dental in Beverly Farms, Mass.
“I truly believe I would not have achieved my goal of attending dental school if I had not transferred to Augustana.”Read More
“My advisor, Dr. Jason Koontz, has done so much to help me prepare for dental school.”Read More
“I used my Augie Choice to supplement an unpaid shadowing internship at Riverside Dentistry in Moline. It was an invaluable experience.”Read More